City Leaders on Current Water Levels and Future Projections
City leaders in Corpus Christi are increasingly concerned about the declining water levels in local lakes. Currently, the combined lake levels of Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon are at approximately 25.6 percent. Consequently, this precarious situation has led to discussions about potential solutions and the implementation of stricter water restrictions.
Impending Stage 3 Water Restrictions
Drew Molly, Chief Operating Officer for Corpus Christi Water, addressed the city council on Tuesday, providing an in-depth analysis of the current water usage and potential future scenarios. He warned that if the current trend continues, the city will likely enter Stage 3 water restrictions by mid-August, a threshold that would significantly impact residents.
“Essentially, we are at a point now where we need an intense rain, 15-20 inches,” Molly stated. This significant amount of rainfall is necessary to alleviate the current water crisis.
Drought and Its Impact
Molly presented a drought map, highlighting the severity of the situation over the past few months. “Sometimes it gets better, as you can see here, it’s gotten a little better, but our watershed is still in drought,” he explained to the council.
Under Stage 3 of the drought contingency plan, residents will face stricter measures, including a ban on lawn watering and potential utility bill surcharges. Moreover, Molly noted, “Any plan is not always going to make every different customer class we have in our city happy,” emphasizing the need for community feedback to develop an agreeable plan.
Water Sources and Their Roles
Corpus Christi draws its water supply from multiple sources: Lake Corpus Christi, Choke Canyon, and Lake Texana, which connects through the Mary Rhodes Pipeline. Lake Texana is over 97 percent full and provides around 31,000 acre-feet of water annually. “Lake Texana tends to collect more rain because it falls far enough north to get more rain than we get,” Molly said, highlighting its efficiency.
Despite its significant contribution, the city still needs to include Lake Texana in the combined lake levels due to an agreement with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Factoring it in would raise the combined levels by 10 percent. “There’s very prescriptive requirements as part of that agreed order in terms of how it dictates and drives the level of drought announcements we make and planning,” Molly explained.
Importance of the Nueces River Watershed
Molly stressed the critical role of the Nueces River Watershed, describing it as the “workhorse” of the region. “That is where half of our water comes from. We own all the water rights from it, unlike from the other source. We don’t have water rights on Texana; we have a contract,” he said.
The contract with Lake Texana extends through 2035, ensuring a steady water supply for the foreseeable future. However, the city’s reliance on the Nueces River highlights its vulnerability to drought conditions.
City Leaders Future Plans and Contingency Measures
City leaders are working on an updated drought contingency plan and expect to present it to the council for consideration next month. This plan will address the current challenges and propose measures to ensure a sustainable water supply.
In summary, the city leaders closely monitor the situation and hope for tropical weather to help replenish the lakes. However, they are also preparing for stricter water restrictions and exploring ways to optimize the use of all available water sources.