At the close of one of the wettest January’s on record, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District has declared a No-Drought condition for the aquifers within the district, effective immediately. The declaration comes after a wetter than normal winter that saturated soils, setting conditions for rains to flow into streams and creeks that feed the aquifers.
The district, which straddles southern Travis and northern Hays, counties declared a groundwater drought and had been enforcing mandatory water-use restrictions since August 15, 2014. With the no-drought declaration, groundwater users are encouraged to maintain conservation practices, but mandatory pumping curtailments are lifted.
The district’s no-drought decision stands in contrast to that of surface water providers like the Lower Colorado River Authority. With its reservoirs still roughly 35 percent of their capacity, the utility continues to urge conservation.