The Brazos River Authority (BRA) has declared a Stage 3 Drought Emergency for Lake Proctor. The reservoir is the surface water supply for several wholesale water providers including the Upper Leon River Municipal Water District, which is a wholesale water provider, and several other agricultural users.
The BRA has notified each of its Lake Proctor customers that Stage 3 conservation efforts are required to help make the water supply from the reservoir last longer in light of the continuing drought conditions. At the Drought Emergency stage, BRA requests a 20 percent reduction in water use that would have occurred in the absence of any drought contingency measures.
The Stage 3 Drought Emergency is part of the Brazos River Authority’s Drought Contingency Plan (DCP). This plan, which is required by the state, is intended to help preserve and extend water supplies during drought conditions and includes strategies for temporary supply and demand management.
The DCP has four conditions, or stages, ranging from 1-4 in level of severity. Each stage is tied to a corresponding reservoir level, called a “trigger” level.
When a reservoir drops below its Stage 1 trigger level, the BRA implements a Stage 1 Drought Watch Condition where customers and the public are made aware of potential drought problems. During Stage I, there is a recommended voluntary 5 percent reduction in water use that would have occurred under normal conditions. Lake Proctor reached its Stage 1 trigger level on March 17, 2022.
At the Stage 2 trigger level, a Drought Warning is initiated, and a 10 percent reduction in water use is requested. Lake Proctor dropped below its Stage 2 trigger on August 8, 2022.
Lake Proctor dropped below the Stage 3 trigger of 1153.3 feet mean sea level on October xx, 2022. In addition to requiring a water use reduction target of 20 percent of the water that would have been used in the absence of any drought contingency measures, the Stage 3 Drought Emergency also requires that all interruptible water contract holders cease diversions.
Should drought conditions continue, Under Stage 4 Pro Rata Curtailment, the general process under which the BRA will make water available is in accordance with Texas Water Code §11.039. BRA will meet with its customer to determine measures to be implemented to reduce water use and extend available supplies within the reservoir.
The BRA continually monitors weather forecasts, streamflows and lake levels throughout the Brazos River basin. At this time, all reservoirs within the Brazos River Authority system are under some level of the Drought Contingency Plan.
The BRA reminds everyone that these extreme conditions are very serious and urges all to begin implementing conservation measures as directed by their water provider.
A copy of the Brazos River Authority’s Drought Contingency Plan can be found at the following web address www.brazos.org/ DCP or by contacting the BRA at (254) 761-3100.
—submitted