Drought Update: November 2023
Rainfall After experiencing a generous average of 6 inches of rainfall in October that saturated the ground and contributed to some aquifer recharge, the Texas Hill Country has reverted to below-average conditions in November. The area has only recorded 1.4 inches, which is 1.5 inches below the historical average. Specifically, Camp Mabry to ABIA region received […]
5 Water Saving Tips for the Holidays
Thanksgiving has come and gone and now Christmas is just a few weeks away. With decorating, buying presents, and preparing for guests, it can be easy to forget the District is in Stage III drought and overlook ways to conserve water. To make it easier, here are a few ideas on how to reduce your […]
Lovelady Monitor Well: Past and Present
Justin Camp, District Hydrogeoloic Technician, measures the Lovelady monitor well in south Austin with an e-line in June of 2025. For those who keep up with the District’s drought status, it’s common knowledge that the Lovelady monitor well is one of our two primary drought triggers. What you may not know is that it also […]
Middle Trinity Aquifer Synoptic
Jeff Watson, Staff Hydrogeologist at BSEACD, measuring Pleasant Valley Spring flow on September 14, 2023 with Radu Boghici, Hydrogeologist at Hays Trinity GCD. This month the District began conducting a synoptic survey of the Middle Trinity Aquifer. This involves measuring hundreds of Trinity Aquifer wells within a set timeframe and provides an overarching ‘snapshot’ of […]
District Foresees Unprecedented Transition to Stage IV Exceptional Drought
Barton Springs’ 10-day average flow fell to 16 cubic feet per second (cfs) on July 24, 2023. This is based on field measurements collected by the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (the District). For reference, the average flow for the springs since 1978 is 68 cfs. This decline in discharge is representative of the alarmingly […]
Drought Update: 7.25.23
Drought Update: June 2023
2023 Rainfall So Far We’re halfway through the year, and while April and May rains provided much-needed recharge to the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, we remain in Stage III Critical Drought. This was initially declared on October 20, 2022, when the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) Lovelady monitor well passed below the Stage III […]
Senate Bill 1745 Passes
Written by Dr. Tim Loftus The 88th Legislature, Regular Session passed SB 1745 that will take effect on September 1, 2023. The new law allows the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (the District) to gradually increase Trinity production permit fees over the next few years to become equivalent to the fee for Conditional Edwards permits. […]
The BSEACD Trinity Aquifer Sustainability Model: A Tool for Evaluating Sustainable Yield of the Trinity Aquifer in Hays County, Texas
View the executive summary here. The Trinity Aquifer in Hays County is an important groundwater resource which is the only available source of drinking water to people living in central and western Hays County, and is the source of ecologically, culturally, and economically important springs within the Blanco River Basin. Pumping has increased in recent […]
Winter Weather Preparations
An arctic cold front will move through South Central Texas during the day on Thursday. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures between 10 and 22 degrees and wind chills between -8 and 11 degrees can be expected Thursday night into Friday morning. Please take the necessary precautions to protect your outdoor pipes, faucets, and […]