An unusually wet summer has aided Texas’ battle with drought, but the state’s water crisis is far from over.
Texas suffered from brutal heat and severe drought in the past two summers, with the water levels in many lakes, reservoirs and rivers severely dropping as a result. In some instances, water levels dropped so low at man-made reservoirs that they revealed long-buried items, such as pecan groves at Lake Travis in Austin. However, an abnormally wet summer this year has helped Texas recover from some of its drought, with 30 percent of the state now completely free from drought, compared with just over 1 percent this time last year.
Much of the unusual rain fell in July, when officials had to open multiple floodgates to send water downstream to Lake Travis after excessive rainfall hit the area. Some parts of the state received as much as 9 inches, which has occurred only once or twice over a 10-year period, National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Nick Hampshire previously told Newsweek.
The Houston skyline is seen after heavy rains broke during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 29, 2017. An unusually wet summer has helped relieve some of Texas’ drought. The Houston skyline is seen after heavy rains broke during the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey on August 29, 2017. An unusually wet summer has helped relieve some of Texas’ drought. Getty
A long-duration storm system has been dumping additional rain across central Texas this week, also aiding the state in its drought recovery. However, conservation remains a vital part of the state’s water conversation.
