Drought in Texas, March 1 to 31, 2014

Some of South Central Texas experienced a wet March. Across the southern portion of the region they received above normal rainfall with some places getting 150 to 200 percent of normal. Unfortunately, the north central and northwestern areas had less than 25 percent of normal for the month. With the lack of rainfall Bandera, Burnet, Kerr and Llano Counties worsened to extreme drought category (Stage D3). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Gillespie County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Edwards, Kendall, Medina and Val Verde Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. Fire danger was moderate to high across the area at the end of March. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, and Val Verde had burn bans in effect. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Medina, Nueces, Colorado, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the San Antonio and Rio Grande River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad remained near 35 feet below normal and Lake Travis dropped slightly to near 54 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected at 90 feet below. The Edwards Aquifer dropped again during the month and was 28 feet below normal, and 6 feet below the level at the end of March 2013. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg moved into stage 5 water restrictions, and Kerrville remained in stage 1.

Some of South Central Texas experienced a wet March. Across the southern portion of the region they received above normal rainfall with some places getting 150 to 200 percent of normal. Unfortunately, the north central and northwestern areas had less than 25 percent of normal for the month. With the lack of rainfall Bandera, Burnet, Kerr and Llano Counties worsened to extreme drought category (Stage D3). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Gillespie County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Edwards, Kendall, Medina and Val Verde Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. Fire danger was moderate to high across the area at the end of March. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, and Val Verde had burn bans in effect. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Medina, Nueces, Colorado, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the San Antonio and Rio Grande River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad remained near 35 feet below normal and Lake Travis dropped slightly to near 54 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected at 90 feet below. The Edwards Aquifer dropped again during the month and was 28 feet below normal, and 6 feet below the level at the end of March 2013. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg moved into stage 5 water restrictions, and Kerrville remained in stage 1.

Some of South Central Texas experienced a wet March. Across the southern portion of the region they received above normal rainfall with some places getting 150 to 200 percent of normal. Unfortunately, the north central and northwestern areas had less than 25 percent of normal for the month. With the lack of rainfall Bandera, Burnet, Kerr and Llano Counties worsened to extreme drought category (Stage D3). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Gillespie County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Edwards, Kendall, Medina and Val Verde Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. Fire danger was moderate to high across the area at the end of March. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, and Val Verde had burn bans in effect. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Medina, Nueces, Colorado, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the San Antonio and Rio Grande River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad remained near 35 feet below normal and Lake Travis dropped slightly to near 54 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected at 90 feet below. The Edwards Aquifer dropped again during the month and was 28 feet below normal, and 6 feet below the level at the end of March 2013. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg moved into stage 5 water restrictions, and Kerrville remained in stage 1.

Some of South Central Texas experienced a wet March. Across the southern portion of the region they received above normal rainfall with some places getting 150 to 200 percent of normal. Unfortunately, the north central and northwestern areas had less than 25 percent of normal for the month. With the lack of rainfall Bandera, Burnet, Kerr and Llano Counties worsened to extreme drought category (Stage D3). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Gillespie County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Edwards, Kendall, Medina and Val Verde Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. Fire danger was moderate to high across the area at the end of March. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, and Val Verde had burn bans in effect. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Medina, Nueces, Colorado, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the San Antonio and Rio Grande River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad remained near 35 feet below normal and Lake Travis dropped slightly to near 54 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected at 90 feet below. The Edwards Aquifer dropped again during the month and was 28 feet below normal, and 6 feet below the level at the end of March 2013. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg moved into stage 5 water restrictions, and Kerrville remained in stage 1.

Some of South Central Texas experienced a wet March. Across the southern portion of the region they received above normal rainfall with some places getting 150 to 200 percent of normal. Unfortunately, the north central and northwestern areas had less than 25 percent of normal for the month. With the lack of rainfall Bandera, Burnet, Kerr and Llano Counties worsened to extreme drought category (Stage D3). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Gillespie County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Edwards, Kendall, Medina and Val Verde Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. Fire danger was moderate to high across the area at the end of March. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, and Val Verde had burn bans in effect. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Medina, Nueces, Colorado, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the San Antonio and Rio Grande River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad remained near 35 feet below normal and Lake Travis dropped slightly to near 54 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected at 90 feet below. The Edwards Aquifer dropped again during the month and was 28 feet below normal, and 6 feet below the level at the end of March 2013. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg moved into stage 5 water restrictions, and Kerrville remained in stage 1.

Some of South Central Texas experienced a wet March. Across the southern portion of the region they received above normal rainfall with some places getting 150 to 200 percent of normal. Unfortunately, the north central and northwestern areas had less than 25 percent of normal for the month. With the lack of rainfall Bandera, Burnet, Kerr and Llano Counties worsened to extreme drought category (Stage D3). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Gillespie County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Edwards, Kendall, Medina and Val Verde Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. Fire danger was moderate to high across the area at the end of March. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, and Val Verde had burn bans in effect. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Medina, Nueces, Colorado, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the San Antonio and Rio Grande River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad remained near 35 feet below normal and Lake Travis dropped slightly to near 54 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected at 90 feet below. The Edwards Aquifer dropped again during the month and was 28 feet below normal, and 6 feet below the level at the end of March 2013. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg moved into stage 5 water restrictions, and Kerrville remained in stage 1.

Some of South Central Texas experienced a wet March. Across the southern portion of the region they received above normal rainfall with some places getting 150 to 200 percent of normal. Unfortunately, the north central and northwestern areas had less than 25 percent of normal for the month. With the lack of rainfall Bandera, Burnet, Kerr and Llano Counties worsened to extreme drought category (Stage D3). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Gillespie County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Edwards, Kendall, Medina and Val Verde Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. Fire danger was moderate to high across the area at the end of March. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, and Val Verde had burn bans in effect. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Medina, Nueces, Colorado, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the San Antonio and Rio Grande River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad remained near 35 feet below normal and Lake Travis dropped slightly to near 54 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected at 90 feet below. The Edwards Aquifer dropped again during the month and was 28 feet below normal, and 6 feet below the level at the end of March 2013. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg moved into stage 5 water restrictions, and Kerrville remained in stage 1.

Some of South Central Texas experienced a wet March. Across the southern portion of the region they received above normal rainfall with some places getting 150 to 200 percent of normal. Unfortunately, the north central and northwestern areas had less than 25 percent of normal for the month. With the lack of rainfall Bandera, Burnet, Kerr and Llano Counties worsened to extreme drought category (Stage D3). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Gillespie County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Edwards, Kendall, Medina and Val Verde Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. Fire danger was moderate to high across the area at the end of March. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, and Val Verde had burn bans in effect. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Medina, Nueces, Colorado, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the San Antonio and Rio Grande River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad remained near 35 feet below normal and Lake Travis dropped slightly to near 54 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected at 90 feet below. The Edwards Aquifer dropped again during the month and was 28 feet below normal, and 6 feet below the level at the end of March 2013. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg moved into stage 5 water restrictions, and Kerrville remained in stage 1.

Some of South Central Texas experienced a wet March. Across the southern portion of the region they received above normal rainfall with some places getting 150 to 200 percent of normal. Unfortunately, the north central and northwestern areas had less than 25 percent of normal for the month. With the lack of rainfall Bandera, Burnet, Kerr and Llano Counties worsened to extreme drought category (Stage D3). The rest of the area remained unchanged with Gillespie County in extreme (Stage D3) drought category and Edwards, Kendall, Medina and Val Verde Counties in severe (Stage D2) drought category. Fire danger was moderate to high across the area at the end of March. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought Burnet, Kendall, Kerr, Llano, and Val Verde had burn bans in effect. The seven day stream flow averages at the end of the month were much below normal (less than 10 percent) across the Frio, Medina, Nueces, Colorado, and Guadalupe River basins and below normal (10 to 24 percent) across the San Antonio and Rio Grande River basins. Area lakes and reservoirs continued well below normal pool elevations. Lake Amistad remained near 35 feet below normal and Lake Travis dropped slightly to near 54 feet below normal. Medina Lake was again the most affected at 90 feet below. The Edwards Aquifer dropped again during the month and was 28 feet below normal, and 6 feet below the level at the end of March 2013. The Edwards Aquifer Authority remained in stage 2 water restrictions requiring large water users to reduce pumping by 30%. Fredericksburg moved into stage 5 water restrictions, and Kerrville remained in stage 1.