By David M. Bailey, General Manager
Mid-East Texas Groundwater Conservation District
Since we live in Texas we are always confronted with the possibility of a hot and dry summer. The rainfall we experienced during the winter and spring months was certainly a blessing. There are many things that we can do to lessen the impact of drought in our area. The most important thing we can all do is pray for rain. Until those prayers are answered, the best option we have is to practice conservation. Currently our District, which encompasses the counties of Freestone, Leon, and Madison, is showing to be in “Moderate Drought” according to the Palmer Drought Severity Index. Additionally, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of our counties in Moderate Drought while the northern portion of Freestone County is “Abnormally Dry” based on the August 8, 2023 reporting data. These conditions are exacerbated by the extreme heat we are experiencing.
The outlook on drought for the latter part of the summer and early fall is not very promising for our area. According to the National Weather Service – Climate Prediction Center of NOAA, the seasonal drought outlook calls for drought development to persist. Precipitation is expected to be normal for this period while temperatures are to be above normal. This prediction is applicable from August 1, 2023 to October 31, 2023.
There is a wealth of information that is available for all to see just by typing in “drought” on a web browser, such as Google or Bing. In addition, the Mid-East Texas Groundwater Conservation District has links available on our website that can be used to gather information about many issues related to water resources, such as drought. The website for the District is www.mideasttexasgcd.com. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has a website entitled www.waterdatafortexas.org which has a wealth of information pertaining to drought, reservoirs, and groundwater. We cannot stop drought conditions; however, we can take steps to lessen its impact. Primarily is to practice conservation of our most precious natural resource, water. Just as with “drought”, anyone can Google “conservation” and find endless examples and tools to use to assist in the conservation of this resource. Some simple examples of water conservation at home are:
–Taking shorter showers
–Installing more efficient water-using appliances and fixtures
–Repairing water leaks
–Watering lawns less often
–Turning water off while brushing teeth
–Use drought tolerant plants in landscaping
–Rainwater harvesting, and several other options
There are many sectors of our economy that utilize water. They range from commercial/industrial use, agricultural, oil and gas drilling and production, irrigation, and municipal/domestic use. In our area all are competing for the same water, mostly groundwater aquifers, which are layers of sand and gravel below the surface that are saturated with water. As more “straws” are put into the ground to extract these resources, less is being put back in due to the lack of rainfall. The process called “recharge” is when aquifers are replenished from rainfall or the interaction with surface water, such as lakes, rivers, and streams. As less rainfall is provided, aquifers recharge at a reduced rate. The goal of the District is to ensure that our groundwater resources are managed in such a way that everyone will have the groundwater they need, if productive aquifers are available, and that waste of the resource is avoided. Conservation is a conscious choice that will only work when the end user of the resource implements measures or activities to conserve.
With the efficient use of our groundwater resources, along with the efforts of all to practice conservation, we will survive this hot and dry spell. However, the fact is we live in Texas, and in Texas the summers are…hot and dry. By practicing conservation and using our groundwater resources in the most efficient way possible, we will have a better chance to ensure an adequate supply of groundwater for the future.
