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 drought. The rainfall we experienced during the fall months was certainly a blessing. Unfortunately, as we approach the end of winter and the start of spring, drought has reared its ugly head again. 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 “Near Normal” conditions according to the Palmer Drought Severity Index. This index looks at not only current rainfall but soil moisture as well. Additionally, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of our counties categorized as moderate to severe drought due to a lack of adequate rainfall. These reports are as of the first week of January 2020.


According to the National Weather Service – Climate Prediction Center of NOAA, the seasonal drought outlook calls for drought to be persistent in our area. This prediction is applicable through March 31, 2020. The short-term prediction for the month of January has been spot on. That predictive scenario is showing that the development of drought will persist for most of central Texas. This data in analyzed and updated often so stay tuned!


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. First and foremost 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. 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 dry spell. However, the fact is we live in Texas, and in Texas drought can occur in any season. 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. And hopefully, while you are reading this it is raining!