Headwaters rolls back Stage 4 drought restrictions

After receiving 1.45 inches of rain in September (nearly half of normal) and a smattering in October, Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District suddenly reversed course on drought restrictions.

The agency, which regulates groundwater, said recovery in the lower Trinity Aquifer and increased flow in the Guadalupe River through Kerrville made the difference. In a lengthy press release, Headwaters said it saw a decrease in the Palmer Drought Index rating. The move to Stage 4 was unprecedented, drawing some surprise from the city of Kerrville, which scrambled to understand the order.

The move to Stage 3 still keeps the region in severe drought but drops the more serious restrictions — most impacting Kerrville. The issue of water came up on Tuesday night during the Kerrville City Council when persistent critics questioned approving development projects during the drought.

However, over the last three years, according to National Weather Service data, the final three months of the year prove to be some of the driest. November and December have averaged less than 2 inches of rain since 2000. Over the last two years, December’s precipitations equaled about a half inch.

The agency is banking on an El Nino pattern to help alleviate the drought, and they referenced recent rainfall as helpful, but September was the hottest in Kerr County in 20 years. However, the recent rains helped return some levels to the Guadalupe River, and water flows over the Nimitz Lake Dam.

Headwaters said water system customers to continue following the conservation guidelines communicated to them by their public water system, including any directives regarding lawn and landscape watering, which constitute approximately 40% of all household water usage.