LCRA asks to cut rice farmers' water

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Lower Colorado River Authority on Wednesday filed an application with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality asking for emergency drought relief by curtailing the amount of water it sends to downstream rice farmer.

The request would allow LCRA to supply less Highland Lakes water to farmers in 2013 than required by the state-approved Water Management Plan.

Last week, the LCRA board approved on a 10-4 vote the request for emergency relief. If the state approves it, 2013 would be the second year in a row that LCRA instituted emergency drought relief.

October brought extremely low rainfall to the region, with Camp Mabry receiving less than an inch during the 31-day period. This is nearly three inches below average.

To make things worse, the rain gauge has been completely empty so far in November.

The persistent drought in central Texas has reduced the water level in Lake Travis to nearly 36 feet below average.