Rain not enough to bust drought

AUSTIN (KXAN) -  

Williamson Creek in South Austin is so dry, a cactus is growing where water once flowed. The creek bed is one of many that make up the prime recharge area for the groundwater supply in the Edwards Aquifer. The Aquifer is nearing Critical Stage Drought, despite heavy rains that have fallen across the area this week.
"That nice rain of 1-2 inches that we had just yesterday is really making no effect on the aquifer," said Brian Smith with the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.
Smith pointed out graphs that chart the flow of Barton Creek, showing jumps in its level each time a couple of inches of rain falls on the area. Yet, a corresponding graph that charted the water storage level in the aquifer, showed those small jumps had no impact on its overall drop.
The Highland Lakes are showing a similar downward trend. LCRA hydrologist Mark Jordan said this week's rain has had zero impact on water levels at Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis.
"Because until recently the soils have been so dry, you'd really need to get those soils saturated first so that once a significant rain did come by, you'd get the runoff you need to go into the rivers that feed the Highland Lakes," said Jordan.
He added that the situation could be worse.
"Even though we've been in a drought, seen similar dry conditions that we saw in 2006, our lake levels are still a little bit better than they were back during that drought because of such a wet year last year," said Jordan.
The Conservation District was urging its water customers to reduce their use as the drought continues.
"This rain is such that they don't need to water for a while. We're getting into cooler temperatures, and they can probably start thinking about cutting off watering for the season. That would help if they would just reduce their use at this point."