Texas drought: 20 percent of freshwater fish threatened with extinction
By John Nielsen-Gammon
13 February 2012 The University of Texas’s new Center for Integrated Earth System Science is hosting its first public event today: a water forum entitled “Texas Drought 2012 — Are We Prepared?” The morning talks featured status reports from various state and regional agencies, while the afternoon featured water research tools and capabilities from the University of Texas. The speakers provided a broad overview and update of the drought, its impacts, agency responses, and issues raised by the drought. So I’ve picked out some highlights from each of the morning talks and included them here. John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas state climatologist, Texas A&M University Overall, drought conditions have improved since September. But only in the north-central and eastern parts of the state have large reservoirs seen water storage increase by more than 5% of capacity. Much of the rest of the state has not seen improvement in reservoir levels, and a few major reservoirs in the western half of the state remain dry. The Climate Prediction Center is calling for enhanced chances of below-normal rainfall through spring, which is a problem since May is the most important month for rainflow and reservoir replenishment. In the summer, the odds favor above-normal temperatures, which would imply increased water demand and increased lake evaporation. Thus, there will continue to be water supply issues across most of the state through summer. On the longer term, there’s nearly a 50% chance of a third La Niña, and the longer-term sea surface temperature patterns will continue to favor drought for another several years. Climate change does not seem to be reducing rainfall, but the ever-increasing temperatures will continue to increase evaporation so future water won’t go nearly as far as before. Brenner Brown, management analyst, water science and conservation, Texas Water Development Board The number of water suppliers with water restrictions in place continues to increase despite the recent rains. The Texas Water Plan is the state’s response to drought. The 2012 plan’s message: In times of extreme drought, Texas does not have enough water to meet the needs of residential, industrial, and agricultural users. Planning is one thing, implementation is another. Kellye Rila (voiced by Cathy Alexander), director, water availability division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality During 2011, TCEQ received 15 senior calls, resulting in suspension of 1200 water rights, far beyond previous droughts. TCEQ is holding weekly high-level drought meetings with other state agencies to stay on top of water supply issues and coordinate strategies to help those communities with serious water needs. While the Drought Monitor map has improved, there are still water restrictions in place throughout the state. Cindy Loeffler, chief, water resources branch, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department TPWD is tasked to manage the state’s fish and wildlife, and fish and wildlife need water. Texas has over 150 species of native freshwater fishes and ranks second in amount of angling ($6.6B annually). But 5 species are now extinct, and 20% are threatened with extinction or absence from Texas. Environmental Flows are flows that remain in the stream and provide for aquatic and riparian habitat; water quality protection; recreation; navigation; and freshwater inflows to bays and estuaries. A statewide effort is underway to determine what environmental flows are necessary for each river. [Texas rivers and ecosystems are adapted to drought, but not drought on top of human water withdrawals. – John N-G] Various issues dealt with during the 2011 drought: rescue of endangered fish, low lake levels, invasive species (zebra mussels in Lake Texoma, removing the lake as a water supply resource), and high salinity in estuaries and resulting red tide (commercial oyster season closed). The wet 2010 followed by a dry 2011 led to wildfires affecting Davis Mountains State Park, Possum Kingdom State Park, and Bastrop State Park. The Houston Toad (first amphibian listed on endangered species list) lives only in Austin, Bastrop, and Leon Counties. They were underground during the fire in Bastrop, but they have not emerged in significant numbers since. [clarified 2/13. – John N-G] Gabriela Stermolle, planner, Texas Division of Emergency Management TDEM considers worst-case scenario: cities running out of water. There are 100-200 systems in Texas (such as Groesbeck) that have surface water only and are upstream of a reservoir. The cost of trucking in water to Groesbeck (population 6000) would cost over $60,000/day. Loss of water supplies for power generation from reservoirs that are already historically low would cause rolling blackouts at a minimum. Vulnerability of industrial and chemical plants is in the process of being assessed. […] Todd Votteler, executive manager, intergovernmental relations and policy, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Todd reported on a new tree ring drought study, using bald cypress from near Austin, San Antonio, and Houston. The reconstruction of June Palmer Drought Severity Index goes back to 1500. The worst extended drought (3-10 years) in central Texas was in 1708-1717, peaking in 1716. The 1950s drought of record shows up as the third-worst extended drought, behind the one listed above and the pre-Civil War drought. In West Texas, the 1950s drought is as bad or worse than previous tree-ring droughts. […] Mike Personett, assistant director, environmental resource management, watershed protection department, City of Austin Drought diminishes ecosystem services (the current term for aspects of the ecosystem that are economically or aesthetically valuable), affecting water quality (reduced dilution of pollutants, concentrated nutrients and algal blooms), quality and extent of aquatic ecosystems, fire danger along newly-dried streambeds. New natural ways of treating water are threatened as well, such as drying up of ponds and failure of liners,and marsh filtration systems losing vegetation. Taking serious action on water supplies during drought crises is not the best way of dealing with long-term problems, but it seems to be the only way serious action happens. […]
Texas Drought 2012: An Update from UT
By Greg Soulje
14 February 2012 Across the Corn Belt, mild, dry conditions prevail across the upper Midwest. Meanwhile, light snow is falling across much of the eastern Corn Belt, with some rain mixed in across the Ohio Valley. On the Plains, isolated snow showers are confined to the northern tier of the region. Elsewhere, generally mild, dry weather has returned in the wake of recent, beneficial precipitation. However, more precipitation is still needed in Texas, where many stock ponds remain low or empty. In addition, 64% of the Texas pastures and rangeland were rated in very poor to poor condition on February 12, along with 40% of the winter wheat. In the South, warm, dry weather has returned to the western Gulf Coast region. Meanwhile, beneficial rain showers are providing limited drought relief in the southern Atlantic region, although Florida’s peninsula remains dry. Wildfires are an increasing threat across central and southern Florida. […]
