The new year has brought another alarming statistic as water levels at Choke Canyon Reservoir continue to decline, now sitting below 10 percent capacity, with Lake Corpus Christi not much higher.
According to Water Data for Texas, Choke Canyon Reservoir was at 9.4 percent of capacity on Jan. 7, down from 10 percent at the beginning of December and 16.6 percent at the same time last year. Over the past year, the lake has dropped six feet and now holds 62,497 acre-feet of water, compared to 109,309 acre-feet one year ago.
Lake Corpus Christi has also continued to drop, with current capacity at 11.9 percent, down from 12.5 percent last month and 25.7 percent a year ago. During the past year, the lake level has fallen five feet. Even more alarming is that its storage capacity is now less than half of what it was last year – 30,740 acre-feet compared to 66,192 acre-feet.
The combined capacity of Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi this month is 10.2 percent, according to a City of Corpus Christi report. Last year at this time, the combined capacity was 19.2 percent.
The current water crisis continues to be a major topic of discussion among local citizens. From gardeners who may not be able to plant this spring to businesses losing revenue because of low lake levels, the community is increasingly concerned about the diminishing water supply. Fishermen are also frustrated by the lack of access to the water. A temporary boat ramp that was created at Choke Canyon State Park South Shore Unit is now closed, making all boat ramps at the park unusable for boating.
The City of Three Rivers is currently under Stage 4—Critical Water Storage Conditions—with mandatory water restrictions in place. The City Council continues to look at options for ensuring the city’s water supply. The City of George West and the community of Tilden in McMullen County receive their water from underground wells.