Corpus Christi’s drought has hit its newest historic lows.
The combined capacities of the city’s main water sources, Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir, were recorded on Jan. 12 as topping only 10%, according to a city news release.
It marks “the lowest level these reservoirs have experienced in their history,” it states.
A water spout drips at a day-use site at Lake Corpus Christi State Park in Mathis on March 11, 2025.
The combined capacities of the two water bodies are the measuring stick used to determine drought stages and restrictions.
As of Jan. 12, Lake Corpus Christi’s levels were at 11.6% capacity and Choke Canyon Reservoir’s levels at 9.4%, according to the press release.
The news follows about a month after it was announced that Choke Canyon Reservoir had reached its historic low, at the time measuring 10%.
The city has been under Stage 3 drought restrictions for a little more than a year after the combined capacity of the lakes dropped below the 20% mark.
The newest reported lake lows do not signal a Level 1 Emergency Stage, according to the city’s news release.
A Level 1 Emergency is when the city is 180 days away from its water supply not meeting demand.
“The western reservoir levels alone do not determine when a water emergency takes effect,” the news release states. “Corpus Christi’s water supply includes millions of gallons from eastern sources, including Lake Texana and the Colorado River. Currently, 65% of the City’s water comes from these sources.”
At present, it is projected a Level 1 Emergency could descend in November.
That date could be pushed back about six months, should the city bring its Nueces River wellfields’ production fully online by May, officials have said.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi water sources have hit newest historic lows