As Corpus Christi and Pflugerville struggle with their own dwindling water supplies, another Texas town says it’s dealing with a shortage – and it blames Corpus Christi.
Three Rivers city officials say the rural community 70 miles northwest of Corpus Christi is at risk of losing access to its primary water source – the Choke Canyon Reservoir.
The city shares that water source with Corpus Christi, which is drawing more water than usual from the reservoir due to “inaccurate water projections,” Three Rivers City officials say.
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“As a result of their inaccurate water projections, the City of Corpus Christi has notified the City of Three Rivers that they will be releasing more water from Choke (Canyon) to Lake Corpus Christi and soon leaving the City of Three Rivers unable to draw water from Choke Canyon Reservoir,” the release says. The release did not state when Three Rivers city officials expect the reservoir to run dry.
Officials did note, however, that this change bears a huge discrepancy from what they were previously told. Three Rivers said Monday in a news release that Corpus Christi officials stated as recently as January that the Choke Canyon Reservoir would be available for Three Rivers residents to draw from until April and May of 2027.
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In early March, Gov. Greg Abbott blasted Corpus Christi city leaders amid the ongoing water shortage: “Corpus Christi is a victim not because of lack of water. They’re a victim because of a lack of ability to make a decision,” he said a comment published by the Texas Tribune. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
“This development from Corpus Christi is unforeseen and unexpected because we have relied on the information communicated by them,” the release reads.
In early March, Gov. Greg Abbott blasted Corpus Christi city leaders amid the ongoing water shortage: “Corpus Christi is a victim not because of lack of water. They’re a victim because of a lack of ability to make a decision,” he said in a comment published by the Texas Tribune.
“We can only give them a little time more before the state of Texas has to take over and micromanage that city and run that city to make sure that every resident who goes to the water tap and turns it on, they’re going to be getting water out of their faucet, not because of what local leaders are doing, but because of what the state of Texas will do.”
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Three Rivers officials state that while the change in Corpus Christi’s management of Choke Canyon reservoir is “concerning” amid the looming water crisis, they are “actively accelerating” the incorporation of alternative water sources into the city’s supply.
According to a Friday report from The Progress, the city is diversifying its water sources. It began pulling from the Frio River, which feeds into Choke Canyon Reservoir, in January 2025. It also has several underground wells in Campbellton and Atascosa County that draw from the Carrizo Aquifer. A Tuesday report from Water Data for Texas shows that Choke Canyon Reservoir is currently 8% full.
Three Rivers has begun reaching out to state water regulators to accelerate the greenlight on incoming water infrastructure projects.
“City staff are working closely with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to ensure all regulatory requirements are met as the City of Three Rivers prepares to bring the second and third water supply options into operation,” the city’s release said. “We will continue to keep the public informed.”
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This article originally published at A third Texas city is running out of water as city officials blame Corpus Christi.