Water levels at Lake Corpus Christi have risen sharply over the last few days as stormwater runoff from last month’s deadly rains continues to trickle into the reservoir via the swollen Nueces River.
The mayor added that Lake Corpus Christi is projected to reach 84% capacity by the end of the week. Along with Choke Canyon Reservoir, the levels of the Coastal Bend’s two largest sources of freshwater are expected to reach a combined 40% capacity, Guajardo said. But she also urged continued caution and conservation as the region — which earlier this spring was on the brink of a Level 1 water emergency after half a decade of drought — remains deadlocked over potential water supply remedies, including a billion-dollar desalination plant proposal that has repeatedly failed to move forward over the last year.
“While this is wonderful news and a testament to the recent rainfall, we cannot become complacent. We remain in a drought, and this rain does not eliminate the need to secure a long-term, drought-proof water supply,” the mayor said.
Four months ago to the day — on April 3 — Lake Corpus Christi reached one of its lowest levels ever at just 8.4%, according to Corpus Christi Lake Watch. A series of beneficial rainstorms in May and June bumped the lake up to 34.9% full a month ago; however, the lake levels had once again begun dipping as the summer heat pressed on.
Last month, a deluge of rain swept across from the border near Eagle Pass east toward San Antonio. But while towns across South Central Texas were inundated, the runoff had yet to begin making its way toward the sea. In the Coastal Bend, Lake Corpus Christi had fallen to 31,9% full as of Thursday, July 27, according to Water Data For Texas, a product of the Texas Water Development Board.
Stormwater inflows finally began trickling in from the Nueces River over the weekend. On Saturday, August 1, the lake had risen by more than 2.5 feet to 43.7% full. On Sunday, it jumped nearly another foot-and-a-half to surpass the halfway mark at 51.4% full. And by midday on Monday, levels had climbed to 87.91 feet.