A Corpus Christi couple is filming weekly drone footage to track Lake Corpus Christi’s rise from 8.8% to nearly 35% full this year.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Recent rainfall has given Lake Corpus Christi a much-needed boost, bringing new life to shorelines that had been dry for months.
For David and Lailani Rizkallah, the rising water levels have become the focus of a weekly tradition. The Corpus Christi couple has spent the past several months documenting changes at the lake from above, using a drone to capture aerial views and sharing the updates on social media.
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What began as a hobby has grown into a visual timeline of Lake Corpus Christi’s recovery. Since March, the couple has posted weekly videos showing the lake’s steady rise, with levels increasing to more than 30 percent full.
“Our first videos weren’t really intended for Facebook or anything, it was just let’s go check it out,” David Rizkallah said.
The couple said they never planned to build a social media following. Instead, they were motivated by their love of exploring new places around the Coastal Bend.
Now, equipped with a drone, a drone pilot license and their cell phones, they regularly post videos highlighting local scenery while also keeping followers updated on changing conditions at the lake.
“Some people just don’t know what’s in their own backyard, they don’t. So I’ve had so many people messaging me, ‘I did not know that was there,'” Rizkallah said.
While some viewers watch the videos to enjoy the scenery, others follow the weekly updates to track the lake’s water levels.
“Every time we go over there, the lake is going lower and lower and lower. Each time, every Sunday,” Lailani Rizkallah said, describing what they observed during before recent rains.
The couple, who have lived in Corpus Christi for nearly 20 years, attend church in Sandia every Sunday. After the service, they fly their drone to document Lake Corpus Christi’s latest conditions.
Their footage shows the dramatic change over the past three months. Video captured March 22 shows Lake Corpus Christi at 8.8% full. By June 28, the lake had risen to 34.8% full.
With each visit, the couple said the difference has become more noticeable.
“Islands that were out there, they disappeared, you know, there was a lot more grass and stuff. You could see the contrast in the videos,” Rizkallah said.
Despite the improvement, they said the lake still has a long way to go before it fully recovers.
“The boat docks and the piers out in the air, you know, so there’s a lot more that needs to be filled in. So hopefully, God willing we get there,” Rizkallah said.
The Rizkallah’s said they hope their videos encourage residents to conserve water, while also helping people appreciate the natural beauty of the Coastal Bend.