By Richard Zowie —
In this past year in Gillespie County, rains have been like a seesaw ride.
After heavy rains early in the year, weeks have gone by with no moisture.
Area farmers and ranchers hope to see more rain soon to push the Hill Country out of the drought and take care of crops and livestock.
They and others also hope anticipated fall and winter rains will help replenish the wells and put more water into area creeks and rivers.
Local water levels
After heavy rains in May brought floods in Gillespie County, some thought the drought was over.
But the drought status and its severity depend on the drought index used, said Paul Tybor, general manager of the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District.
“It ranges from mild to moderate drought,” he said. “Our local drought index, based on water levels, local rainfall and Pedernales River flow, has us in a moderate drought. However, it wouldn’t take very much more of these dry conditions to move us into a severe drought status.”
County wells are declining, a reflection on the continued drought.
Tybor said the wells usually stabilize after the summer months of normal continued decline.
“However, due to the lack of rainfall over the past few months, we are still seeing continued decline,” he said.
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