I saw this story on our drought. Temps in San Antonio are still in triple digits, still breaking records for both temps and low rainfall. But...it's worse here on rainfall lately. At least the S. A. area got SOME rain lately.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090726/ap_on_re_us/us_texas_drought_water_6
Texas Drought
And for San Antonio, it's now been the driest 24 months in recorded history.
I don't know if this part of Fayette County has set any records, but so far this year we have received only 13.41 inches of rain. Of that almost 5 inches, 4.78, fell in one day in mid April. We received no rain in May or June and only 1.63 inches this month. The pastures are dead, dead, dead! Our yearly average is nearly 40 inches. Makes you wonder where all the rain has gone. We don't have meters on our water wells, but the town of La Grange does. Last month alone, the level of the town's well went down twenty feet. It's scary to think that the aquifers in the state are shrinking rapidly with no hope in sight of replenishing them. Digging deeper wells is very expensive and that assumes there is more fresh water at lower levels. It could be saltwater.
Well the latest from the San Antonio paper says 7.91 inches so far this year, which is 10.68 inches below their normal rainfall levels. That includes two recent modest rainfalls that San Antonio had and we didn't have those. Not being in a town, nobody is keeping track of the rainfall records here, but it runs pretty close to San Antonio's. The rainfall any area receives during the summer is critical during a drought. That's when things get the worse. But at least today is a little cooler than yesterday. Always some small thing to be grateful for!
I am so sorry for all these hardships, I hope and pray things will change soon.
I am glad that my late grandpa who was a water well driller- drill his water well pipe down 750 deep to get nice cold water...I hope we all someday get cooler weather and some nice slow few days of rain....
I keep hoping to hear of new water reclamation projects being planned in the US, but it is never mentioned. Water is fast becoming this world's most valuable resource. I remember when I was a child (more than 60 years ago) where I grew up in New Mexico in an irrigated farming area, there was talk of the water table dropping and that the wells would eventually go dry. But everyone hoped it wouldn't happen in their lifetime. Well, it did. It makes me depressed to go back home and see what used to be beautiful and productive irrigated farms now growing nothing but tumbleweeds. And then there's areas that suffer devastating floods. If we can go to the Moon, surely we could design a system of dikes and reservoirs to get some use out of that water. JMHO.
DNP
We already have the ways to fix this but people dont want to do it.
1. Super low flow toilets. They use half the water as low flow but use air suction to flush. They have more flushing power than the old regular toilets. Available at Lowes and Home Depot. Many toilets are now coming out with two buttons. One for number one and one for number two.
2. Responsible lawns. Hey, lets all plant buffalo grass lawns instead. You dont have cut them or water them.
3. Rainwater collection. A 2000 sq foot house collects 1000+ gallons for every inch of rain you get. I got a 2000 gallon rainwater tank for 950.00 bucks and they have them even cheaper.
4. Responsible food crops. No more rice farms and moisture loving fruit orchards. Grow stuff here that likes to grow here. Dont grow edibles that require tons of water just to survive.
5. Mandatory and permanent water restrictions. Hey, how about we enforce them as well with fines. I see people watering green lush lawns in the middle of the day, 105 degrees and with spill over running down the street.
6. Oh just raise the cost of water and that will do it too. It is going to happen anyway when the water runs out. We might as well get used to it now.
I don't think some parts of that plan will work, IMHO. Buffalo Grass...works well for some, not at all for most. I tried an area of Buffalo Grass in the yard. I really did everything I could, but it didn't work here, it can't compete with weeds or other grasses in a yard, can't tolerate shade or much foot traffic...I've heard a lot of similar stories from others. So I just avoid having any turf grass in the yard. I've still got a very few little bits hanging on here and there. Hopefully it'll work better out on the property near the new shed, where I've planted a mix of Buffalo Grass/Blue Grama, sunny area with very little traffic. So far I really like the Blue Grama, which is, in some places, already blooming. I already had some Tall Grama on the property, this seems to be a shorter version. The Buffalo Grass is taking longer to establish, hopefully will get better next year. As for raising water prices...already is sky-high in many areas. With the economy pushing people over the edge already, I don't think we need people losing their houses because of water bills. And don't you have a little fruit orchard, BTW? I think a bit of financial help from government on the rain water collection systems (without that the tank or barrels would be useless and not everybody is already set up for it) and the barrels or tank would help...many want them and can't afford them...or would need help putting them in. We have a very small house (a little over half the size you're talking about) and our gutters are useless...old and rusted with so many holes not much water would ever get to the barrel, if I had one. We'd like to replace them sometime and put in a barrel or two, at least. Couldn't drink that water, but it'd help on irrigation.
They have develped Turffalo and Shadow Turffalo that resolve many of the issues you described. However, the price is pretty bad still. Crushed granite is a good option too. Many people are using 10,000 gallons or more each month on their yards. I just cant believe that. That would support a whole village in Africa.
Raising the cost of water doesnt necessarily have to be detrimental. You could set a cap and charge more for the water over that amount. The people being that arent wasting wouldnt be effected. You would have to account for yard size and household members. It is do-able. I use less water than some of my neighbors and that includes my orchard and house combined.
A 1000 sq ft house, with bad gutters would still bring in 14,000+ gallons of water in a normal rainfall year in SA. Government rebates on gutters and cisterns would be helpful. Our Great Grandparents did this and didnt think twice. We have just become lazy. The same thing with solar water heaters. They were over 40 percent of all homes in California and Florida in the 1940's. It is like that book about the oil running out in the next 25 years. "The Party's Over".
I agree about mandatory and permanent water restrictions. 3 years ago north Texas was in a drought and Rowlett went to Stage 3 water restrictions. The people of my city did an extraordinary job of rationing their water usage. As soon as the lake levels returned to normal, however, the water restrictions were immediately dropped. I think we should get acclimated to water rationing now and make it a way of life.
Carla
San Antonio comes somewhat close to permanent rationing. I believe there are year-round rules on what time of day sprinklers and such can be used. But on those occasions when the aquifer is full and rain has been coming too often for months, I don't believe harsh rules can ever be enforced even in cities like S.A. Then there are counties like I live in. It is sparsely populated compared to most counties. The county government has little revenue and could spare nobody for running out to remote parts of the county to enforce any restrictions. Probably couldn't do much even in the town which is the county seat. The harsh truth is that water restrictions in many counties are largely voluntary. The resources that a large city has to enforce such things just aren't there. It's hard enough around here to get emergency services for medical, fire and true police emergencies. Believe me, I have a disabled husband and there is no such thing as timely medical help from the little voluntary EMS (which doesn't even come from our own county...medical and fire services normally come from another county). The little neighborhood association here attempts to enforce a few rules it believes are important, but again, things are pretty much voluntary. Loonie, I believe that drought you had might be the one we're still in.
You're right, Linda, it could be the same drought. It was no fun at all while it lasted, that's for sure, and y'all sure do have my sympathy.
Carla
Dare I ask,
Linda, did you get any rain?
Well the storm is over here. We received 1/100th of an inch with 40+ mph winds. A giant bubble of energy formed over San Marcos and destroyed the showers. However, it will all be worth it if LindaTX8 got rain and I am thinking she did.
Yes, just a little bit...nice slow drizzle going on now! But the temp nose-dive was the best part! Down to 73° earlier with what had to be quite a chill factor!
Shoot. I was sure you got half to a full inch.
It got cool here too.
Well...you can thank my DH for the rain today. We've been gone for 10 days...had to drive to IL to celebrate MIL's 100th birthday. This morning while I was washing clothes.....I heard a familiar sound...but far away.....not like I remembered. It was DH running the vacuum...no wonder I didn't recognize the sound! Suddenly, it began to rain. You say what you want, but I KNOW his vacuuming (which he never does) caused it to rain............sorta a miracle..........
So close, yet so far. We still have not gotten any rain. Today is the last chance for the next HOT 7 days. We received 1/2" of rain earlier in the month, but any evidence of rain had disappeared by the following day. It just got sucked down so quickly. I've been keeping my Brugmansias and fruit trees watered and the run off has greened up the Bermuda grass nearby. One of my heifers has figured out that the electric fence no longer carries a charge — the ground is too dry. She is in here mowing the grass for me. I just wish she would stay away from my persimmon tree. Cows love persimmon leaves, but they break branches and knock down fruit to get to the leaves.
I don't remember exactly how it goes, but I keep hearing about an old Texas saying that droughts are broken by hurricanes. There is nothing coming off the coast of Africa. It's all so eerily quiet.
We have gotten 3 inches of rain in the last 2 days and it is raining again. Yeahhhhhhh!
I am hoping it will spread itself out over more of the state.
Now, don't go wishing a hurricane on us, bettydee - the rain is not worth that amount of distruction - lol.
A note to jujube - since so much rice is raised around Houston, I asked (years ago) why the fields are flooded - not for the rice - it is to prevent the weeds and grass which take the nutrients and cause problems during harvest - rice can be a dry land crop.
I didnt know that. That sounds horrible. Flooding fields for weed control. It is like wasteful on top of wasteful.
Thanks for the info.
Oh, I wasn't wishing for a hurricane. Just enough of a disturbance that it would drive away the high that has been sitting over Texas for almost 2 years.
July's new records set from the San Antonio newspaper:
Days that reached 100 degrees or warmer 22
Previous record 21 in July 1998
Average daily high temperature 100.6°
Previous record 99.9° in July 1980
Average daily temperature 88.8°
Previous record 88.3° in August 2006
Austin beat the average daily high record from 1860. The new record is 89.5. Hard to beat a record from 150 years ago. There were 42 days over 100 degrees and should be on pace for 60+ days. Egad!!!!!!!!
The local paper said this was the hottest July ever recorded since records were begun in 1898.
It really hits home that I am now a Senior!!! Cannot go out in this mess...my flowers are going AAAUURG!!! ;-((((
I went to my Granny's senior living apartments today to gossip and all the ladys out front were sitting in their electric scooters just inside the shade complaining about the heat. They said they cant even ride their scooters anymore after 10am. My Granny has stopped walking completely outside. Sad times.
I am still sticking to my guns and think that the first week of September will be when El Nino actually helps a bit. I can tough it out 4 more weeks. It will be tough though.
Yeah, the older I get the more I feel it.
Too soon for fall color.....small Escarpment Black Cherry Tree, dying? The ones on my property are only getting a little bit of leaves turning colors.
A small Texas Red Oak, also looks like it's dying. These natives are very drought hardy, too.
We have had large numbers of old massive trees in this old neighborhood just snap in half.
How sad, was it from drought?
I suspect since it wasnt wind related.
Well, we had a large amount of big branches and trees break in the ice storm a couple years back. What was worse was the large upper tree branches that didn't break entirely, but partially broke and they're still hanging. Not worth removing being away from the house, considering what it would cost us to get that done. So they hang up there still attached, maybe permanent reminders of the ice storm. Along with a couple of cedars that are partly uprooted and bent far over. Way beyond my own capabilities to remove them these days.
Between my area and the Lakehills area I found only one thing blooming recently. I think it's a Greenthread. I believe a water pipe might have either leaked or busted earlier where it is.
That is really pretty Linda.
I'm seeing a lot of mature post oak and pine trees dying. Live oaks are showing signs of stress, too. It can take more than a year for trees to start showing the effects of the drought and die.
I'm trying to think positively...something quite challenging. So, the only positive aspects of drought I thought of so far:
No floods
Don't have to worry about any leaks in the roof
(offset by any breaks in pipes or foundation damage)
Less weeds
Invasive plants less likely to take over
Less pruning necessary of plants
(on the other hand, some have to be pulled out when you're sure they are dead)
Less mowing of lawns (only for those with lawns)
Much fewer mosquitos
No chiggers!
This message was edited Aug 8, 2009 9:52 PM
My brother sent this. Somehow, the humor seems a bit wry -
Your on-line weather report.
It's so dry in Texas that the Baptists are starting to baptize by
sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are
giving out rain-checks, and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water.
Now THAT'S DRY!
The magic forcefield around San Marcos has struck again for the 7th time in 10 weeks. Huge storms get outside town about three miles, they hit a brick wall and then reappear on the other side and intensify. The worst is when they hit the bubble and then create a perfect circle around the town. This is getting really old since just North of us is drenched every time and we are like a dust bowl. It makes me wanna barf! HA!
Anyone else have a magic, evil or alien forcefield around their town?
That must be extremely frustrating, bless your heart.