Looks like recent rain has bumped the really severe water restrictions until December and hopefully the rain this weekend will help even more as the Nueces River Basin appears to be getting decent rain. That said I really hope they make water issues right at the top of governmental priorities for Texas because this problem isn't going away and Corpus is just one of many areas dealing with this. You can't have the population explosion we have had along with the O&G and other industrial uses we have for water continue to expand and just hope we get rain.

Some thoughts that come to mind as solutions:

Increased funding both in expanding desalination and researching more efficient methods of doing it. Currently it's expensive, takes a ton of energy, and you have a big issue with what to do with the leftover salt/brackish water. Seems like we should invest significantly in innovation and research to work on those problems.

Incentives for increased use of rainwater catchment systems. If you have a large structure or house in a water restricted area this is the way to go. Great quality water and efficient. Just have to store it and filter it. Much better than wells. Basically every structure from Brady Westward should be doing this.

Diverting water from East Texas. Currently this is impractical but is there a way to divert some of the excess water from East Texas to Central Texas and Corpus? Houston is basically a flood zone but just to the West it's in constant threat of drought because of how the water flows. Perhaps a pipeline. Certainly worth investing money to see if this could be a solution to transport that excess water and not have it all just flow to the Gulf.

Currently it seems like our solution is mainly to push conservation and pretend the problem will just go away, that's going to end in disaster for us when we get really unlucky with Mother Nature. West Texas is in bigger trouble because so much of their water comes from an aquifer that isn't recharging.

Three are at least 3 desal plants in various stages of permitting and design in or around Corpus, but it may be 5. I can't remember for sure.

One was poo-poo'd by the residents of Corpus Christi and various tree hugger groups so it's more or less on hold. Another is pretty deep into the permitting process and will be almost exclusively for supplying water to the petrochem industry there. Another is not too far from that one that would be a municipal supply plant, but not sure where it is in the process. Another is between Aransas Pass and Rockport on one of the islands and will be a municipal water supply, eventually sending water as far north as central Texas or potentially even further.

Right now there are a couple of pipelines that already send water from central-east Texas to Corpus and the San Antonio area. The one that sends water to San Antonio is the Vista Ridge pipeline - wellfields are not far from CS for the most part and the line feeds the SAWS infrastructure in San Antonio at a prescribed rate per year. The Mary Rhoades Pipeline pulls water out of the Colorado River at Bay City and pumps it to lake Texana, then out of Texana to Corpus. There is also another project in the works to pipe water from east of Corpus to Corpus that will be a stop gap until some of the desal can get online.

Outside of major weather events, Choke Canyon and Mathis are most likely going to be relatively useless in terms of long term water supply for the region. Too many people upstream that are pulling water out of the Edwards and that isn't going to stop anytime soon.

One of the biggest issues with desal is the environmentalist that think brine will kill everything in the bays, even though there are at least 7 massive desal plants in CA that have been operational for decades that discharge brine into the bays there without any detrimental impact on marine life. The alternative is to pipe the brine out into the Gulf far enough that it will dilute easily, but that comes at a cost. And cost is what killed the Corpus plant recently. It can be injected underground, but again, that comes at a cost.

This rain won't marginally impact those two lakes. Nice for the farms and ranches in the area but that's about it. We need slow moving tropical systems to make significant impact.

You need a Harvey level event to park itself over Uvalde to fill Choke Canyon.

Just as an example, the Leakey/Concan area received between 8"-10" of rain around July 20 of last year. It didn't make a blip on the level of Choke Canyon. Partly because the river had to fill all those shallow gravel aquifers before even getting to Choke Canyon. That's how dry it has been there for the last decade.

aggie93 said:

---

Make jokes if you want but this is actually one of the best opportunities for Democrats to regain power here. GOP has to show they can govern and solve problems like this, it's a time bomb.

---

Governing from a proactive approach instead of a "Holy eff, wtf could have thought this could happen."

I mean, it's a thought.

No Spin Ag said:

---

aggie93 said:

---

Make jokes if you want but this is actually one of the best opportunities for Democrats to regain power here. GOP has to show they can govern and solve problems like this, it's a time bomb.

---

Governing from a proactive approach instead of a "Holy eff, wtf could have thought this could happen."

I mean, it's a thought.

---

Nope. Add residential usage, add industrial usage, and continue to attempt to regulate water usage via a policy of astronomical local cost increases to reduce demand. Proceed to kick the can down the road while repeating "we just need more rain. pray for more rain. things will be fine once we start getting more rain".

HTownAg98 said:

---

You need a Harvey level event to park itself over Uvalde to fill Choke Canyon.

Just as an example, the Leakey/Concan area received between 8"-10" of rain around July 20 of last year. It didn't make a blip on the level of Choke Canyon. Partly because the river had to fill all those shallow gravel aquifers before even getting to Choke Canyon. That's how dry it has been there for the last decade.

---

Outside of a small blip in 2015 and 2020, the area west of San Antonio out to the border has pretty much been in a drought since 2011.

The Chicken Ranch said:

---

Even if the lakes filled up, the local imbecile politicians will say, "ta bueno", and do nothing. Never underestimate the stupidity and ineptitude of Corpus Christi leadership.

---

The city leadership has many contributory solutions working, but the hurdles are not easy to overcome for these substantial projects

Especially when you have compromised motives and ethics.

How is the lake level at Medina Lake?
Or Lake Travis?
Is Central Texas out of "drought" or still in a state of "drought"?

Just curious and I don't know where to look it up.

Hubert J. Farnsworth said:

---

HTownAg98 said:

---

You need a Harvey level event to park itself over Uvalde to fill Choke Canyon.

Just as an example, the Leakey/Concan area received between 8"-10" of rain around July 20 of last year. It didn't make a blip on the level of Choke Canyon. Partly because the river had to fill all those shallow gravel aquifers before even getting to Choke Canyon. That's how dry it has been there for the last decade.

---

Outside of a small blip in 2015 and 2020, the area west of San Antonio out to the border has pretty much been in a drought since 2011.

---

Which is normal and has happened many times.

Hondo1 said:

---

How is the lake level at Medina Lake?
Or Lake Travis?
Is Central Texas out of "drought" or still in a state of "drought"?

Just curious and I don't know where to look it up.

---

Travis is in good shape, hell a few more big rains and they may be a full pool. I think around 665 now still rising

Hondo1 said:

---

How is the lake level at Medina Lake?
Or Lake Travis?
Is Central Texas out of "drought" or still in a state of "drought"?

Just curious and I don't know where to look it up.

---

Travis is doing ok, about 75% full and Buchanan is at 98% with rain in the forecast. For now the Highland Lakes are good.

My real point was less about Highland or Corpus or West Texas but rather all of them. We need a broader strategy. Water is a problem that isn't going away and will get worse because rain will never keep up with demand with our growth unless we change strategy.

jt2hunt said:

---

Who has run corpus politics for the last decade, Republicans or Democrats?

---

Democrats of course but that's not solving anything. This is a statewide issue, Corpus is just one part of it. My point is if Republicans don't address it this will bite them in the ass because Republicans control every statewide office. If need be the state should force a solution on Corpus but I'm more concerned about finding solutions for West Texas and Central Texas as well. For instance making rainwater catchment systems the norm in far more areas by incentivizing them. This is as critical of a need for Texas' future growth as having roads and power.

HTownAg98 said:

---

You need a Harvey level event to park itself over Uvalde to fill Choke Canyon.

Just as an example, the Leakey/Concan area received between 8"-10" of rain around July 20 of last year. It didn't make a blip on the level of Choke Canyon. Partly because the river had to fill all those shallow gravel aquifers before even getting to Choke Canyon. That's how dry it has been there for the last decade.

---

It's up about 4% over the last month and rising (just over 12% now). Heavy TStorms expected in Uvalde tomorrow and more rain this week. Need a LOT of course but it would be great if they can at least get it above 20% and buy some time but they need other solutions. The Strong El Nino predicted for this year could help Texas tremendously if we get rain in the right places. It just won't last and we will be back in drought again soon no matter what with our increased demand.

These rains did not do much for the lakes.

Corpus is still screwed

Hondo1 said:

---

How is the lake level at Medina Lake?
Or Lake Travis?
Is Central Texas out of "drought" or still in a state of "drought"?

Just curious and I don't know where to look it up.

---

https://waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/statewide

aggie93 said:

---

jt2hunt said:

---

Who has run corpus politics for the last decade, Republicans or Democrats?

---

Democrats of course but that's not solving anything. This is a statewide issue, Corpus is just one part of it. My point is if Republicans don't address it this will bite them in the ass because Republicans control every statewide office. If need be the state should force a solution on Corpus but I'm more concerned about finding solutions for West Texas and Central Texas as well. For instance making rainwater catchment systems the norm in far more areas by incentivizing them. This is as critical of a need for Texas' future growth as having roads and power.

---

What good does that do when you arent getting rain? The money spent vs. storage capacity and how long it will last isnt worth it if you're only getting once every few months. I think we need to start digging pipelines from East Texas and build more lakes there so when it floods here, we can pipe it to central Texas lakes.

Either build more reservoirs or get started on very expensive desalination plants. Either way there is gonna be some painful costs.

aggie93 said:

---

HTownAg98 said:

---

You need a Harvey level event to park itself over Uvalde to fill Choke Canyon.

Just as an example, the Leakey/Concan area received between 8"-10" of rain around July 20 of last year. It didn't make a blip on the level of Choke Canyon. Partly because the river had to fill all those shallow gravel aquifers before even getting to Choke Canyon. That's how dry it has been there for the last decade.

---

It's up about 4% over the last month and rising (just over 12% now). Heavy TStorms expected in Uvalde tomorrow and more rain this week. Need a LOT of course but it would be great if they can at least get it above 20% and buy some time but they need other solutions. The Strong El Nino predicted for this year could help Texas tremendously if we get rain in the right places. It just won't last and we will be back in drought again soon no matter what with our increased demand.

---

The increase in water level at Choke Canyon is majority rain directly on the lake. There still aren't significant inflows via the Frio River or the smaller creeks

jt2hunt said:

---

Who has run corpus politics for the last decade, Republicans or Democrats?

---

Republicans

Quote:

---

One was poo-poo'd by the residents of Corpus Christi and various tree hugger groups so it's more or less on hold.

---

This one is back on. Reality finally hit them in the face and they held a second vote to approve it a couple of months ago. However, they are still jacking around on selecting who is going to build it. It was reported yesterday they are 30-45 days from selecting and then you are obviously still several years away from getting the water online from it.

Quote:

---

Incentives for increased use of rainwater catchment systems. If you have a large structure or house in a water restricted area this is the way to go. Great quality water and efficient. Just have to store it and filter it. Much better than wells. Basically every structure from Brady Westward should be doing this.

---

Our house we just moved into has in ground water catchment on top of well water. All rain runoff from roof is directed into "french drains" (my term) that feed directly into underground rain catchment cisterns.

Whole home filtration built in. Also on solar (paid for before we got here).

Very curious to see my first energy bill here.

Hondo1 said:

---

How is the lake level at Medina Lake?
Or Lake Travis?
Is Central Texas out of "drought" or still in a state of "drought"?

Just curious and I don't know where to look it up.

---

Um...

It's all the way up to 3.9% full...

My dad has a "lake" view house...

SMM48 said:

---

jt2hunt said:

---

Who has run corpus politics for the last decade, Republicans or Democrats?

---

Republicans

---

Aren't city council and mayoral elections non-partisan?

atmtws said:

---

aggie93 said:

---

jt2hunt said:

---

Who has run corpus politics for the last decade, Republicans or Democrats?

---

Democrats of course but that's not solving anything. This is a statewide issue, Corpus is just one part of it. My point is if Republicans don't address it this will bite them in the ass because Republicans control every statewide office. If need be the state should force a solution on Corpus but I'm more concerned about finding solutions for West Texas and Central Texas as well. For instance making rainwater catchment systems the norm in far more areas by incentivizing them. This is as critical of a need for Texas' future growth as having roads and power.

---

What good does that do when you arent getting rain? The money spent vs. storage capacity and how long it will last isnt worth it if you're only getting once every few months. I think we need to start digging pipelines from East Texas and build more lakes there so when it floods here, we can pipe it to central Texas lakes.

---

It doesn't work for everyone but at a minimum it helps. I have some land in Blanco and everyone in the community out there has rain catchment and not wells. As long as you have a large tank and don't have any significant strain on your water usage my neighbors don't need anything else. At worst they have to have some water shipped in once every several years if they go a really long time without rain.

At a minimum it would provide an additional water resource to take strain off of the system of people that rely on wells and municipal water supplies. Seems like a logical way to take strain off the system for some at least.

Yes, but you know who is what.

Buck Turgidson said:

---

There is no long term solution other than Desal Plant(s). Everybody knows this. BUILD THE ******* PLANT. If the worry about salinity is legit, seems like you can fix that by extending an outflow pipe out into the actual ocean. Every day these inept tards delay construction just makes the pain worse. Bunch of ****ing ostriches.

---

The problem is cost. Evidently, it is crazy expensive to run a pipeline into the Gulf.

Buck Turgidson said:

---

There is no long term solution other than Desal Plant(s). Everybody knows this. BUILD THE ******* PLANT. If the worry about salinity is legit, seems like you can fix that by extending an outflow pipe out into the actual ocean. Every day these inept tards delay construction just makes the pain worse. Bunch of ****ing ostriches.

---

Truth.

aggie93 said:

---

Looks like recent rain has bumped the really severe water restrictions until December and hopefully the rain this weekend will help even more as the Nueces River Basin appears to be getting decent rain. That said I really hope they make water issues right at the top of governmental priorities for Texas because this problem isn't going away and Corpus is just one of many areas dealing with this. You can't have the population explosion we have had along with the O&G and other industrial uses we have for water continue to expand and just hope we get rain.

Some thoughts that come to mind as solutions:

Increased funding both in expanding desalination and researching more efficient methods of doing it. Currently it's expensive, takes a ton of energy, and you have a big issue with what to do with the leftover salt/brackish water. Seems like we should invest significantly in innovation and research to work on those problems.

Incentives for increased use of rainwater catchment systems. If you have a large structure or house in a water restricted area this is the way to go. Great quality water and efficient. Just have to store it and filter it. Much better than wells. Basically every structure from Brady Westward should be doing this.

Diverting water from East Texas. Currently this is impractical but is there a way to divert some of the excess water from East Texas to Central Texas and Corpus? Houston is basically a flood zone but just to the West it's in constant threat of drought because of how the water flows. Perhaps a pipeline. Certainly worth investing money to see if this could be a solution to transport that excess water and not have it all just flow to the Gulf.

Currently it seems like our solution is mainly to push conservation and pretend the problem will just go away, that's going to end in disaster for us when we get really unlucky with Mother Nature. West Texas is in bigger trouble because so much of their water comes from an aquifer that isn't recharging.

---

Researching and perfecting this could solve one of the greatest problems of our time. There must not be much money in it or I think we'd focus more on this.