Texas drought maps and photos

<!DOCTYPE html>    <html lang="en">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/","20140405092356","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1396689836"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script>  <meta charset="utf-8"> <title>Texas drought maps and photos | NPR StateImpact</title> <meta name="description" content="Maps and timeline showing the Texas drought from 2000 to today, plus photos of drought effects and wildfire damage across the state."> <meta name="author" content="NPR StateImpact Texas">  <meta property="og:title" content="Dried Out: Confronting The Texas Drought"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/maps/2011-10-04.png"> <meta property="og:description" content="In 2011, Texas endured the worst single-year drought in its history. Learn more about its impact on the state and explore options for dealing with Texas’ water challenges in the future — and share your stories.">  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1"> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356js_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/wp-content/themes/stateimpact-hub/js/modernizr-1.6.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356js_/http://use.typekit.com/yey2zgp.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">try{Typekit.load();}catch(e){}</script>  <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356cs_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/wp-content/plugins/argo-audio-player/css/argo-audio-player.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20140405092356cs_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/css/base.css">  <link rel="icon" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/wp-content/themes/statewatch/img/favicon.png"/> </head> <body data-spy="scroll" data-target=".sig-nav"> <header class="si-nav"> <div class="container"> <nav> <h2><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/">StateImpact</a></h2> <h3><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/">Texas</a></h3> <p class="partnership">A reporting project of local public media and <a class="nprlogo ir" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://npr.org/" title="Visit npr.org">NPR</a></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/about/">About StateImpact Texas</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </header> <article id="container" class="container"> <header class="intro row"> <div class="span4"> <h1 class="headline">Dried Out</span></h1> <h2 class="subhead">Confronting the Texas Drought</h2> <h4 class="credit">By <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/mailto:camico@npr.org">Chris Amico</a>, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/mailto:ddbelius@npr.org">Danny DeBelius</a>, <br/> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/mailto:thenry@kut.org">Terrence Henry</a> and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/mailto:mstiles@npr.org">Matt Stiles</a></h4>  </div> <div class="span8"> <p>In 2011, Texas endured the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/topic/drought/">worst single-year drought</a> in its history. Now the state has to make some <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/02/01/five-ways-to-find-water-for-a-thirsty-texas/">hard choices</a> about how to prepare for future droughts and water shortages as its population and water demand grows. Learn about the drought’s progression and its impact on the state, explore the pros and cons of the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/02/24/texas-supreme-court-rules-in-historic-water-regulation-case/">policy decisions</a> that need to be made and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/#discussion">share your stories</a>.</p> <ul class="playlist"><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://kut.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/20120402_me_02.mp3" class="inline" title="When Texas Went Dry">When Texas Went Dry<span class="caption">Billions in Losses and It Ain’t Over Yet</span></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://kut.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/20120402_me_02.mp3" class="exclude"><i class="icon-download-alt"></i> Download</a></li></ul> <ul class="sharing"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/https://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="horizontal" data-text="See how the historic Texas drought progressed and tell us your stories. " data-via="StateImpactTX">Tweet</a></li> <li><div class="fb-like" data-width="150" data-layout="button_count" data-show-faces="false"></div></li> </ul> </div> </header> <div class="sig-nav row"> <div class="span12"> <div class="pagination"> <ul class="nav"> <li><a href="#history"><em>1</em> History</a></li> <li><a href="#impact"><em>2</em> Impact</a></li> <li><a href="#policy"><em>3</em> Policy</a></li> <li><a href="#discussion"><em>4</em> Discussion</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <section class="sig-section-1 row" id="history"> <div class="span12"> <h1>A Drought of Historic Proportions</h1> </div> <div class="span4"> <p>The current drought began in October 2010. Though the situation has improved <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/03/15/texas-drought-outlook-improving/">recently</a>, the drought is far from over — and the conditions that caused it aren’t going away anytime soon.</p> <p>Texas is a place <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2011/11/29/a-history-of-drought-and-extreme-weather-in-texas/">susceptible to extreme weather</a>, and the last year was no exception. Thousands of <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2011/12/23/after-bastrop-fires-a-season-of-reflection-and-rebuilding/">square miles were burned in wildfires</a>, billions were <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://kut.org/2011/10/drought-hurts-texas-peanuts/">lost in agriculture</a>, and its impact could still linger in years to come.</p> <p>The interactive map to the right shows how extreme drought conditions enveloped Texas, beginning in the early summer of 2010. The chart below shows how much of the state was under drought conditions over time. The slide show includes a timeline of how the drought affected Texans. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/#discussion">Share your story</a>. </p> </div> <div class="span8 map"> <h3>US Drought Area by Severity</h3> <nav class="sig-map-control"> <a class="btn" id="play-slider"><i class="icon-play" id="play-icon"></i></a> <div id="slider"></div> <p class="muted"><em>Drag the slider to watch the drought map change over time. Press play to automatically advance.</em></p> </nav> <h4 id="map-date"></h4> <span id="drought-map"><img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/maps/2012-03-13.png"></span> <p class="muted legend-tip"><em>Hover over legend colors for category definitions.</em></p> </div> <div class="span12 chart"> <h3>Surface Area of Texas in Drought by Severity</h3> <div id="texas-drought" style="width: 100%; height: 175px;"></div> <div class="legend"> <ul> <li><i class="icon-question-sign d0" data-placement="top" data-title="" data-content="This is the lightest level, which means the area is either “going into drought: short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops or pastures” or getting out of drought, which means “some lingering water deficits; and pastures or crops not fully recovered,” according to the National Drought Monitor." rel="popover"></i>Abnormally Dry</li> <li><i class="icon-question-sign d1" data-placement="top" data-title="" data-content="This level of drought involves “some damage to crops, pastures; streams, reservoirs, or wells low, some water shortages developing or imminent; and voluntary water-use restrictions requested,” according to the monitor." rel="popover"></i>Moderate Drought</li> <li><i class="icon-question-sign d2" data-placement="top" data-title="" data-content="This level means that “crop or pasture losses likely; water shortages common; and water restrictions imposed,” the monitor states." rel="popover"></i>Severe Drought</li> <li><i class="icon-question-sign d3" data-placement="top" data-title="" data-content="This is the second-highest level of drought, with “major crop/pasture losses” and “widespread water shortages or restrictions.”" rel="popover"></i>Extreme Drought</li> <li><i class="icon-question-sign d4" data-placement="top" data-title="" data-content="This is the most intense level of drought. This level involves “exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; shortages of water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water emergencies.”" rel="popover"></i>Exceptional Drought</li> </ul> <div class="clearfix"></div> </div> </div> <h3 class="span12">Drought Timeline</h3> <div id="myCarousel" class="carousel slide span12">  <div class="carousel-inner"> <div class="active item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/october_2010.jpg"> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>October 2010</h4> <p>The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/topic/la-nina/">La Niña weather pattern</a> begins, starting the current drought.</p> <p class="credit muted">NASA JPL</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/march_2011.jpg"> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>March 2011</h4> <p>River beds go dry at Big Bend National Park, which went without rain for months.</p> <p class="credit muted">AP Photo/Mike Graczyk</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/april_2011.jpg"> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>April 5, 2011</h4> <p>The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://kut.org/2011/04/fire-crews-gain-upper-hand/">first wildfires begin</a> west of Marfa, burning more than 60,000 acres and destroying more than 50 homes. Entire herds of cattle are killed.</p> <p class="credit muted">AP Photo/bigbendnow.com, Alberto Tomas Halpern</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/marchmay_2011.jpg" alt=""> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>March-May 2011</h4> <p>Tyler Gray stirs up a cloud of dust as he pulls a tiller across a dry cotton field near Lubbock, Texas, trying to break up hardened ground. Texas experiences its driest spring on record last year.</p> <p class="credit muted">AP Photo/Betsy Blaney</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/august_2011A.jpg" alt=""> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>August 2011</h4> <p>Texas has one of its hottest summers on record, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://kut.org/2011/07/farmers-fields-wither-in-drought-2/">exacerbating the drought</a>. Ranch owner Myron Calley stands next a drying pond at his ranch near Snyder.</p> <p class="credit muted">AP Photo/Jae C. Hong</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/september_2011.jpg" alt=""> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>September 2011</h4> <p>Bastrop-area residents examine damage to their home after a wildfire. Central Texas fires destroy 1,600 homes and hundreds of square miles. Two people are killed.</p> <p class="credit muted">Photo by Erich Schlegel/Getty Images</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/october_driest.jpg" alt=""> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>October 2011</h4> <p>Texas has its driest 12-month period in history, with only 11 inches of rain on average in the state. (The average is 27 inches.) Peanut farmers <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://kut.org/2011/10/drought-hurts-texas-peanuts/">suffer a terrible year</a> of farming. The oyster season <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/02/10/new-reefs-and-new-hopes-for-the-texas-gulf-oyster/">is almost entirely lost</a>. At left, smoke from the wildfires hangs over Bastrop County.</p> <p class="credit muted">Photo by Erich Schlegel/Getty Images</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/october_water.jpg" alt=""> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>October 2011</h4> <p>Record dryness and extreme temperatures make water an even more valuable commodity. Of the 4,700 public water systems in Texas, 1,000 of them are under use restrictions. Those restrictions continue through March 2012.</p> <p class="credit muted">Photo courtesy of PBS Newshour</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/october_lubbock.jpg" alt=""> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>October 2011</h4> <p> Without crops in the ground, a dust storm sweeps through Lubbock, enveloping the city in a dirty haze in a scene reminiscent of the Dust Bowl years.</p> <p class="credit muted">AP Photo/John Holsenbeck</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/1950.jpg" alt=""> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>December 2011</h4> <p>Texas ends its driest year on record, with an average of only 14.8 inches of rain. The only comparable drought occurred during the drought of record during the 1950s. Above, a farmer hoped a distant rainstorm would bring relief to his land in 1953.</p> <p class="credit muted">Photo by John Dominis/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> <div class="item"> <img src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/timeline/spicewood.jpg" alt=""> <div class="carousel-caption"> <h4>January 2012</h4> <p>The small town of Spicewood Beach, about 40 miles outside of Austin, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/topic/spicewood-beach/">runs out of water</a>. At left, a driver delivers a 7,000-gallon tank of water to the community.</p> <p class="credit muted">Photo courtesy of PBS Newshour</p> <p class="discuss"><strong>SHARE YOUR PICTURES:</strong> <a class="scroller" href="#discussion"><br> <i class="icon-camera"></i> Tell us how the drought affected your business, your home — or your way of life.</a></p> </div> </div> </div>  <a class="btn left" href="#myCarousel" data-slide="prev"><i class="icon-arrow-left"></i></a> <a class="btn right" href="#myCarousel" data-slide="next"><i class="icon-arrow-right"></i></a> </div> </section> <section class="sig-section-1 row" id="impact"> <h1 class="span12">Far-Reaching Effects</h1> <div class="span4"> <p>The drought's impact has been <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://kut.org/2011/08/in-drought-ranchers-sending-more-cattle-to-auction-2/">severe</a>, costing the state billions of dollars. These maps show where wildfires monitored by the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://txforestservice.tamu.edu/main/default.aspx">Texas Forest Service</a> spread last year, destroying homes and charring thousands of square miles. <div class="summary-stats charts"> <h4>Fires</h4>  <div id="fires-chart" style="width: 100%; height: 100px;"></div> <h4>Square Miles Burned</h4>  <div id="area-chart" style="width: 100%; height: 100px;"></div> <h4>Homes Destroyed</h4>  <div id="homes-chart" style="width: 100%; height: 100px;"></div> <h4>Drought-Related Deaths</h4>  <div id="deaths-chart" style="width: 100%; height: 100px;"></div> </div> </p> </div> <div class="span8">  <div id="map" style="width: 620px; height: 580px;"> <ul class="nav nav-pills nav-stacked"> <li class="active"><a data-target="http://a.tiles.mapbox.com/v3/npr.texas-wildfires-homes.jsonp" href="javascript:void">Homes Destroyed</a></li> <li><a data-target="http://a.tiles.mapbox.com/v3/npr.texas-wildfires-miles.jsonp" href="javascript:void">Square Miles Burned</a></li> </ul> <div class="legend"> <p class="instructions">Hover over bubbles for fire data.</p> <p class="metric houses"><span></span> Larger symbols represent more homes lost.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> <div class="summary-stats span12"> <div class="row"> <div class="span4"> <h4>Agricultural Losses 2011</h4> <p>$7.62 billion</p> </div> <div class="span4"> <h4>Cattle Sector Losses 2011</h4> <p>$3.23 billion</p> </div> <div class="span4"> <h4>Cotton Production Losses 2011</h4> <p>$2.2 billion</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="stories"> <h3 class="span12">Inside the Impact</h3> <div class="story span3"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2011/12/23/after-bastrop-fires-a-season-of-reflection-and-rebuilding/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/files/2011/12/IMG_0141-100x100.jpg" class="pull-left"></a> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2011/12/23/after-bastrop-fires-a-season-of-reflection-and-rebuilding/">After Bastrop Fires, a Season of Reflection and Rebuilding</a></h4> </div> <div class="story span3"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/01/26/during-texas-drought-will-spicewood-beach-be-the-first-town-to-run-dry/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/files/2012/01/IMG_6132-100x100.jpg" class="pull-left"></a> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/01/26/during-texas-drought-will-spicewood-beach-be-the-first-town-to-run-dry/">During Texas Drought, Will Spicewood Beach Be the First to Run Dry?</a></h4> </div> <div class="story span3"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2011/11/25/texas-asks-hunters-for-help-in-the-drought/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/files/2011/11/deer2-100x100.jpg" class="pull-left"></a> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2011/11/25/texas-asks-hunters-for-help-in-the-drought/">Texas Asks Hunters for Help in the Drought</a></h4> </div> <div class="story span3"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2011/12/27/racing-to-salvage-millions-of-dead-trees-in-texas/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/files/2011/12/IMG_1034-100x100.jpg" class="pull-left"></a> <h4><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2011/12/27/racing-to-salvage-millions-of-dead-trees-in-texas/">The Race to Salvage Millions of Dead Trees in Texas</a></h4> </div> </div> </section> <section class="sig-section-1 row" id="policy"> <div class="span12"> <h1>Policy Responses</h1> <div class="intro-copy"> <p>Various plans for dealing with future droughts and growing demand for water in Texas exist, but most comprehensive — and accepted — is the state <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/02/01/five-ways-to-find-water-for-a-thirsty-texas/">Water Plan</a>. It offers a frank assessment of the current landscape, saying Texas “does not and will not have enough water to meet the needs of its people, its businesses, and its agricultural enterprises.” It predicts that “if a drought affected the entire state like it did in the 1950s,” Texas could lose around $116 billion, over a million jobs, and the growing state's population could actually shrink by 1.4 million people. </p> <p>The water plan also offers a range of solutions for dealing with the problem, focusing mainly on conservation and efficiency, but also on building new reservoirs, tapping additional sources of water underground and treating effluent water. The biggest question, however is where the money will come from to pay for it. It has a price tag of $52 billion, or roughly $2,000 per Texan, through 2060. The state’s entire biennial budget for fiscal years 2012-2013 is just over $170 billion. Read more <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/02/01/five-ways-to-find-water-for-a-thirsty-texas/">here</a>.</p> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="span6"> <h3>Conservation</h3> <p><img class="pull-right" src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/policy/conservation_policy.jpg">Texas’ population is expected to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/drought/pdf/96-1704-Drought.pdf">increase 82 percent</a> over the next 50 years, but the amount of water the state needs is expected to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/state_water_plan/2012/00.pdf">decline</a>. Some of the water in the new plan is expected to come from conservation by municipal customers and farmers. While Texans aren’t generally known for limiting their water use, conservation strategies in San Antonio, El Paso and Austin, among others, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/02/01/five-ways-to-find-water-for-a-thirsty-texas/">have proven effective</a>. Expect to see more stringent water restrictions as droughts become more frequent and severe.</p> </div> <div class="span6"> <h3>New Reservoirs</h3> <p><img class="pull-right" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/files/2012/01/Drought-Lake-Travis-011112_0017-3-100x100.jpg">Most of the water will come from what the plan calls “other surface water,” which would involve better connecting existing surface water supplies and building <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/03/02/how-rice-farming-in-texas-could-still-have-a-future/">off-channel reservoirs</a>. That would provide 34 percent of the new water supplies in the plan.The plan also suggests building 26 new large reservoirs that would provide 16.7 percent of the new water needed in the plan. But they’re going to be costly, some of them topping $3 billion in construction costs. And they could face opposition from landowners.</p> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="span6"> <h3>Tapping Underground Water</h3> <p><img class="pull-right" src="/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/drought/img/policy/groundwater1.jpg">Groundwater will provide another 9 percent of Texas’ new water in the new plan, through desalination, new wells, treatment plants and other strategies to maximize supply. But desalination, used for some ground water and also sea water, is expensive and energy-intensive. Groundwater also is still a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/03/01/taking-a-deeper-look-at-the-texas-supreme-courts-ruling-on-water/">thorny legal issue</a>.</p> </div> <div class="span6"> <h3>Treating Wastewater</h3> <p><img class="pull-right" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/files/2011/12/IMG_1009-100x100.jpg">Treating and reusing wastewater from cities makes up ten percent of the new water supply, but the biggest obstacle here is the yuck factor. (That hasn’t stopped people in Houston, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2011/12/21/dallas-wastewater-keeps-trinity-flowing-houston-drinking/">who drink treated wastewater</a> sent down from Dallas every year.) And it could lead to more disputes over sourcing and water rights.</p> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="span6"> <h3>Fire Prevention and Preparedness</h3> <p><img class="pull-right" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356im_/http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/files/2011/11/123955234-100x100.jpg">Funding for the Texas Forest Service is down $34.7 million for the next two years after cuts by the 82nd Texas Legislature in 2010, with most of the reduction <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/http://kut.org/2012/01/volunteer-fire-department-budgets-under-stress/">hitting grants to volunteer fire departments</a>. The Texas Forest Service says that they “will place a priority on training, protective equipment and clothing” in distributing what funds they do have to the volunteers, but that the reductions will prevent them from ordering any new trucks this year and next.</p> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="sig-section-1 row" id="discussion"> <div class="span12"> <h1>Join the Discussion</h1> </div> <div class="span4"> <p>We want to hear your story. Tell us how the drought has affected your business, your home — or your way of life. Send us your stories, photos or videos.</p> <p>You can email them to <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140405092356/mailto: news@kut.org">news@kut.org</a>, or you can leave a voicemail at (512) 537-SITX (7489). 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Texas drought maps and photos | NPR StateImpact