AUSTIN, Texas — As drought conditions continue across Central Texas, some cities, businesses and residents might have to limit their water use starting next month.
The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is warning customers about a possible shift to Stage 2 water restrictions, where outdoor watering would only be permitted one time each week.
The change would be implemented in March, and would impact those in areas like Austin, Cedar Park, Leander and Pflugerville— while all customers would feel the effects, industries and cities would be instructed to implement additional measures to limit their usage by 20%.
Some cities, like Austin, already follow the once-a-week limitation.
The transition from a Stage 1 to Stage 2 drought response is dependent on water levels at Lake Travis -located in Travis County and a portion of Burnet County- and at Lake Buchanan, which flows through Burnet and Llano counties.
Currently, these waterways -which make up two of the six Highland Lakes- are roughly 51% full, at 1.016 million acre-feet. If lake levels are less than 1.1 million acre-feet by March 1, and if the previous levels for the past three months are less than the “historic” amounts for the same time frame, then the Stage 2 drought response will go into full effect.
The LCRA said it’s likely lake levels will be under the 25th percentile from December 2024 to February 2025.
The restrictions would stay active until both lakes reach roughly 55% capacity, or 1.1 million acre-feet, according to the LCRA.
Last spring, the agency moved from Stage 2 to Stage 1 restrictions for the first time in roughly 10 months, after rainwater filled the lakes to 56%.