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By Robyn White
Nature Reporter
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Drought conditions have sunk a major Texas lake to its lowest water level since it was created in the 1960s.
Canyon Lake, in Comal County, has plunged to a mean water level of just 886.75 feet this April, Texas Water Data reports. This is the lowest the lake has been since the 1960s, when its construction was first completed, according to a local report.
At the same point last year, the reservoir was at 897.14 feet, so it has dropped from 74 percent full to just 59 percent in a single year.
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Texas has suffered a severe drought for over a year, due to a concerning lack of rainfall. And rain is the primary source of water for the lake. Just under 50 percent of the state is experiencing either abnormally dry conditions or drought conditions, the U.S. drought monitor reports.
In the summer last year, the lake's water levels dropped to 892.65 feet, a level not seen since 2009. And since then, it has gradually continued to decline.
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The reservoir, which sits on the Guadalupe River, is used for flood control purposes, water conservation, and recreation activities such as fishing, swimming and boating.
But the low water levels have meant closure of the boat ramps, which officials are working to adapt to the new conditions.
The Precinct 4 Commissioner for Comal County, Jen Crownover, told My San Antonio that rain is badly needed. "When we do get rain, and the lake levels come back up, that's when the ramps can re-open," Crownover told the outlet.
Newsweek has contacted Crownover and Texas Water Data for comment.
Other southern and western states have suffered prolonged drought conditions in recent years. This is largely being put down to climate change, as warming temperatures are making weather patterns more unpredictable.
Canyon Lake, which is about 40 miles from Texan cities San Antonio and Austin, is far from being the only body of water under pressure from these unusually dry conditions.
Vital reservoirs such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell are experiencing incredibly low water levels due to a megadrought affecting their states of Nevada, Arizona and Utah.
Although there have been periods of increased rainfall in the states this winter, Lake Mead only remains 30 percent full.
Experts are concerned that states in the West and the South could face a water crisis if effective conservation initiatives are not implemented.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the Texas drought? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
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