Battling Texas' Worst One-Year Drought: Drought Planning and Response in the Lone Star State

Texas faced the worst single-year drought in its history in 2011, and the battle against dry conditions brought on by that record-setting drought continues in many parts of the state, especially in those areas where water supplies have simply disappeared. Although rains have provided relief to some of the state, Texans are taking steps to have water available for future needs and to fast-track water supply projects desperately needed now. This paper features case studies of Texas cities and water suppliers who are responding to existing drought conditions and who are planning for potential droughts in the future. Response measures include water conservation, drought measures (including rationing in some cases), priority water right calls to protect senior water rights, fast-tracked implementation of new water supplies, water reuse, and close monitoring of the status of raw water systems using models and decision support tools.