[stratos]

Actually no that is a true picture from 2011, see one of the main causes in my previous post. This is from July 2011.... I think. Do to stagnation of water along the river algae and fungus began to build up just south of Travis county and reached almost to the boarder/coast. The Damming system who all year claimed there was not enough water in the upper lakes was forced by the S.O.S. laws from the 80's-90's to open up. Once threatened with a law suite under the S.O.S. laws the Damming system miraculously found enough water to open the dams for a week. This water flow helped clear out the algae and fungus build up along with raising the water level of all the lakes along the river system.

[Zipperfish]

stratos stratos:

It would also help if they would open up the upper dams and let some water flow down river. They don't and state it is because their lakes are also low. In truth they are but in many cases less then 2 feet lower then normal. One reason for not opening the dams is there as been a long standing attempt to drive out the rice farms from central and lower Texas. By not releasing water from up river via the dam's they are attempting to force the rice farmers out of Texas.

There's not enough water, so local skirmishes over water supplies are to be expected.

On the plus side, NOAA is predicting a 78% chance of El Nino developing this winter. If it's a big-but-not-too-big El Nino event, Texas, California and other drought-stricken states should get consistent above-average precipitation.

[stratos]

Ah but the point is there was enough water in the Upper parts of the system. Think North Texas area. They were/are playing politics with the water do to the rice farmers. Exactly why the want the rice farms out I have no idea.

As for this:

$1:

If it's a big-but-not-too-big El Nino event, Texas, California and other drought-stricken states should get consistent above-average precipitation.

The issue of so many people from Cali. moving into central Texas has caused a huge up rise in the use of water in Travis and the surrounding counties. There is talk of raising the rates on water bills. Not sure if it has passed yet or not. I'll see here in a couple more months if/when my water bill goes up. El-nino has little affect on Texas as far as I know but then again I could be way wrong. I do know it has drastic effects on Cali.

[stratos]

Funny as we speak/type the rain started here in Travis county and it's a good soaking type rain. Now if it will last a few hours (4-5) it will do a lot of good for the area. Knowing how things go here it will rain just long enough to piss us off and make the roads slick then stop.

[Zipperfish]

stratos stratos:

Ah but the point is there was enough water in the Upper parts of the system. Think North Texas area. They were/are playing politics with the water do to the rice farmers. Exactly why the want the rice farms out I have no idea.

Rice farmers--most agricultural users--pay for "interruptable" water supply, which is a lot cheaper than the "firm" power supply that drinking water users typically have. The cheaper rate means their water supply can be interrupted, which it has been--for the last three years.

[stratos]

$1:

Rice farmers--most agricultural users--pay for "interruptable" water supply, which is a lot cheaper than the "firm" power supply that drinking water users typically have. The cheaper rate means their water supply can be interrupted, which it has been--for the last three years.

Interesting, I didn't know that, is it just a Canadian thing or do you know if the US also has this.

[Zipperfish]

stratos stratos:

$1:

Rice farmers--most agricultural users--pay for "interruptable" water supply, which is a lot cheaper than the "firm" power supply that drinking water users typically have. The cheaper rate means their water supply can be interrupted, which it has been--for the last three years.

Interesting, I didn't know that, is it just a Canadian thing or do you know if the US also has this.

It's a Texas thing--it was in one of those articles I think.

[stratos]

I must have missed it and or skipped over it or just went oh crap customer and closed the link before I got to it. I'll check them out again.

[stratos]

Not seeing it but sounds about right for how things work down here. Last summer there was a huge up roar over people digging wells on their land and using the water. I suspect we will have the same again this year. One issue behind it is the low water table here in Texas. By digging the wells and tapping into the water table you end up denying others the use of that water. Yet it is on/under their land thus many property owners have the rights to it.

[BartSimpson]

stratos stratos:

Not seeing it but sounds about right for how things work down here. Last summer there was a huge up roar over people digging wells on their land and using the water. I suspect we will have the same again this year. One issue behind it is the low water table here in Texas. By digging the wells and tapping into the water table you end up denying others the use of that water. Yet it is on/under their land thus many property owners have the rights to it.

Whiskey's for drinkin' and water's for fightin'.

Some things in the West never change.

[stratos]

Touch my Whiskey and we will be fightin'

[Zipperfish]

Hey stratos, here it is:

http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2014/04/25/as-lcra-proposes-higher-water-rates-criticism-is-renewed/

[stratos]

Thanks, found what you were talking about. In my above posts think LCRA when I said Damming System. I just could not think of their acronym. One little hint lake Travis is a river that was formed into a lake section by the Dam's thus.

"and Lake Travis looks more like a river with plenty of bare, scraggly shoreline."

Made me

Something that would make sense to do and I truly don't see why it is not done is to open up the first flood gate and let the water level rise to about a foot or two below normal. Once the first lake has filled back up and if the second one has not already filled to max. Open the first and second gates. Thus we slowly release the water down river letting one section at a time fill back up and letting the system above refill before moving on to the next gate.

[Vamp018]

Eh Strato's, they should see Lake Medina zone around San Antonio and Bexar County. Down in Corpus no shortage or rationing going on. All lakes at capacity too. I know Bexar County has been busy building Desal plants and laying pipe to the Gulf. Down here you can mess with the whiskey, just not the tequila .

[Jabberwalker]

Mmmm. Toilet water. Kind of like drinking Schlitz.