Water School

Every year since 1999, the U.S. Drought Monitor has created maps that include levels of dryness and drought severity. These maps note different classes of drought severity by colors.The drought levels include: Yellow - D0, abnormally dry Impacts going into drought - short-term dryness slowing planting, growth of crops or pastures Impacts of coming out of drought - some lingering water deficits and pastures or crops not fully recovering   Light Orange – D1, moderate drought Im...

The level of water in all lakes fluctuates, raising during years of higher amounts of rainfall and snowmelt and falling during periods of drought. The Environmental Protection Agency has been measuring the fluctuations of the Great Lakes, the largest natural lakes in the United States, since the 1860s. Similarly, water levels in reservoirs, human-made lakes, fluctuate because of evaporation, a lack of rainfall, water supply use, and water flow requirements. Levels tend to be relatively lower in ...

A drought is generally considered to be a prolonged period of less-than-normal precipitation such that the lack of water causes below-average streamflow or lake levels, lowered soil moisture, crop damage, or economic losses.  Droughts are globally the second-most costly weather event behind hurricanes, according to National Geographic. In Texas, during the 2011 drought, an estimated $7.62 billion was lost by farmers and ranchers, according to Texas AgriLife. Not only are droughts one o...

A drought contingency plan is a strategy or combination of strategies for monitoring the progression of a drought and preparing a response to potential water supply shortages resulting from severe droughts or other water supply emergencies. The Brazos River Authority's drought contingency plan may be viewed here.

A drought of record is the worst recorded drought since compilation of meteorologic and hydrologic data began.  In terms of severity and duration, the devastating drought of the 1950s is considered the drought of record for many areas in the Brazos River basin. This drought lasted a decade in many places and covered much of the nation, including all of Texas.  In 2008-2009, some parts of the state recorded a new drought of record.

Xeriscaping [zeer-i-skey-ping] is a form of landscaping that uses native plants and those adapted to survive in areas with periods of low precipitation.  Using this technique can help conserve water or deal with periods of drought. Xeriscaping is becoming a more popular landscaping option because it’s environmentally friendly and saves the homeowner money by reducing watering costs and puts less strain on water resources.Drought-friendly plants also are a great option for households t...