Sept. 1, 2026 - The Brazos River Basin saw only a few months' reprieve from water restrictions before 100% of the basin launched back into the grip of drought. With scorching triple-digit days and scarce rain this summer, water use and evaporation rates jumped, unsurprisingly affecting the Brazos River Authority Water Supply System.
The BRA’s Water Supply System is sitting strong at 94% full, which is in great shape for early September. But individual lakes across the basin are feeling the effects differently, with several under conservation alerts.
“One thing to look forward to is the transition to Fall,” said Aaron Abel, BRA water services manager. “For most of the Brazos River Basin, daylight hours will decrease significantly between now and the end of September. Most areas across the basin will see sunlight decrease by over one hour and 10 minutes over the next 40 days. Less daylight means less time for heating and will eventually mean cooler days and nights. We do anticipate the possibility of transitioning to a wetter pattern later this fall due to the ongoing and strengthening El Niño.”
Lakes Somerville and Whitney have begun releasing water to meet downstream supply needs, Abel said. These two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs store water as part of the BRA’s Water Supply System.
“These releases will supplement the natural flow of the Brazos River in the Lower Basin, ensuring our customers continue to meet their water needs,” Abel said. “We anticipate maintaining this downstream water supply release until substantial rainfall occurs, generating runoff within the Brazos River below the reservoir system. As always, we’re committed to managing these releases efficiently, ensuring reliable raw water supply across the BRA system.”
On Aug. 27, the Brazos River Basin reached a point where 100% of the watershed was experiencing some level of drought. This was the first time the basin has hit 100% since March 31, 2026.
Around that same time, the BRA informed customers accessing water from Lakes Granbury, Whitney, Aquilla, and Limestone that it had declared a Stage 1 - Drought Watch. The drought watch is the result of the drier-than-normal conditions in this part of the Brazos River Basin and is a response to drought trigger levels established by the BRA’s Drought Contingency Plan.
One trigger point for Stage 1 – Drought Watch for these reservoirs is a Palmer Hydrologic Drought Index (PHDI) of -2.4 or lower. The PHDI, a product of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, indicates how wet or dry conditions are within a particular area.
The goal of the BRA’s drought watch is to ask water users to reduce their water use by 5% by implementing their own drought contingency plans. This could take many forms, depending on what each customer feels is best for them and their users. For instance, a city might ask residents to water only on odd-numbered days, increase water conservation education, or take other actions they find helpful to reach that 5%.
The ultimate goal is to stretch our stored water for as long as possible. During these high temperatures, evaporation rates can remove 1/3 to ½ inch of water per day from reservoirs. So, while one person’s conservation efforts might not be big, thousands of people conserving can have a huge impact in an area where water can actually be saved.
The BRA's Drought Contingency Plan has four conditions, or stages, ranging from 1 to 4 in severity. Each stage is tied to a corresponding reservoir lake, storage, or Palmer Hydrologic Drought Index (PHDI) level. These are called "trigger" levels.
- Stage 1 Drought Watch
- Stage 2 Drought Warning
- Stage 3 Drought Emergency
- Stage 4 Pro Rata Curtailment
Should Stage 2 triggering criteria be met, BRA customers and the public will be notified. Customers will be asked to reduce water consumption by 10% or more depending on conditions at that time.
High usage and drought impacts forced a Stage 2 Drought Warning on Aug. 24 for customers accessing potable drinking water from the East Williamson County Regional Water System (EWCRWS). Customers include the city of Taylor, Lone Star Regional Water Authority, and Jonah Water Special Utility District. These entities provide water for customers in eastern Williamson County and a small part of southern Bell County. The trigger point is total daily water consumption at 90% of the potable water plant’s production capacity for three consecutive days. The current trigger was met one week after the Stage 1 – Drought Watch declaration was issued.
“Implementation of conservation measures are critical to ensuring the continued reliable supply of water from the EWCRWS until the ongoing drought conditions subside, and we encourage residents and businesses that receive treated water from the City of Taylor, the Jonah Water Special Utility District, and the Lone Star Regional Water Authority to comply with requested actions from these providers,” Abel said. “A 10% reduction in use will help decrease pressure on the plant and could prevent the need for Stage 3 restrictions, unexpected plant disruptions, or temporary water shortages until cooler, wetter weather arrives in the fall.”
To view a graphic representation of the water supply within each reservoir for the 2025 calendar year, including inflows, supply use, environmental releases, and representation of the amount of water lost to evaporation for the 12-month period, or click the graphic above.
Should drought conditions continue beyond current measures, the BRA may declare a Stage 3 Drought Emergency, which would require a water-use reduction target of 20% or greater, depending on conditions at that time.
Meanwhile, lakes Proctor and Possum Kingdom have been in Stage 1- Drought Watch since March 27 due to the lack of rainfall and persistent drought conditions.
Droughts can last anywhere from weeks to years, with regional weather patterns and local water demands shaping how severely each part of the state is affected.
The BRA’s Drought Contingency Plan is required by the state and is intended to help preserve and extend water supplies during drought conditions. It includes strategies for temporary supply and demand management. A copy of the plan can be found here.
Don’t have time to sit and read? Might as well pass the time cleaning or on the commute with the BRA’s podcast. Hear all about how growth and water needs are colliding in Eastern Williamson County and the projects ongoing to secure a sustainable water future for the entire region in this 31-minute podcast episode.
Or check out this 28-minute podcast episode discussing the ambitious new drought project connecting Lakes Belton and Stillhouse Hollow.
To view a graphic representation of the water supply within each reservoir for the 2025 calendar year, including inflows, supply use, environmental releases, and representation of the amount of water lost to evaporation for the 12-month period, go here.