The last holdout – Proctor Lake emerges from drought

The drought of 2022-2024 was long, but for 7 of the 11 reservoirs in the Brazos River Authority's system, significant spring rainfall helped to replenish what the drought took from them. The rain eventually landed in the central basin to replenish Belton Lake, Stillhouse Hollow Lake, and improve Lake Georgetown.

However, Proctor Lake's level remained extremely low, and significant conservation practices remained a priority as the reservoir's water supply continued to decline.

All reservoirs in the BRA system entered Stage 1 Drought Watch in March of 2022. Proctor Lake entered Stage 4 drought conditions in August of 2023, and it was the last reservoir to come out of drought conditions in September of 2024.

Though the spring and summer rains had removed the majority of drought conditions in the Brazos River Basin, the latest drought statistics from the National Weather Service – Climate Prediction Center show an outlook calling for drought to expand in size and strength in October, which is usually one of the wettest months of the year.

Drier conditions often accompany a La Niña weather pattern. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), La Niña conditions tend to lead to drought in the southern U.S., warmer than normal winter temperatures, and can also lead to a more severe hurricane season.

La Niña conditions are favored from October to November and are expected to persist through January-March 2025.

"September was on the dry side, and October has definitely started out dry," said Texas State Climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon, a distinguished regents professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University. "La Niña means enhanced chances for a drier than normal November through March, so it appears there will probably be much less water in the BRA river system than normal."

"The expectation of warmer than normal temperatures doesn't decrease the chances of an extreme cold event like we've had in a few recent years," Nielsen-Gammon added. February 2021 was a historical winter event that engulfed the entire state of Texas. The state endured 9 days of ice and wind chill values below zero.

Knowing that the Brazos River Basin is likely to experience increased drought conditions, water conservation becomes essential for everyone. As a reminder, there are simple things you can do in and around your home to help save water.

Take shorter showers instead of a bath.
If you have a leak, fix it. Those slow drips add up.
Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full.
Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator instead of in warm water.
Put spilled ice in a house plant or toss it outside on the lawn.
Don't cut your lawn too short because longer grass absorbs water better and, of course,
Turn the water off while brushing your teeth or shaving.

As the fall and winter weather becomes drier, it's important to be aware of burn bans in your county. Nielsen-Gammon says, "Short-term warm and dry weather makes it easy for dried leaves and grasses to ignite, so fire risk is definitely enhanced."

"The worst case would be an existing fire that then gets overtaken by a dry cold front with strong winds to allow it to spread quickly," says Nielsen-Gammon.

With the drier conditions that come with La Niña and the possibility of increased hurricane activity, there are some basic hurricane and wildfire preparations that can be applied today.

For wildfires:

Create an evacuation plan for family members, including pets and livestock.
Look for and clear up dead/dry vegetative materials around your property.

For hurricanes:

Know your hurricane risk.
Make an emergency plan with your family—what's your evacuation route, where are you going to the shelter, etc?
Build a disaster kit.
Get connected with emergency notification systems.

For a complete list of ways to conserve water, go here. To see the current drought conditions in Texas, visit the NOAA drought page here.

The Texas General Land Office offers a list of wildfire preparedness tips here, including a checklist for livestock during wildfires. The American Red Cross provides a list of items to pack in your emergency preparedeness kit, as well as a wildfire preparedness checklist.