Canyon Lake’s water level dropped to a record low Sunday, breaking the previous record set in 2009.
The reservoir fell to 892.69 feet above mean sea at about 12:15 p.m., according to provisional data from the Texas Water Development Board, and it continues to drop. The previous lowest level recorded since the lake was filled in the 1960s was 892.7 feet, on Sept. 8, 2009.
The lake, which was created by damming the Guadalupe River, is considered full at 909 feet, although it reports how full the lake is as a percentage based on a higher capacity; it’s currently about 68.6 percent full.
READ MORE: Navigating the drought in Hill Country
The lake was nearly 90 percent full a year ago, but its water level has dropped significantly during the ongoing Texas drought.
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, which supplies water from Canyon Lake to residential, municipal and wholesale customers, is still releasing water from Canyon Dam to the Guadalupe River downstream. But above the lake, the river has stopped flowing. The Guadalupe River’s flow at Spring Branch, west of Canyon Lake, has been zero cubic feet per second since July 29, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
With no inflow, the water being sold, released or evaporated out of Canyon Lake isn’t being replaced.
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, which manages water in the lake, has implemented Stage 2 conservation restrictions for residential customers. Watering with a sprinkler or irrigation system is allowed only twice per week, on days designated by address, before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
READ MORE: San Marcos, other Hill Country areas move to stricter water restrictions
The authority has also initiated Stage 1, or “mild water storage conditions” for wholesale customers, requiring them to implement drought contingency plans with a goal of achieving a voluntary 5 percent reduction compared to average monthly usage.
Most of the 23 boat ramps on the lake are closed due to the lower water levels.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed the Potters Creek Boat Ramp 21 this past week, leaving just three of the Corps’ ramps open. Ramp 17 is open to the public, while Ramp 20 is only open to campground guests and Ramp 10 is only open on weekdays.
Comal County also operates boat ramps on the lake. Only one of those, Ramp 6, remains open.
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August 28, 2023 at 01:25AM
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Canyon Lake water level drops to record low - San Antonio Express-News
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