LAKE SOMERVILLE UNDER STAGE 1 DROUGHT WATCH

  

Lake Somerville is now in Stage 1 drought status.

The Brazos River Authority (BRA) on Monday announced that a Stage 1 drought watch has been implemented for the lake.  The move is a result of the area near the reservoir meeting a trigger set in the BRA’s Drought Contingency Plan associated with the Palmer Hydrologic Drought Index (PHDI).

The PHDI is a product of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and indicates the level of wet or dry conditions within a particular area.  The BRA says that due to the drier-than-normal conditions in the lower Brazos River basin, the monthly PHDI has fallen below the -2.4 trigger for Lake Somerville.

The stated goals of a Stage 1 drought watch are to raise awareness of the developing drought situation and achieve a voluntary 5 percent reduction of normal water use.

Each water contract holder that obtains water from the lake is asked to activate their Drought Contingency Plan, increase public education efforts on ways to reduce water use, notify customers of actions being taken, and take any other actions deemed appropriate.

Contract holders that obtain water supply from the lake include the cities of Brenham, Manvel, Richmond, Rosenberg and Sugar Land; BASF Corporation; Blanchard Refining Company, LLC; Dow Chemical Company; Gulf Coast Water Authority; NRG Texas Power, LLC; and Geosouthern II, LLC.  According to the BRA, some of these entities receive water from the lake when it is released into the Brazos River.

Lake levels currently sit at 236.12 feet.  The lake is considered full at 238 feet.

Click here for drought information from the Brazos River Authority.