Climate Change and Extreme Drought Caused This Lake in Texas To Vanish

Severe weather in the state has plagued some areas with flooding and destruction, while water shortages have cursed others with dried-up lakes and water usage restrictions for the  Summer of 2024. 

After the sun dries up the soil and kills much-needed vegetation, heavy rains or water from rising sea levels cannot be absorbed into the land, making the area more susceptible to tropical storms and landslides.

Water from the lake was seen creeping into the yards of nearby residents and caused traffic issues in the area. The massive storm system caused extreme precipitation, which also deposited a large amount of snow in northern California as it moved West.

However, the rain was secluded to the Eastern side of the state and failed to benefit the dry landscape in Bandera or Medina County, where Medina Lake is situated.

Now, the lake is only 2.7 percent full, a drastic reduction in the past five years caused by ongoing droughts in the region.

The entire county is currently suffering from a water drought, and more than two-thirds of the county is plagued by extreme drought. Residents in these areas will be placed on water shortage restrictions, and each home will be monitored for usage.

More than 80 percent of Medina is currently suffering from a lack of water, and almost 26 percent has been labelled extreme drought. These numbers are up from last year when the state experienced a lengthy heat wave that caused wildfires and even more lakes to disappear.

Canyon Lake experienced its lowest water levels since its construction in the 1960s. Texas Water Data recorded that the lake was a mere 50 percent filled. The low levels caused the lake’s boat ramp to close, and officials recommended that residents stay out for now.

Although the area was plagued by droughts just last year, the lake recently reached a two-year high due to the massive influx of rain. After reaching as low as 60 percent, the parched reservoir is expected to fill entirely in the next few weeks as storms continue.

Lakes have been known to vanish during massive droughts and never recover completely. In 1980, a lengthy heatwave caused Lake Peigneur in Louisiana to dry up completely. The lake bed still sits empty today.

Essentially, if water levels fall too far, the lake cannot recover because the rain will not replenish the water as quickly as evaporation removes it.

However, if the sun is evaporating water and then the weather pushes rain clouds to another region before they release precipitation, certain areas can go dry.

In 1948, the lake was also at risk of extinction. The lowest level that Medina ever hit was 936 feet above sea level.

Water problems are expected to continue in the state, of Texas and the droughts will likely worsen in the coming weeks. Residents are urged to stay informed of all rainfall and water restrictions in the area.

Texas has 23 major river basins that provide drinking water to more than 29 million people, but about 75% of the state’s drinking water comes from groundwater.

If the droughts continue, the groundwater won’t replenish naturally and millions of Texans will experience an extreme water shortage in the coming months.

If the larger bodies of water dry up, the water cannot evaporate into the atmosphere. Without this natural occurrence, Texas will see even more extreme droughts over the coming years than it is now.

If that happens, Texas’ enormous farming industry, which includes 230,662 ranches and farms that cover more than 125.5 million acres, will struggle to survive.

There are already several water conservation programs underway throughout the state, as well as plans to improve water harvesting strategies and increase water supplies.

Certain regions will soon have to follow a detailed water schedule, be allowed a certain number of gallons per household per day, and in the worst case scenario, Texans may have to start paying for drinking water.

What many people don’t realize is that climate change is causing both droughts and flooding all over the world, both of which are detrimental to the water supply.

Extreme weather can and does include hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, flash floods, drought, and heat waves.

This increase in temperature leads directly to both increased and intense precipitation, as well as extreme and elongated drought. While they may seem contradictory, it’s the unpredictability and the unnatural occurrences that cause both problems.

Real and lasting change will have to be made in how we treat planet Earth if we ever want to see it function in the way it is supposed to.