Rain Data

In the last post, I mentioned the rain we've been receiving. Now for some facts.

Our local paper, the San Angelo Standard Times, posts weather data in its paper copy. This data is always located on the last page of Section A. Included in this data is information on area lake levels. I want to share some of that now.

First, here are the totals listed before runoff water from our most recent rains were included.

Lake	Capacity	Acre-Feet
Nasworthy	80%	8,192
OC Fisher	1%	958
Twin Buttes	4%	7,668
Spence	5%	26,418
Ivie	18%	102,090
Amistad	25%	803,065

Now here is data on the same lakes 3 or 4 days later after rains dropped more than 2 inches on the Concho and Colorado River watersheds to the north of San Angelo; in Angelo, we received much less rain. As you can see, the rains had very little impact on lake levels; in fact, most of the lakes continued in their downward spiral. San Angelo relies on water from O. H. Ivie. Lake Amistad, though an area lake, is formed by waters from the Pecos and Rio Grande watersheds, so it did not benefit from recent rains.

Lake	Capacity	Acre-Feet
Nasworthy	80%	8,180
OC Fisher	1%	847
Twin Buttes	4%	7,463
Spence	6%	31,275
Ivie	18%	102,038
Amistad	25%	824,342

For area lakes to recover, substantial rains over several days are needed. As much as I hate to say it, perhaps the only hope is for a hurricane to come inland and stall over the Concho Valley for several days. Of course, those beneficial rains for us could mean damaging winds and flooding to coastal areas and communities.

So for now we continue with water restrictions in place, with talk that they will become only more strict, especially with increased population coming in to the area and increased use as a result of oil drilling.