Ruby Ranch Water Supply Corporation will hold a Zoom meeting on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. Additional information can be obtained by calling 512-312-2725. The meeting agenda may be viewed here
BSEACD Newsletter Drought Update: December 2024
After a blazing hot summer, it made sense that 2023 ended up being the hottest year on record for the area. It may come as a surprise, though, that 2024 broke that record and is now the warmest year to date at Camp Mabry. 2024’s average temperature was 72.8° F – a half degree higher than 2023. Last year was also the 37th driest on record for Austin.
Dry Sculpture Falls in January 2025.
Rainfall
In terms of rainfall, December brought an average of 1.5 inches to the Hill Country— approximately 1.1 inches below the historical monthly average (Figure 1). The most recent month with above-average rainfall was July 2024. Last year the region received an average of 31.2 inches of rainfall, which is 5.1 inches below the typical annual average.
Figure 1. Monthly deviation from average and monthly total rainfall in the District’s territory.
Groundwater Levels and Spring Flow
Barton Springs
As of January 8, the 10-day average flow at Barton Springs is 16 cubic feet per second (cfs) (Figure 2). Recent maintenance and spillway operations have influenced pool levels, potentially affecting the accuracy of the USGS real-time gauge. To address this, manual measurements have been conducted, with the most recent reading on December 31 showing a flow of 16.3 cfs. This value is near the Stage IV Exceptional Drought threshold of 14 cfs. To closely monitor any progression into a deeper drought stage, staff will perform bi-weekly manual measurements. The next measurement is scheduled for mid-January.
Figure 2. Recorded flow at Barton Springs over the last five years.
Lovelady Monitor Well
On January 8, the 10-day average water level at the Lovelady monitor well was recorded at 458.3 feet above mean sea level (ft-msl). This is within the District’s Stage III Critical Drought threshold and approximately 1.2 feet above Stage IV (Figure 3). Without rain we could see water levels at Lovelady dip into the Stage IV drought stage as soon as February.
Figure 3. Lovelady monitor well water-level elevation.
Trinity Aquifer
The water level in the Borheim Middle Trinity monitor well, located between Buda and Driftwood, had been steadily declining since late May 2024. However, rains in November and December have slightly reversed this trend, raising the water level by approximately two feet. Levels could continue increasing with additional rainfall in January (figure 4).
Jacob’s Well Spring (JWS) showed little to no response to December rainfall, with flows never exceeding 0.2 cfs. In contrast, the Blanco River at Wimberley gauge has maintained steady flows ranging from 6 to 8 cfs since mid-November.
Figure 4. Borheim (Middle Trinity) monitor well water-level elevation.
Conservation: Protecting Your Well and Pipes from Freezing Temperatures
Though temperatures this fall and winter have been significantly above average, we’ve been hit by our first bout of cold weather. When freezing temperatures arrive, it’s important to act and protect your pipes and well. A busted pipe can waste tens of thousands of gallons in a single home and millions of gallons in the greater community.
Some simple steps well owners, homeowners, and renters can take to prevent such damage and water loss include:
- Drain and detach garden hoses; then cover the faucet with an outdoor foam cover
- Drain irrigation systems and shut off watering cycles
- Maintain a dripping faucet to allow water to circulate freely and constantly, preventing it from freezing
- Insulate outdoor pipes and wellheads
- Locate your water shut off valve in case of an emergency
- Check insulation around well houses and seal any obvious gaps
Click below for more information on winterizing your home!
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Holiday Office Closure
The District office will be closed on Monday, January 20 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 21.
We hope you have a restful holiday!
Upcoming Board Meeting
Our January board meeting will take place this week at our office. All are welcome!
Thursday, January 9, at 5pm
1124 Regal Row, Austin, Texas
The 2025 Ruby Ranch Water Supply Corporation Annual Meeting
Ruby Ranch Water Supply Corporation will hold its annual meeting at 7:00 pm Thursday, April 17, 2025 by Zoom meeting. Check the Ruby Ranch Water Supply Corporation web site a few days before the date for information to access the meeting. The board of directors and PGMS, the operator of our water system, will be available to discuss the status of our water system; also planned is the election of three (3) board members. For anyone interested in being a director please click here for the director candidate application form and information on how to run for a board position. Please note the deadline to file an application is March 3, 2025.
The Ruby Ranch Water Supply Corporation is separate from the Ruby Ranch Homeowners Association and is run by a separate Board of Directors.