Rain fails to boost Lake Travis but will likely help aquifer levels

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Though heavy rain Monday did not fall in the right places to boost Lake Travis levels, it did fall in the right area to help refill an underground lake that more than 60,000 people depend upon for their drinking water.

The Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer is an underground water reservoir that serves many residents' water needs from south Austin to Kyle. For the first time in history, the aquifer's conservation district declared Stage 4 Exceptional Drought in Dec. 2023.

When heavy rain falls in the aquifer's recharge zone, holes in the ground and caves called 'karst features' funnel rainwater into the underground lake. The aquifer also discharges water in some areas including Barton Springs Pool.

"It's a little too early to know exactly how the groundwater system will be impacted," Jeff Watson, staff hydrogeologist with the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District said. "But we did see a lot of rainfall across the Edwards recharge zone that feeds Barton Springs."

Watson mentions that a promising sign visible to all of us is that Slaughter Creek, Onion Creek, and Williamson Creek have all seen a big spike in water flows from the rain. These creeks all help recharge the aquifer.

Watson said aquifer levels can take two to three weeks to fully respond after a rainfall event, so it is unclear whether or not aquifer levels will rise enough to climb out of the unprecedented Stage 4 drought declaration.

"If we see a big spike in water level in the [Lovelady] Well, I think there is a good chance that we could go to a lesser drought stage," Watson said. "It wouldn't surprise me if it takes a few more of these big rainfall events to really turn things around and be able to say that we are officially out of drought."