Texas Second-Worst Drought Worst Ever

Texas continues to suffer a serious rainfall deficit and is on track to experience the second-worst drought on record. John Nielsen-Gammon told the House and Senate Natural Resources Committees that most of the state is still in extreme drought and the forecast tilts toward drier-than-normal conditions through the spring. For some parts of the state, the current drought may end up being the worst ever recorded.

"No corner of the state has been spared dry conditions, the drought persists at historic levels," he said. Texas has only received 68 percent of its normal rainfall, and reservoirs are at their lowest levels since 1990, Nielsen-Gammon said.

L'Oreal Stepney, deputy director for water at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, told lawmakers that 1,011 communities have imposed water restriction and 19 water systems have less than 180 days of water, three have less than 45 days and one is trucking in water to meet residents' needs. The commission is currently managing water rights to make sure essential services and senior water rights holders receive enough to keep operating.

The state needs to spend $53 billion over the next 50 years to meet the state's long-term water needs, but so far officials have only spent about $3.1 billion, said Carolyn Britton, a senior Texas Water Development Board official. The state is pursuing permits to begin building 5-6 water reservoirs, she added.