A water emergency that at one point threatened to descend on Corpus Christi as early as May 2026 is now projected for more than two years later — a dramatic, lengthy reprieve from a circumstance that would
have seen among the harshest of water restrictions.
Projections now show a potential water emergency called in September 2028, said City Manager Peter Zanoni in a July 27 news conference.
The combined capacity of Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir has risen by 10 percentage points since late June — about 25.5% as of July 26, compared to about 15.5% in late June, according to city data.
While Choke Canyon has seen a significant turnaround, Lake Corpus Christi hasn’t yet begun receiving the waters of the Nueces River, still making their way south, according to Zanoni.
That water is expected to make it to Lake Corpus Christi this weekend, he said.
It could mean that the combined capacity of Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir may reach 30%. The number would be significant because that’s the number in which the city would transition from Stage 3 drought restrictions to Stage 2 drought restrictions.
That would mean that residents and other customers, banned from watering lawns since December 2025, could begin watering their properties one day every other week.
The change isn’t automatic.
Zanoni would need to declare any change in drought restriction stage.
A declaration is likely to be made next week, he said.
Kirsten Crow covers city government and water news. Have a story idea? Contact her at kirsten.crow@caller.com.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Recent Texas rains improve outlook for Corpus Christi water supply
