Corpus Christi drought restrictions may again loosen.
City officials said in an Aug. 25 City Council meeting that it’s possible Stage 2 drought restrictions may transition to Stage 1 restrictions on Aug. 27.
It’s not a done deal, and it’s not currently in effect.
City Manager Peter Zanoni said staff needed to do some more work and talk with customers such as wholesalers before a declaration could be made Aug. 27.
It would not be official unless or until the drought stage is formally declared.
A new model, completed Aug. 24, is helping to support the change, Zanoni said.
Details of the model and other key information were expected to be disclosed shortly after his
comments.
Zanoni described working with the council in its meeting as part of the process.
A prime difference between the two drought restrictions is Stage 2 allows property owners to water lawns with sprinklers once every two weeks, while Stage 1 drought restrictions allow property owners to water with sprinklers one day every week.
It’s a swift development to only three weeks ago, when the city dropped its Stage 3 drought restrictions — which banned all lawn watering and had been in place for roughly 18 months — in favor of Stage 2 drought restrictions.
The decision was precipitated by an influx of water into the reservoirs, brought by severe upstream flooding.
Stage 3 drought restrictions are called when the combined capacity of Corpus Christi’s main water supply — Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir — dip below 20%.
Exiting Stage 3 drought restrictions means the combined capacity reaches more than 30%.
That happened in early August.
Stage 2 drought restrictions can be lifted when the combined capacity of the reservoirs rises above 40%, according to the city’s drought contingency plan.
As of Aug. 25, city data recorded the capacity of Lake Corpus Christi at about 90% and Choke Canyon Reservoir at about 23% — bringing the combined capacity to about 42%.
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: Corpus Christi drought restrictions may soon loosen again. Here's why.
