Drought in Zavala, Texas

May was another dry month across most of South Central Texas which exacerbated the ongoing drought. In Blanco, Karnes, Kendall, and Kerr Counties the drought worsened to Exceptional (D4) drought. Hays and Williamson Counties moved into Severe (D2) drought for the first time. Bandera, Gillespie, Medina, Real, and Uvalde remained in D4. Bexar, Edwards, Frio, Kinney, Maverick, Wilson, and Zavala stayed in Extreme (D3) drought. Comal, De Witt, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Lavaca, and Val Verde remained in D2. There were a few small areas that had above normal rainfall and the drought category improved. Atascosa, Burnet, and Llano improved from D4 to D3. Dimmit improved from D3 to D2. All public water systems encouraged at least voluntary water restrictions and many had mandatory restrictions in effect. Some the larger systems had the following: Fredericksburg Stage 3, New Braunfels Stage 2, San Antonio Stage 2, San Marcos Stage 2, Austin Stage 1, Del Rio Stage 1, Kerrville Stage 1, and Pleasanton Stage 1. The Edwards Aquifer was 26.4 feet below normal. Area reservoirs were below normal Conservation Pool level. Lake Amistad was 58.0 feet below normal, Medina Lake was 61.5 feet below normal, and Lake Travis was 28.5 feet below normal. Rivers across the region were below or much below normal seven-day streamflow at the end of the month. All of the counties in D2 or worse drought had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.