Drought in Gonzales, Texas

October rainfall was less than 50% of normal across most of South-Central Texas and drought conditions worsened in four counties. Fayette and Gonzales Counties changed from Severe (D2) Drought category to Extreme (D3) Drought while Dimmit and Lavaca went from Moderate (D1) Drought to D2. The rest of the counties were unchanged. Bexar and Medina Counties remained in D3. Atascosa, Bastrop, Caldwell, Comal, Frio, Guadalupe, Hays, Karnes, Travis, and Wilson remained in D2.At the end of the month, the seven-day average streamflow was much below (<10%) normal on the upper Colorado, lower Guadalupe, Medina, Lavaca, Blanco, San Marcos, lower Nueces, Atascosa, and upper San Antonio Rivers; below (10%-24%) normal on the lower Colorado and lower San Antonio Rivers; and normal (25%-75%) on the Frio River.

The Edwards Aquifer dropped 2.3 feet and was 39.4 feet below normal. Medina Lake dropped 1.2 feet and was 82.7 feet below conservation elevation. Lake Travis dropped 2.3 feet and was 12.0 feet below normal. Canyon Lake dropped 1.3 feet and was 19.0 feet below normal. Most water providers encouraged conservation while San Antonio and Universal City imposed stage 3 restrictions and New Braunfels and Austin had stage 2. Of the counties in D2 or worse drought, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Fayette, Medina, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, and Travis had outdoor burn bans in effect at the end of the month.