Bee Cave Residents to Water Lawns Twice Weekly This Summer

According to Jack Creveling, vice president of the West Travis County Public Utility Agency, Bee Cave residents can expect to be able to water their lawns twice weekly this summer, as opposed to the current once-a-week restrictions. Creveling shared this update with the City Council on Tuesday, citing the recent rains as the reason for the change.

"You wouldn't know it from looking at Lake Travis, but Lake Buchanan is at 74%, so collectively our reservoirs are well above Stage 2 level." -- Jack Creveling, Vice President of the West Travis County Public Utility Agency

The utility agency, which provides water to Bee Cave and surrounding areas, bases its restriction levels on those set by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). The LCRA, manager of the Colorado River and Lakes Travis and Buchanan, lowered its water restrictions from Stage 2 to Stage 1 on June 3 due to heavy rainfall. Lake Buchanan, currently at nearly 75% capacity thanks to the recent rains, allows for this reduction.

As of March, Lake Travis was below 50% capacity, enforcing Stage 2 restrictions. The LCRA considers the combined capacity of both lakes in its assessments.

While the river authority has already announced a change in drought stages, the utility agency will vote on June 20 to decide if its customers, Bee Cave included, will also relax their restrictions. The LCRA will make the final call on summer water restrictions on July 1.

Despite the positive impact of May's rainfall, Creveling warned that weather predictions for June and July aren't optimistic, with a significant decrease in rain expected. However, he predicts that the drought levels will remain at Stage 1 throughout the summer.

Sources:

• Bee Cave residents could water lawns twice a week this summer