It was a big day last month when the US drought monitor map showed Texas to be drought free for the first time since 2010, at least in terms of soil conditions across the state. Well, since then, there’s been very little rainfall, and as KUT’sMose Buchele reports, drought is creeping back into Texas.
The most recent map puts a little over four percent of the state back in the severe drought category and a little under twenty percent in moderate drought. So that’s nearly a quarter of the state that’s something more than just abnormally dry –which by the way is about another forty percent of the state.
The map shows drought growing in East Texas, typically one of wettest parts of the state. Despite the hot dry summer many Texas reservoirs are still doing better than they have in years. That’s even prompted Austin City Council member Don Zimmerman to propose a loosening of the city’s water restrictions. Conservationists oppose the move.
It’s also something the City is been reluctant to do, pointing to the extremes of Texas weather.
