Outcomes of Drought and Population Effects on Lake Travis
Now that all of the conditions Lake Travis is facing are understood, it is time to take a look at the results. For the past 10 years, the water levels of Lake Travis have been declining at a fairly rapid pace. The most alarming drops in water level have occurred from 2010 to present, where it has dropped from about 675ft to 627ft. compare that to the historic low of 614ft and the historic high of 710, the current level is approaching the historic low which is not a good sign. The graph that is displayed in Figure 5
above gives a great visual representation of how the water levels of Lake Travis are now compared to previous years. At its current volume the lake is approximately 36% full and dropping. Now by looking at the aerial photographs of the lake that were taken in 2013 in Figure 6 and compare it to photos taken in previous years, it is easy to see the drop in water level from year to
year.
If the combined forces of the drought, population growth, and other miscellaneous factors that are propelling the water level down continue, the lake could surpass the record low which would force dramatic intervention to prevent it from dropping any further and avoid disastrous effects.
above gives a great visual representation of how the water levels of Lake Travis are now compared to previous years. At its current volume the lake is approximately 36% full and dropping. Now by looking at the aerial photographs of the lake that were taken in 2013 in Figure 6 and compare it to photos taken in previous years, it is easy to see the drop in water level from year to
year.
If the combined forces of the drought, population growth, and other miscellaneous factors that are propelling the water level down continue, the lake could surpass the record low which would force dramatic intervention to prevent it from dropping any further and avoid disastrous effects.