City remains on track to hit Stage 3 drought in August, officials say

The region remains on track to hit Stage 3 water restrictions in August as drought conditions worsen, city officials said Tuesday.

Drew Molly, chief operating officer of Corpus Christi Water, told the City Council that “the weather situation continues to be very stubborn.”

Temperatures are predicted to be hotter than average with little anticipated rainfall in the coming months, Molly said.

Corpus Christi has been in Stage 2 drought since March, and previously, was in Stage 1 drought since June 2022.

The drought restrictions are based on the overall volume of the city’s two main water sources – Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon. When the combined capacity between the two drops below 30%, Stage 2 water restrictions are called.

Tuesday, the combined lake capacities stood at about 25.6%, according to the presentation shown to the council.

When the combined lake capacities drop below 20% - as city officials predict will occur in about two months, based on modeling – Stage 3 restrictions are called.

Under Stage 2 restrictions, residences and business are limited to one day every other week for landscape irrigation with an automatic sprinkler system. The day is designated by trash pickup day.

Landscape irrigation is prohibited entirely under Stage 3 restrictions, as currently written in the city’s existing Drought Contingency Plan. It’s anticipated the plan will be brought to the council for discussion in July, according to staff.

More: Stage 3 drought restrictions on the way? This is what city officials say.

More: Here are the rules for Stage 2 drought restrictions – and why they are in effect.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Officials forecast Stage 3 drought for Corpus Christi in August