Megan Navarro
AUSTIN — The Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) is still in a Stage 3 Exceptional Drought, but without significant rainfall, that could change.
BSEACD is a groundwater conservation district tasked by the Texas legislature to work with well owners to conserve and protect the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, as well as the groundwater resources within its territory. The original territory was set when the district was created in 1987 and extends from the Colorado River in Austin to northern Kyle, but was later doubled and extended down to San Marcos in 2015.
As of Jan. 8, 2026, the 10-day average flow at Barton Springs is approximately 12.4 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is just 2.4 cfs above the Stage 4 Emergency Response Period (ERP) threshold. Also, as of Jan. 7, the 10-day average water level at the Lovelady Monitor Well is 454.6 feet above mean sea level — still within Stage 3 range, but is only 1.2 feet above the Stage 4 threshold.
Water levels for both Barton Springs and Lovelady could slip into the Stage 4 ERP by late March or early April if significant rainfall does not arrive, according to hydrogeologist technician Justin Camp, who presented to the BSEACD Board of Directors at its Jan. 8 meeting.
“Like Lovelady, we could see [Barton Springs] cross around the same time. It could also cross sooner. You can see just within since 2021, we haven’t been in this phase of flow, this low of flow,” Camp explained.
The water levels at the Lowe-Coronado Middle Trinity Monitor Well have stabilized since early November 2025, pausing the previous decline and showing signs of a slight increase. However, groundwater levels remain at their lowest since monitoring began in 2015.
“They show a little bit of flatlining … That's likely a delayed response to some late October rains. However, these levels are at the lowest on our record starting 2015, and, of course, Jacob's Well, that's been reporting 0.0 cfs since mid-November,” Camp said.
While the drought stage was on the agenda, the board did not take any action on enforcing a new level and the BSEACD territories are currently still in Stage 3.
The BSEACD Board of Directors meets next at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at 1124 Regal Row, Austin, but the public can also access the meeting virtually.
To learn more about the district and Stage 3, visit www.bseacd.org.
