Rain Helpful, But Not Enough to End Drought
Wed Jan 25 2012 05:10 PM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Roland Ruiz: (210) 477-5143, or mobile: (210) 416-6116 EAA Rain Gauge Network Shows Rainfall Across Region SAN ANTONIO (January 25, 2012) – Rainfall amounts recorded across the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) rain gauge network between 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, and 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, ranged from about 0.6 inches in Kinney and Uvalde counties to almost 7 inches in Comal County. The rainfall amounts reported by the EAA, which are provisional, indicate that varying amounts of rain fell across much of the Edwards region over the past 24 hours. It is likely the aquifer will experience a modest rise in level over the next day or two. However, EAA officials caution that the region is still under Stage I critical period pumping restrictions and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future. According to the EAA rain gauge network, the following rainfall totals (in inches) were recorded as thunderstorms rolled through south-central Texas late Tuesday and early Wednesday: County Average Highest Gauge Reading Bandera 2.23 0.90 Bexar 4.68 1.79 Blanco 0.97 0.97 Comal 6.83 3.87 Edwards 1.42 1.10 Hays 4.99 3.47 Kendall 1.22 1.18 Kinney 0.69 0.64 Medina 1.77 0.84 Real 0.98 0.74 Uvalde 0.94 0.60 The EAA operates 73 “real-time” precipitation gauges that record data on six-minute intervals and transmit these data to the Authority’s office via a radio-telemetry system. Rain gauges are located on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, Drainage Area, and Artesian Zone. Precipitation data acquired through the rain gauge network have many uses, including aquifer recharge calculations, production of rainfall maps, and use in a variety of research projects. The EAA manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately 2 million people. More information on the Edwards Aquifer Authority is available at _www.edwardsaquifer.org_ (http://edwardsaquifer.org/) or by calling 210-222-2204 or 1-800-292-1047.
