By KRWG News
Texas – A Lower Colorado River Authority staff analysis indicates the current drought appears more intense than the dry spell of the 1950s.
The LCRA could seek stricter water restrictions from users after mid-September heavy rains did little to ease the drought.
Staffers this week told board members that the LCRA may ask for "special emergency relief" from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for flexibility in managing supplies.
The Austin American-Statesman reports the board is expected to receive staff recommendations in October.
About 15.5 percent of Texas, all in the southern and central parts of the state, is classified under the most extreme two categories of drought.
The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture's drought monitor map information is down from 25 percent two weeks ago, but much higher than 2.4 percent one year ago.
On the Net:
www.lcra.org
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.