Last week, I got a letter from the Liberty Hill Water Supply Corp. It was addressed to this house; but to the people who owned this house 3 years ago. I'm in Lago Vista; not Liberty Hill. And the previous owners did not move to Liberty Hill either. I don't know how I got on the mailing list for them. I'm sure sorry for their plight. That letter said to restrict outside watering to one day a week.

Liberty Hill, Texas is a town of about 1,500.

That was last week. Today, I got a postcard from them.

The card reads:

"Water levels have now hit a critical mark. Out tanks currently contain only a few feet of water. Please disregard the one day a week watering schedule effective immediately. There is to be absolutely NO OUTSIDE WATERING. This includes sprinklers, automatic sprinklers, and hand held water hose watering. We are asking that you conserve inside usage as well. If we follow these strict guidelines we may have water (They did not indicate for how long). Efforts are being made to obtain water from other sources, unfortunately everyone is short. Your cooperation is appreciated."

Gosh! That is so sad. I'm really sorry for them. Not only are they out of water in such poor economic times; but this does not help the value of their homes should they wish to move away. This may not be a problem where they will be able to buy their way out of it.

Lago Vista's water source it Lake Travis. It is currently 50% full only (or is that 50% empty?). That's what the stats say. At least I'm less than a mile from the lake. It's been a brutal drought around here. Worst in the country (USA). Triple digit temps for the past week and more to come with no end in site. Good grief! Maybe California earthquakes were not so bad after all. I'll bet I could buy my house back for real cheap. https://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html

It's so dry, that many cities have eliminated their 4th of July fireworks. Dripping Springs, Texas just announced that they would not allow any fireworks. They normally have water problems anyway. I remember that 2 years ago they were going to have to drill their wells deeper.

My sister says that the Atlanta, Georgia reservoir is much better. Remember? They were only going to have about 6 months of water available. That was just last year. They have had rain; and they have gotten water from a South Carolina reservoir for a while as well.

I think we are going to see more of this. I hope not; but I just can't be optimistic.

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- Jim

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." - Albert Einstein

I am glad I am in the "Land of Ten Thousand Lakes". One thing we have plenty of, is water. One problem that is becoming bigger and more serious is water shortages in many places.

People have died over water rights before, and they will again.

Dan

Gosh, I wish I could send you some of ours. N. Ky/Cincinnati, OH areas were
7 inches over for the month of June and we've had another 2 to 3 inches
already in July, '09. It's also been abnormally cool for this time of year, tho
that's due to change to upper 80's by week's end.

Really wet here in Utah and Idaho also. We are finally starting to see Lake Powell rise some which is good news for California. Since Lake Powell and Lake Travis are both on the Colorado River why is Travis doing so bad and Powell so much better?

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The Texas Colorado River is not the same as the one that created the Grand Canyon. I wish they would change the name; so it is not so confusing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_River_%28Texas%29

We need a good drenching hurricane. We normally get some winds; but even the big ones seem to go east of Austin. I guess that's a good thing though.

Other towns have bought water from the Lake Authority. I suspect that the cost of infrastructure and the cost of water would be too much for that small city. They are too far east. I guess they have to depend upon wells.

Oh! That Colorado River! We went boating in Lake Travis once. It was fun snooping in all those back yards of super rich folks.

My daughter lives in bastrop... she said the same thing... Im telling you the same thing I told her...BITE YOUR TONGUE!!!! As one who had to evacuate to Austin, because of hurricane ike.... I really really do appreciate your position, but please dont wish a hurricane on us again!!!! I dont think I can handle all that traveling with all them grandbabies again!

We're finally seeing the sun again after having over a month of rain here in Jersey.

The sky has been a deep blue as well. And streaked with whispy clouds.

Then you probably went by Hippie Hollow too. Nudist resort near Austin. Actually, there are several cities on that lake. The next lake down the river used to be called Town Lake, right in the city of Austin. It was renamed to Ladybird Lake, when Ladybird Johnson died. It too is a beautiful lake.

The lake currently has lots of islands, due to the drought. I think there is only one boat ramp open. 4th of July had long lines at that ramp.

My home is 0.8 mile from the lake. Walking to the lake is easy. Walking back is all uphill. Like the streets of San Francisco.

Truly I don't wish any such thing. Ike and Katrina caused large evacuation into Austin and San Antonio. That was difficult for so many people.

I haven't been to Bastrop; but plan to do so sometime. There is a vendor that I really like there and order from them occasionally. Naturally Curious.

Instead of a hurricane, how about rain from tropical depression? That's some good rain and fresh and clean, too.

I would love to see lots of rain from a tropical depression, I would love to hear that austin and the surrounding areas get the rain they need... texas shabby chic is also in the austin area, and she keeps me posted about the need for rain too...

JFH who or what is the vendor in bastrop that you are interested in, maybe my daughter can get you some information about them.

Naturally Curious is the name of the vendor. I already use them. I just want to visit; because the people are so nice and I've never met them.

Numerous smaller communities up here too, both Ky and Ohio, did without Fireworks on the 4th of July, due to lack of funds. With potentials of layoffs and furloughs for Police and Firemen taking place, the decision was, "no fireworks this year." Smart decision!