© 2024 88.9 KETR
Public Radio for Northeast Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cooper Lake at less than half capacity as drought continues

Some welcome rains this afternoon aren't enough to make a dent in the overall drought in Northeast Texas.

This region might not have it as bad as most of the state, but drought conditions are affecting area lakes as well as municipal water supplies.

According to updated reports released today by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, all of Northeast Texas is in some stage of drought.

Among area lakes, Cooper Lake has been hardest hit by drought conditions, with current levels showing the lake at 46 percent of capacity, according to the Texas Water Development Board. (Complete data below)

In the part of the report addressing overall drought, Collin, Rockwall, Kaufman, Van Zandt and Wood Counties are all listed as having severe drought conditions. In Hunt County, severe drought areas are south of a line from near Commerce to near Celeste. Hopkins and Franklin counties are in severe drought south of a line close to Interstate 30. North of those areas, the drought is characterized as moderate.

Water restrictions continue throughout much of the region. Josephine, Greenville, Rockwall, Fate, Terrell, Bonham, Wolfe City, Campbell and Cooper are among cities in the region asking residents to conserve water use.

The area’s vegetation also reflected drought stress, according to the report, with Hopkins County hit worst in that regard. Most of the vegetation in Hopkins County is in drought conditions.

KETR service area lake levels (percent of capacity)

  • Cooper   46%
  • Lavon   63%
  • Tawakoni   75%
  • Bob Sandlin    76%
  • Fork   79%
  • Sulphur Springs   81%
  • Ray Hubbard   83%
  • Pat Mayse   84%
  • Cypress Springs   90%
  • Bonham   92%
  • Crook   94%
  • Monticello   98%

Source: Texas Water Development Board

Mark Haslett has served at KETR since 2013. Since then, the station's news operation has enjoyed an increase in listener engagement and audience metrics, as well recognition in the Texas AP Broadcasters awards.