Members of the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District of Board of Directors expressed disappointment related to the amount of local rainfall last week.
“It was far less than expected,” Pct. 1 Director Kathy Griffis-Bailey said during the March 18 meeting in Burnet at the district headquarters, 225 South Pierce Street.
General Manager Mitchell Sodek agreed.
“Overall, it is still pretty dry,” Sodek said. “For sure, we are still in a drought.”
In turn, the board decided to change levels of voluntary drought restrictions from Stage 2 moderate to Stage 3 severe.
“The change reflects our continuous concern with where we are at,” Board President Ryan Rowney said.
Stage 3 voluntary restrictions include limiting outdoor lawn and landscape watering from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.; limiting watering lawns and landscapes to once every five to seven days; washing cars at a car wash only when needed; and keeping decorative fountains, landscape ponds and swimming pools covered whenever possible to reduced evaporation.
As the meeting turned to other matters, the board approved more than $2,700 for the purchase of new chairs and tables from Cox Furniture for the new district headquarters building at 303 Bluebonnet Drive, scheduled to open in May.
Also, the board renewed its commitment to set aside $5,000 to support its sponsorship of the 4-H Water Ambassador Program during upcoming summer months.
The program aims to provide at least 30 students with vital information and encourage their interest related to Texas groundwater conservation efforts, as well offer a tour to the Ellenburger Aquifer well in Burnet at Haley-Nelson Park.
“It is a great program,” board member Randy Bindseil said.
Board district staff members will continue to consider “new ideas” to attract more students to the program, Sodek said.
Before the meeting ended, the board agreed to call on administrative consultant Julia Stafford to report recent findings related to district employee salaries during the meeting next month.
The next board meeting is 9 a.m. April 21, in Burnet at the district headquarters, 225 South Pierce Street.
