Volume IV, Issue 1

The Drought Ends
by Jason Hansford

Persistent and excessive heavy rainfall that began in mid-October as a result of a moderate El Nino that developed on the Equatorial Pacific this past fall, and flared up again with a vengeance in mid December and carried over into the first half of January, has ended the agricultural drought conditions across much of East Texas, Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas, and Western Louisiana, that have been in place since May, 2005. These areas have seen cumulative rainfall amounts of fifteen to thirty inches in a four month period since mid-October, which caused moderate flooding throughout the Sulphur, Sabine, Neches, and Ouachita River basins in January. However, the severe to extreme drought did take a toll on the area agriculturally, socially, and economically. The lack of rainfall significantly reduced the amount of hay that normally is produced during the warm season, and also lowered stock ponds or dried them out completely. This, in turn, curtailed the number of cattle herds that area farmers were able to raise and supply. As a result, hay and beef prices increased, while farmers lost portions of their crop due to the lack of rainfall. Many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs observed record stages, especially along the Sabine River, and Toledo Bend Lake. In fact, Toledo Bend observed its all-time lowest ever pool stage of 161.5 feet in early October. This resulted in many towns and communities along Toledo Bend to run out of water completely, while other cities and communities induced water rationing measures.

Many of the area lakes and reservoirs have returned the normal or above normal pool stage, although several reservoirs in Northeast Texas such as Lake Fork, Lake Tawakani, Lake Tyler, and Bob Sandlin Lake remain some two to eight feet below conservation pool stage. This number will continue to dwindle as additional rain falls over these basins, but several more heavy rainfall events are required to return these reservoirs to conservation pool stage. Underground aquifers remain low as well, as it will take above normal rainfall for several months to completely recharge these systems. Thus, a hydrological drought will continue for these areas through at least early spring.