Barton Springs Aquifer Nears Historic Drought Emergency

Central Texas water district may declare first-ever 'Stage 4' drought as groundwater levels plummet.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District in Austin, Texas is nearing an unprecedented 'Stage 4 Emergency Response Period' due to prolonged drought conditions that have caused groundwater levels and spring flows to drop to dangerously low levels. This would be the first time the district has declared a Stage 4 drought in its 39-year history.

Why it matters

The Barton Springs aquifer is a critical water source for the Austin area, providing water for the iconic Barton Springs pool that is a popular destination for University of Texas students. A Stage 4 drought declaration would have significant ecological impacts on the springs and could lead to water use restrictions for residents.

The details

The district monitors drought conditions through flow at Barton Springs and groundwater levels at the Lovelady monitoring well. With groundwater levels less than a foot away from the Stage 4 threshold, the district says it is nearing this historic declaration, which would follow the current Stage 3 Exceptional Drought in place since October 2025. Causes of the drought include population growth increasing water demand and climate change reducing rainfall to refill the aquifer.

  • The Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District announced the impending Stage 4 drought on January 28, 2026.
  • The Stage 4 Emergency Response Period could be declared as soon as late March 2026.

The players

Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District

The regional water management district responsible for the Barton Springs aquifer, which provides water for the city of Austin and surrounding areas.

Shay Hlavaty

The communications and outreach manager for the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.

Marcus Gary

A research associate professor at the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences who studies drought conditions in Central Texas.

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What they’re saying

“At Lovelady monitoring well, … we are less than a foot away from hitting that threshold. Groundwater levels are declining and flow is declining because we've had such low rainfall over a long period of time, and now we're approaching really dangerously low levels in the aquifers.”

— Shay Hlavaty, Communications and Outreach Manager, Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (The Daily Texan)

“The (Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer district) is not the only place in the state that is experiencing these kinds of conditions, so I think it's reflective of issues that we're seeing more broadly across the state.”

— Marcus Gary, Research Associate Professor, University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences (The Daily Texan)

What’s next

The Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District will monitor groundwater levels at the Lovelady well and make a decision on whether to declare a Stage 4 Emergency Response Period in late March 2026.

The takeaway

The impending Stage 4 drought declaration for the Barton Springs aquifer highlights the growing water scarcity challenges facing Central Texas due to population growth and climate change. While the city of Austin's main water supply comes from the Highland Lakes, the Barton Springs aquifer is a critical ecological and recreational resource that requires urgent conservation efforts from both local authorities and individual residents.