Corpus Christi Faces Looming Water Crisis as Lake Levels Plummet

City manager warns mayor and council that main reservoir could drop below 10% capacity for the first time ever

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Lake Corpus Christi has fallen to just over 10% capacity, and city officials warn it could drop below that threshold for the first time ever this week. Corpus Christi's city manager is warning the mayor and city council that the city's main reservoir has reached a critical low, and that efforts to bring a new water source online are facing potential delays.

Why it matters

Corpus Christi relies heavily on Lake Corpus Christi as its main water source, and a drop below 10% capacity would be an unprecedented crisis for the city. The city is racing to secure new water sources, but permitting issues and opposition to a key project could delay those efforts, leaving the city vulnerable to severe water shortages.

The details

City Manager Peter Zanoni said Lake Corpus Christi was at 10.1% of capacity on Monday, and he expects it to fall below 10% this week. One potential new water source is the Western Well Field project, which could provide up to 15 million gallons of water per day, but Zanoni said the timeline for this project is uncertain due to opposition to a required permit.

  • On Monday, March 2, Lake Corpus Christi was at 10.1% capacity.
  • This week, the lake is expected to fall below 10% capacity for the first time ever.

The players

Peter Zanoni

The city manager of Corpus Christi, who is warning the mayor and city council about the critical low levels of Lake Corpus Christi and the potential delays in securing new water sources.

Western Well Field

A proposed project that could provide Corpus Christi with up to 15 million gallons of water per day, but is facing opposition to a required permit.

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What they’re saying

“We're going to show them three scenarios. We had been just showing them one, which is the most optimistic, but we'll show them a worst case scenario if we can't bring on any more water from our Nueces wells into the river.”

— Peter Zanoni, City Manager (kristv.com)

What’s next

Zanoni said he will meet with Corpus Christi Water and others every Monday and Saturday in March to focus on the potential for a Level One water emergency, and he will also hold one-on-one meetings with council members this week.

The takeaway

Corpus Christi's main water source, Lake Corpus Christi, is dangerously close to dropping below 10% capacity for the first time ever, putting the city in a severe water crisis. The city is racing to secure new water sources, but permitting issues and opposition to a key project could delay those efforts, leaving the city vulnerable to severe water shortages in the near future.