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Three Rivers Today
By the People, for the People
Texas Town Declares Disaster as Water Crisis Worsens
Three Rivers mayor issues emergency declaration as drought depletes Choke Canyon Reservoir, the town's main water source
Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:07pm
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As the Coastal Bend region grapples with a historic drought, the small town of Three Rivers faces an existential water crisis that has forced emergency action.Three Rivers TodayThe mayor of Three Rivers, Texas has issued a disaster declaration in response to a worsening water crisis caused by a historic five-year drought that has depleted the Choke Canyon Reservoir, the town's primary water source. The declaration allows the city to access emergency funding and resources to address the crisis, as regional water demand exceeds available supply from surface water and groundwater sources.
Why it matters
The water crisis in Three Rivers highlights the growing strain on water resources across the Coastal Bend region of Texas due to the prolonged drought. The town's reliance on the Choke Canyon Reservoir, which is now only 7.5% full, and the actions of neighboring Corpus Christi to extract more groundwater, have left Three Rivers on the brink of losing access to its main water supply.
The details
Three Rivers officials say the town is perilously close to losing access to water due to the actions of its neighbors downstream in Corpus Christi. Corpus Christi has been accelerating efforts to extract water from the Evangeline Aquifer, which has set off a firestorm in cities across the Coastal Bend that rely on the aquifer as their sole water source. This has led to 'critically low water supply levels' in Three Rivers.
- On March 18, 2026, Texas Governor Greg Abbott proclaimed the ongoing drought as an 'imminent threat' to the Coastal Bend region.
- On April 10, 2026, Three Rivers Mayor Felipe Q. Martinez signed a disaster declaration in response to the worsening water crisis.
The players
Three Rivers
A rural town in the Coastal Bend region of Texas that is facing a severe water crisis due to the depletion of the Choke Canyon Reservoir, its primary water source.
Corpus Christi
A neighboring city that has been accelerating efforts to extract water from the Evangeline Aquifer, which has exacerbated the water crisis in Three Rivers and other nearby towns that rely on the aquifer.
Greg Abbott
The Governor of Texas who recently proclaimed the ongoing drought as an 'imminent threat' to the Coastal Bend region.
What they’re saying
“The City of Three Rivers, Texas, is taking extraordinary measures to prevent the threats of this devastating drought to our community.”
— Three Rivers, City Officials
What’s next
The Three Rivers City Council will vote on whether to extend the disaster declaration beyond the initial 7-day period.
The takeaway
The water crisis in Three Rivers underscores the urgent need for regional cooperation and long-term solutions to address the growing strain on water resources across the Coastal Bend due to the prolonged drought.