PHOTO BY DAVID LOWE LCRA stage 2 water usage restrictions continue for those on the Lometa water system, and staff urge all other customers to follow those limitations as well. Although recent rains have helped many Lampasas County fields and waterways, the Lower Colorado River Authority is continuing several water restrictions as a cautionary measure.

Lometa remains under stage 2 restrictions, the more moderate of the LCRA's two sets of mandatory consumption limitations. All other LCRA customers are urged to follow stage 2 restrictions, spokesman Emlea Chanslor added.

"The ground was so dry after this hot summer that the first few rains we had really didn't give us any inflow into the lakes," Ms. Chanslor said.

Even with recent rains -- about 11 inches in Lampasas last month, according to weather.com -- the lakes that supply municipalities and other customers have risen only to about half full, Ms. Chanslor said.

Lake Buchanan, for example, is at 994 feet above sea level, below its historic November average of 1,012 feet. Lake Travis is about 21 feet below its historic November average of 668 feet. Lake Buchanan's full capacity is 1,020.35 feet above sea level, and Lake Travis is 681 feet above sea level when full, Ms. Chanslor said.

Waterways under the LCRA's control have a combined deficit of about 300,000 acre-feet -- more than during the drought of the 1950s, Ms. Chanslor said.

"We have a lot of ground to make up," she said.

LCRA staff have estimated between 15 to 20 inches of rain needs to fall throughout the Hill Country for the region to emerge completely from drought conditions.

Although several inches of rain fell last month, LCRA staff want to avoid prematurely lifting water restrictions and then having to reapply usage limitations soon if the drought persists.

"Our staff is evaluating when it would be prudent to lift the restrictions," Ms. Chanslor said.

No restrictions on recreational use of the Highland Lakes are in place, she added.

In addition to water conservation measures, LCRA staff are considering a temporary suspension of new contracts that would increase demand for municipal and industrial water. If approved by the LCRA board, the suspension of new contracts would remain in effect until the last two years' deficits of inflows to Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis are recovered.

A temporary suspension of new contracts would help ensure that current customers -- including cities, industrial water users and golf courses -- have adequate water supplies, but it would not require those customers to limit water sales.

LCRA staff also are considering decreasing the amount of water available for "interruptible water" customers, primarily agricultural buyers who use the water for irrigation. These customers purchase water at reduced rates with the understanding that LCRA can limit or cut off their supply.