#texasdrought

View Lake Georgetown, near Round Rock's intake pipe in a larger map. Also, zoom in far enough on satellite view and you'll be able to see where the intake pipes trail off into the water.

Last Friday I officially christened my new reporting journey into the market of Pflugerville, Round Rock and Hutto, Texas.

I'm a multimedia journalist intern at Community Impact newspaper. Blake, the aforementioned market's editor, sent me out to Cedar Breaks Park at Georgetown Lake - Google map above - to photograph the stronghold that the drought still has on the lake and the surrounding area. 

More importantly, my main goal was to get a cover-worthy picture of Round Rock's intake pipe that carries water to the city. As you can see in the photo set above, the rusted object that sits atop the pipe is the screen where water streams in, as I understand it. Despite the recent rainfall in Central Texas you can clearly see the continued gravity of the situation. Also pictured above are water transport pipes that I assume lie idle, but don't hold me to that un-journalistic, unconfirmed statement. 

As I hiked and picked my way along the half mile to the shoreline, donning skirt and Oxfords, I stopped halfway on a crispy inlet to take a picture of a deserted campsite complete with useless boat dock. (pictured above) I studied the lifelessness of the shoreline along with the stark black coats the trees wore as if in mourning. The silence was only met by the gentle waves that apologetically lapped at the bank, and a sole boat puttered by with its motor trimmed high to avoid shallow surprises. 

As I made the returning walk, the sun beat down at 88 degrees. My eye caught the date flashing March second on my camera's viewfinder, and suddenly I felt naive for thinking that the drought was an enemy of 2011.

Click for Texas' complete drought update via the Lower Colorado River Authority's website.

Below, the table shows Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan's levels as of Feb. 1, along with projections for 2012 based on weather patterns- La Nina. Also included are the lakes individual and combined historic lows. You might have to zoom in with your browser (command + for Macs) if you're really interested in the numbers. (I apologize, this is only a screen shot from the LCRA's website.) Also, click the complete drought update link above for an interactive map that shows the extremity of the drought across the state.