NewsDrop-September-October-2026

AQUIFER MANAGEMENT SERVICES | FEATURED STORY

July Rainfall Brought Much Needed Drought Relief

By: Aquifer Science Research and Modeling Staff

Summer Reflections:

These July rain events also improved the aquifer conditions in the San Antonio Pool, which is comprised of the J-17 index well levels, and the Comal and San Marcos springs springflows. The water level in the J-17 index well in Bexar County rose to greater than 650 ft amsl on July 25, 2026, bringing the pool to Stage 1 after an increase of

Figure 2. Graphs of measured high-water levels for the Uvalde (J-27) and San Antonio (J-17) pools from January 1, 1940, through August 20, 2026. The dashed line in each plot indicates the 25th percentile value. Water levels in the Uvalde or San Antonio pool have been lower than the indicated value only 25% of the time. Even with the July 2026 rains, levels in both pools remain below the 25% values. Unfortunately, the short answer is “No, not yet.” Although water levels, springflows, soil moisture, area reservoir levels, and river systems have improved, aquifer conditions remain below historical averages for this time of year. The graphs in Figure 2 put our current conditions in historical perspective. The figure shows the measured daily highs at the J-27 and J-17 index wells since 1940. Also shown for each well is the 25th percentile of all measured values. Water levels in the Uvalde and San Antonio pools fall below these levels only 25% of the time. Clearly, despite the recent increases from the July rains, we are still in the bottom quarter of the range. As of August 20, 2026, the Uvalde Pool water levels were 14 feet below historical average, and conditions in the San Antonio Pool were back to Stage2 of EAA CPM — having fallen since July 25. approximately 10 feet, compared to pre-storm levels. On the same date, the Comal and San Marcos springs also showed increases in flow, measuring 215 and 131 cubic feet per second (cfs), respectively, up nearly 110 and 30 cfs from earlier this year. With aquifer conditions improving after the July rains, many drought-weary residents across the Edwards Aquifer region have been asking the same question: “ Is the drought officially over? ”

Figure 1. The Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) estimated rainfall distribution across the Edwards Aquifer region during the period of July 13–17, 2026. The NEXRAD system is a network of 160 high-resolution weather radars that detect precipitation and wind, and its data can be processed to map precipitation patterns and movement. The highest totals were concentrated west of San Antonio in Uvalde County. Dataset compiled by Chad Furl, Ph.D., Edwards Aquifer Authority.

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n mid-July 2026, the Edwards Aquifer region received heavy rainfall that provided significant relief from our prolonged drought conditions. Persistent tropical moisture supplied the perfect conditions needed for sustained, heavy rainfall, particularly in the western portion of the Edwards Aquifer region where parts of Uvalde County received record totals of nearly 30 inches of rain between July 13 and July 17 (Figure 1) . Slow-moving thunderstorms also dumped large amounts of rain on already saturated watersheds in the Hill Country and the Edwards Aquifer contributing zone, producing flash flooding and extreme flows in some local streams.

Despite the destructive nature of the event, the rain events brought much-needed relief to the near-historic drought that has persisted in our region since 2022. On August 12, 2026, the water level at the J-27 index well in Uvalde County measured 850 feet above mean sea level (ft amsl), which brought the Uvalde Pool out of EAA Critical Period Management (CPM) pumping restrictions; the Uvalde Pool had been under pumping restrictions since June 2022 and under Stage 5 pumping restrictions for more than two years. The heavy rains not only contributed to direct recharge through infiltration across the recharge zone but also produced above-average flows in the Nueces and Frio rivers, both of which provide significant recharge to the Edwards Aquifer. These combined conditions continue to enhance aquifer conditions in the Uvalde Pool.

Figure 3. Intermittent streams across the Edwards Aquifer Region flowed briefly after the July rains, including the headwaters of Leon Creek at EAA’s Maverick Ranch conservation property in northwestern Bexar County, one week after the storms.

The current drought period is rivaled only by the drought of record in the 1950s, which lasted nearly 10 years. Since 2022, the region has faced a total rainfall deficit of more than 60 inches. Spring rains and the dramatic July storms have improved conditions region-wide, but the aquifer still faces an uphill effort to recover from the prolonged deficit and return

to historical averages. Fortunately, there may be some good news on the horizon. El Niño climate pattern has returned, and with it comes greater chances of above average rainfall this fall and winter. September and October are typically among the wettest months of the year, still ahead, there is cautious optimism that conditions may continue to improve.

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