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Before the Special Report
March 2, 1999 -- It
couldn't have been a drier February: If you thought that February couldn't have been
drier, you hit the nail on the head. It really couldn't have
been.
March 3, 1999 -- Howard
County prays for rain:
BIG SPRING - Nearly 800 people crowded into First Baptist Church
Monday to pray for rain. "We need to get back to the basics.
God gave us this land, and he'll give us the moisture,"
said the Rev. Eddie Tubbs, host pastor.
March 3, 1999 -- Fire
sparks first prosecution of burn ban: A trash fire that ignited seven parched acres
in Ovalo Sunday could also spark the first Taylor County prosecution
of a burn ban violation.
'The Drought' Special Report
March 7, 1999 -- City's
unofficial phrase: Plenty of water to use, not enough to waste: Curtis Dawson pilots his pickup atop
the Hubbard Creek Lake dam, an elevated border that literally
separates drought from drenched.
March 7, 1999 -- Area
towns differ in response to crisis: Repeated generous rainfalls for the next several
months would cover a multitude of problems for Big Country residents.
March 7, 1999 -- Water
resources need to be used creatively: Water’s a precious resource in this semi-arid
patch of earth, and they’re not creating any more of it,
state Rep. David Counts observes.
March 7, 1999 -- Forest
service is establishing staging area in Abilene: The Texas Forest Service will establish
a fire fighting staging area in Abilene this week to battle wildfires
in the Big Country.
March 7, 1999 -- Tips
for saving water:
Abilene City Hall launched the “Water Smart” program
during the 1984 drought to convince citizens to conserve a dwindling
water supply. The program offers tips for lowering a household’s
water usage both indoors and out.
Charts
March 7, 1999 -- Water
Use - 1998
March 7, 1999 -- Water
Source - 1999 (Projected)
March 7, 1999 -- Contents
of Lake Ft. Phantom 1942-1999
After 'The Drought' ...?
March 8, 1999 -- Rain
breaks dry spell:
A slow, light rainfall most of Sunday afternoon brought a break
in a 37-day bone-dry spell, with promise of more moisture to
come early this morning.
March 12, 1999 -- Big
Country churches pray, praise God for rain: The answer to his prayers came raining
down on the roof of Horace Hoskins’ home last Sunday. For
weeks the retired Nolan County farmer had been humbly asking
God to send some showers. And when they came, Hoskins laid awake
in bed till almost dawn, listening to the soothing thuds of raindrops
and praising his heavenly Father.
Mar. 23 -- Lake
levels not affected by showers: Rain has finally fallen in Abilene, but the creeks
aren’t rising. And neither is Fort Phantom Hill Lake. Though
quenching showers have done much to soak the soil, they’ve
made no measurable headway in refilling Abilene’s primary
water source. Thus, city officials continue to pray for rain
while bracing for the increasing possibility of water rationing
— perhaps as early as May.
Apr. 15 -- Local
business owners pouring in suggestions for city’s drought
plan: City Hall sought
the private sector’s help Wednesday in plugging the leaks
in Abilene’s drought contingency plan, preparing for the
possibility of water rationing this summer.
Apr. 22 -- Water
use limits may be tightened with revised drought ordinance: Abilene homeowners would be limited
to watering their yards one day per week under a revised drought
ordinance the City Council is expected to consider next month.
Apr. 27 -- Rains
take some strain off lake levels, city water: Overnight storms crashed through the
Big Country before ending Monday morning, dropping ample rainfall
in spots. But everyone’s still looking for that elusive
drought-buster.
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