Lakes Eyed by Cities as Water Supply

As the drought persists and its population continues to grow, Austin has begun considering Decker Lake, a nearby reservoir, as a potential water source now that the power plant it hosted will be shut down. The move could supply water downstream for environmental flows to ease the drain on Highland Lakes, but could be "politically tricky," according to Andrew Sansom, director of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Lakes built for utilitarian purposes have come to be seen as community amenities, he observes. (StateImpactTexas)