I'm certain any major pipeline system would be an astronomical expense. And bio-security measures would have to be built-in with redundancy. It just seems like unthinkable alternatives have to start being considered if water supplies keep dropping. One might consider putting a population cap on west Texas cities... I know that one would go over like a fart in a diving helmet but options seem to be getting slim.

May be wrong, but think one of the main reason's they built OC Fisher (originally North Concho lake) was for flood control. San Angelo had a big flood way back before that lake was built. Think the last time it caught much water was back in 70's or 80's Concho River was up to the bridge at the park just above the lake.

After that San Angelo was a great place to live if you fished. OC Fisher had enough water to launch a boat, Twin Buttes had water through the equalization channel, and Spence was near full and who cared about Nasworthy.

Depends on the area, right's of way, environmental considerations, big brother and on and on. There's one built up north that is 400 miles long. Cost $360 million to build. That's $171/foot.

There's another proposed for the Corpus Christie area. 40 miles at a cost of $126 million. That's $585/foot.

OH Ivie is a great success compared to Optima Lake or Palo Duro.

Optima never got over 5% water capacity.

San Angelo is currently constructing a pipeline from the Hickory Aquifer in McCulloch County. The problem with the water qaulity is the amount of radium in the water. Treatment to reduce the levels of radium to acceptible levels is the current point of discussion. Otherwise you might notice a light green glow when you look west and south from the DFW area.

This is America, there is no way a population cap will ever be come to fruition. There are going to be massive water infastructure projects over the next 50 years. The cost of water will rise, but that is typically how supply and demand works. Texas needs a comprehensive water plan asap.

Possible Win/Win situation. Since unemployment and governmental waste are already at a staggering rate in our country , why not combine the two??

Create a modern day program like the CCC that was created in 1933 to build pipelines and waterways for drought relief. There are people who want to work and will work. I am sure those running our government can find a few billion that we already waste at home and abroad to fund the projects.

Just take roughly 2-8% a year of what we send to the rest of the world to help our owwn citizens with jobs and water issues here on our own soil..

Bingo! Something is going to have to be figured out and figured out quickly. There is no way around it unless someone can figure out how to make it rain.

If T. Boone Pickens sank a ton of money into water rights, I think we can see the writing on the wall. He didnt get rich by being stupid.

The City of Odessa approved buying Frack water yesterday. That is salt water that is extremely abundant in the Permian Basin. Once, a long long time ago, there was a sea that was in the permian basin called the Permian Sea. That is the reason there is so much oil out in West Texas.

Odessa is going to build a de-salination plant in Monahans and pipe the potable water to Odessa. I believe I read that there is 170 year water supply using the salt water.

When other cities do what Odessa is doing in West Texas, it will take some strain off of the lakes, but from what I understand, most lakes lose more water to wind and evaporation than they do from cities pulling off of them.

Also keep in mind the eath goes in cycles and the drought won't last forever. It will rain again.

Its funny because alot of people blame these lakes drying up on drought its not that when they built these lakes the population in west Texas and south texas was not what it is today. Because of that the lakes water sheds cannot keep up plus add also you are in a region that has never and never will recieve the rain totals every year to maintain them either thats what it boils down to population and demand in areas that doesnt get rain to carry that demand in water. All your east texas lakes like Rayburn and Toledo, Fork and so on we have bad years but they will fill back up because we do get the type rain needed to fill them back up.

Things like this are kind of funny because while they buy water, the oil companies around them are pumping it straight back into the ground at a million gallons a well to squeeze oil out of the rocks. Unreal. Not to mention the farmers that are starting to grow corn in areas that are way to dry for it because thats right... big gov will pay them to grow corn.

Who had to bring this up and ruin my day... lol.

Meredith. Not dry, but close enough. 90+ ft low.

Cameron, where did you find that picture. I used to fish there in the late 70's as a kid. There was some water in the dam area but the ramps were miles away. Always figured some planners lost their jobs after that failure.

Lol Lake Optima=FAIL!