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Table 2.4, Planning Area Drought Vulnerability Summaries <br />Community Drought Vulnerability Summaries <br />City of Kyle With rapid growth and development occurring in Kyle at an unprecedented <br />rate, the importance of the availability of water in Kyle is significant. The <br />effects and impacts of an exceptional drought would only worsen water <br />supply and quality. The City has several Capital Improvement Projects focused <br />on creating back-up water supplies and improving water lines. In addition, <br />stormwater and wastewater plans activities are in place to further help with <br />the situation. Until some of these projects are completed and the solutions are <br />in place, vulnerability exists for water supply for residents and businesses. The <br />Risk Assessment <br />community is taking active measures to lessen vulnerability by participating in <br />the Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency that serves to preserve the long-term <br />water needs of its members. <br />Although the community is at risk for drought, along with the rest of the Hays <br />Mountain City <br />County area, Mountain City has taken measures to lessen their risk for water <br />shortage through an inter-local agreement for Emergency Water Service with <br />the Hays Consolidated Independent School District. This agreement allows the <br />2 water systems to interconnect in order to serve as back-up for each other. In <br />the event of a regional drought, however, both sources would be equally at risk <br />for water shortage. The community is currently in the process of completing <br />the purchase of their water system. Once the purchase is complete, Mountain <br />City can begin to enforce conservation practices and measures during periods <br />of high risk. <br />The City of Niederwald uses the Goforth Special Utility District for water <br />City of Niederwald <br />services. The source has proven to be resilient, with little detectable impact <br />during the drought periods occurring from 2011 to 2013. Although the <br />community has not experienced past water availability issues associated <br />with drought, they could experience some degree of water supply impact for <br />residents and businesses during an exceptional drought event. With Niederwald <br />farmers and ranchers depending on the water supply for their livelihood, a <br />severe drought would negatively impact their profitability. <br />There are wells and pumps in the City that provide the water supply, and those <br />City of San Marcos <br />are vulnerable to drought. The City has a backup contract with Canyon Lake for <br />emergency water situations, to lessen the impact of water shortage. <br />River levels directly impact the tourism activity of the City. When drought <br />periods are occurring, low water levels inhibit the ability for tourists to float <br />down the river. A decrease in visitors directly impacts tax revenue from the <br />sales that typically come in during those seasons for tubing vendors and also <br />other economic outlets throughout the area. <br />There is a power generation plant dependent on water in the City. Effluent <br />water that has been through wastewater treatment is sold to the electrical <br />generation plants for the purposes of cooling their engines. <br />Another vulnerability is the impact of drought on the small amount of farmland <br />within the City limits. Periods of drought in San Marcos can lead to cascading <br />disaster scenarios such as wildfire due to the increase in dried vegetation that <br />can in turn increase wildfire risk. <br />31 <br /> <br />