On August 19, 2011, the Office of Conservation declared a temporary ground water emergency for two areas of South Caddo Parish due to exceptional drought conditions resulting in higher than normal withdrawal of ground water without sufficient offsetting aquifer recharge. These conditions have resulted in ground water levels in the Carrizo-Wilcox and Upland Terrace aquifers to drop to levels causing several shallower water wells in the two areas to go dry at the end of July 2011.

To prevent further water level decline and reduce stress on the aquifers in these two areas, Conservation ordered water conservation measures and ground water use restrictions. Details are provided in the August 2011 Memorandum and Emergency Order No. ENV-2011-GW014.

Since issuance of the Emergency Order, Conservation staff has continued to monitor hydrologic data in the region provided to our agency courtesy of the LSU Shreveport Red River Watershed Management Institute. Review of the ground water level data received on April 2, 2012 collected from the LSU Shreveport monitoring wells located in the Areas of Interest verifies that water levels continue to increase trending definitively upward since November 2011 for over 150 days.  More specifically, the LSU Shreveport water level data indicates water levels at all four monitored locations continue to trend upward for over 85 consecutive days above their respective water levels reported on June 28, 2011.  Results of water level monitoring data are provided below.

• Measured Water Level Change in LSU Shreveport AOI Observation Wells

Water level data from 4 additional observation wells measured and reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) during January, February and March, 2012 confirms that water level conditions in the region are continuing to improve.  Results of USGS observation well water levels can be viewed here.

The most recent U. S. Drought Monitor Report for Louisiana dated March 27, 2012 indicates drought conditions no longer exist having been upgraded from "moderate" drought to "abnormally dry" or no drought conditions for the region.  The March 27, 2012 U.S. Drought Monitor Report for Louisiana may be viewed here.

The Louisiana Office of State Climatology rainfall data for the area south of Shreveport indicates monthly rainfall totals for June through October 2011 to be well below respective average monthly rainfall with the month of October 2011 reported to be 65% below the monthly average. The rainfall total for the month of November is reported to be within 9% of the monthly average and continued improvement is noted for December with a 73% increase of rainfall above the normal average. Rainfall in the area continued to show marked improvement from summer and fall 2011 rainfall totals during January and February 2012 falling only slightly below respective historical monthly averages respectively reported to be 32% and 13% below their monthly averages.  March 2012 rainfall far exceeded the monthly average with a reported increase of 90%.

• Measured Rainfall in the Shreveport Area

Since November 2011 to present, measured rainfall in the area is trending upward currently at a rate of nearly 40% above the historical monthly average trend during these past 5 months.

• Shreveport Area Rainfall Trends

In summary, aquifer water levels and measurable rainfall data continue to show marked improvement in the Shreveport area.  Most of the region is no longer considered to be in a drought.  The Office of Conservation will continue to closely and carefully monitor hydrologic conditions in the Areas of Interest to determine if and when surface and groundwater data support amending restrictions and conditions set forth in the Emergency Order.  At this time and until otherwise notified, all restrictions and conditions of the Emergency Order shall remain in full effect. The agency will continue to provide periodic updates.