Posted: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 10:03 AM - 17,073 Readers

By: Maggie Lineback

Much of Texas is suffering through a severe drought. Nowhere is that more evident than at Lake Travis, which is just outside of Austin. Lake levels are dangerously low. Experts say the lake is just at 40% of its capacity. Just looking at the lake, you can see how bad it is. Travel into one of the many coves where homes are perched on cliffs and you'll see staircases leading down to nowhere when they used to go right into the lake. Boats are stranded on parched land and even an old settlement building has started to reappear because the lake's so low. Lake Travis provides the majority of the drinking water to the city of Austin, so it's not just boaters and lake visitors who are impacted. The city of Austin now has water restrictions, meaning you can only water your lawn once a week. At restaurants, you'll have to ask for water because it won't be automatically served.

Perhaps the people feeling the drought the most are those in rural areas. We've done previous reports on how the drought has devasted local crops and ranching operations. Now it's hitting rural residents in another way. Many wells have run dry. That means homeowners have to truck in their own water or have someone haul it in for them. We stopped in at the Dripping Springs Water Supply. It's been busy around the clock as homeowners and water hauling companies come in to fill up.

Experts say there's only one thing that will end the drought- and that's a flood. But that doesn't look like it's anywhere on the horizon.


photos provided by Live Shots at FoxNews.com

photos provided by Live Shots at FoxNews.com

photos provided by Live Shots at FoxNews.com

*  Story Contributed by: Maggie Lineback