NEWS FLASH

The Great Houston Desert | The reservoirs of Lake Houston and Lake Conroe, “built on the San Jacinto River as a source of drinking water for Houston,” “may soon enter uncharted territory as the incessant drought and searing temperatures continue to deplete these two reservoirs’ precious water supplies.” Lake Houston, normally at 44-foot elevation, is at 37.6 feet. If it goes below 37 feet — which could happen in less than two weeks — Houston’s water system stops working, requiring Lake Conroe to release up to 150 million gallons of water a day from its dam.