The North Texas Municipal Water District is hoping for more rainfall to keep reservoirs on the rise.
About 6 inches of rain fell into the Lavon watershed in January. The district said lake levels are rising after the recent wet weather, although it doesn't signal the end of the drought.
"A really good soaking rain does not end a drought that's been going on for two years," NTWMD spokeswoman Denise Hickey said.
The district announced Thursday that it intends to put off a move to to Stage 4 water restrictions until at least June 1.
"You want to do everything you can to avoid getting to Stage 4, so you can delay that," Hickey said.
The recent rainfall played a role in the decision, but the district also took new information about La Nina -- the weather pattern it blames for extreme hot, dry weather -- into consideration.
Some predictions have La Nina dissipating by this spring, which means more rain could be on the way, Hickey said.
Hickey said the district would like to see about 8 more inches of rain in the near future.
While Lake Lavon was still between 8 and 9 feet below normal capacity Thursday evening, people who make their living in the area say the rising water is movement in the right direction.
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"Even if it was 5 foot low, it would still be better than 10 or 15 foot," said Chris Trout, who runs a Wylie bait and tackle shop.
The NTMWD serves the following member cities: Allen, Farmersville, Forney, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano, Princeton, Richardson, Rockwall, Royse City and Wylie. Additionally, the NTMWD lists the following towns as customers: Bonham, Caddo Basin SUD, Cash SUD, College Mound WSC, Copeville SUD, Crandall (Kaufman Four-One), East Fork SUD, Fairview, Fate, Forney Lake WSC, Gastonia-Scurry SUD, Greater Texoma Utility Authority (GTUA), Josephine, Kaufman, Kaufman Four-One, Lavon W.S.C., Little Elm, Lucas, Melissa, Milligan WSC, Mount Zion WSC, Murphy, Nevada WSC, North Collin WSC, Parker, Prosper, Rose, Hill SUD, Rowlett, Sachse, Seis Lagos UD, Sunnyvale, Terrell and Wylie Northeast SUD.
