𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗟𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗨𝗔𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗡 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟, 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗦 𝗜𝗧'𝗦 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗙𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗟

                                                               

For years, it's bugged me that Houston gets substantially more rain annually than Brownsville, 53" to 25," despite being just 353 miles apart.  That's nonsensical because in my old stomping grounds, Washington state, Forks has an annual rainfall of 121.73," while Sequim, just 72.9 miles away gets only 16." 

The differences in rainfall across regions such as Houston and Brownsville, Texas, can be understood through the interplay of geography, climate, and prevailing weather patterns. Though both cities lie in Texas’ humid subtropical zone, Houston’s proximity to the Gulf of Mexico makes it far wetter. Moisture-rich air from the Gulf feeds Houston’s frequent rainfall, whereas Brownsville, farther inland and closer to the Chihuahua Desert, experiences drier conditions. Prevailing winds moving west to east carry Gulf moisture inland, delivering more precipitation to Houston, while Brownsville lies on the southern edge of typical storm tracks, reducing its exposure. Topography plays a smaller role in Texas than in mountainous regions, but even subtle elevation changes and Brownsville’s semi-arid influences help explain why its climate is closer to semi-tropical than truly tropical, with less rainfall and more variability.

With Brownsville getting just 25" of rainfall per year and future water needs critical, it may be time for our town to no longer water the lawn with the city's drinking water, even while we note that many use resaca water for that purpose.

The city depends heavily on the Rio Grande, but the river’s flow has become increasingly unreliable and vulnerable to prolonged droughts. The region’s reservoirs, Falcon and Amistad, are also in steep decline, holding only 25.3% of their capacity as of August 15, 2025, part of a long-term downward trend that dates back to the 1980s. Climate change is compounding these problems, with rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns reducing inflows while accelerating evaporation. Adding further strain, Mexico’s inconsistent deliveries under the 1944 Water Treaty continue to destabilize supply. Looking ahead, Brownsville is projected to experience water stress by 2050, 25 years from now. 

The Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) has outlined a 2025 Water Strategy that focuses on diversification, conservation, infrastructure renewal, and collaboration. Efforts include investing in brackish groundwater desalination and indirect potable reuse, expanding conservation programs through tiered pricing and household incentives, and upgrading aging infrastructure with smart meters and modernized water intakes. 

                                                                                       

Santa Fe, New Mexico, situated in a high-desert climate, averaging less than 15 inches of rainfall annually, has made water conservation a way of life, utilizing xeriscaping, a landscaping approach designed to minimize water use. Residents and businesses rely on drought-tolerant native plants like sagebrush, agave, yucca, and cacti, paired with efficient drip irrigation systems that deliver water directly to roots. Grass lawn areas are greatly reduced.  

Perhaps, as critical water shortages loom, it's time for Brownsville to implement Santa Fe's approach.