Major West Texas lake could become multi-million-dollar mud hole

In this March 18, 2014 photo, Eric Best looks out over his neighbors boat dock that no longer floats due to low lake levels at Lake Alan Henry in Texas. The lake lost roughly 4 billion gallons of water to evaporation in 2011, thanks to a lingering drought and sweltering temperatures and still more water is simply missing, according to federal government data. less In this March 18, 2014 photo, Eric Best looks out over his neighbors boat dock that no longer floats due to low lake levels at Lake Alan Henry in Texas. The lake lost roughly 4 billion gallons of water to ... more Photo: Stephen Spillman, AP Photo: Stephen Spillman, AP Image 1 of / 38 Caption Close Major West Texas lake could become multi-million-dollar mud hole 1 / 38 Back to Gallery

Texas' downward spiral into the latest drought is threatening to wipe out a precious resource in West Texas.

Man-made reservoirs, essential to providing water for that region of the state, have suffered the most from severe droughts in the past. And now Lake Alan Henry, which provides drinking water to Lubbock, may face the same fate as Lake Meredith.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports the lake lost about 4 billion gallons of water to evaporation in 2011. Annually, the city only takes in roughly 2 million.

It's a problem that has city officials worried about how much a solution could cost, and how it would bear those costs on top of already high expenses. It means the $245 million spent creating Lake Alan Henry could go down the drain if the reservoir turns into another mud hole, according to the A-J.

See above for the current state of Texas' major reservoirs.

Lake Alan Henry is relatively young, just over 20 years old, and during the past several months has retained less than 65 percent of its normal capacity, according to the Texas Water Development Board.

The best officials can do is sit and wait to see if weather conditions improve and decide where to go from there. In the meantime, a consumption advisory has been issued.

The lake is a popular destination for bass fishing and is located about 65 miles southeast of Lubbock.