Heavy rain last week gave Falcon Lake a small boost, but water experts say the reservoir still has a long way to go.

Falcon Lake has struggled with low water levels for years. The reservoir is one of the main sources of water for the Rio Grande Valley.

After last week's storms, the lake rose by about two feet. But Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2 water advocate Sonny Hinojosa said the lake is still only 17% full.

"In the big picture, we still need a lot more," Hinojosa said. "It’s going to take something tropical, either a storm or a hurricane, to really get us out of this low water supply situation that we're in."

Mission farmer Mike Helle has dealt with limited water supply for years. His family has been farming in the Valley for nearly 100 years.

"We're in a lot better position than we were last year," Helle said.

Helle said it is rare when a storm makes a noticeable difference, but added, "we have to start somewhere."

To manage the shortage, Helle uses drip irrigation instead of flood irrigation.

"Every farmer out there needs to find some way to become more efficient," Helle said.

Officials will get a clearer picture of available water this weekend. On the last Saturday of each month, water officials from both countries complete a final count of available water and decide how it will be distributed.

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