PASCO, Wash. -- Due to drought-impacted water levels, H1 Unlimited is canceling plans to stage an Air National Guard Hydroplane Series event in Houston and Clear Lake, Texas, next month.
H1 Unlimited this week sent a representative to the lake, located southeast of Houston, for a meeting with organizers and a thorough review of the site, logistics and water levels.
"The communities were excited to see us coming there along with the P1 Offshore boats," said H1 Unlimited Chairman Sam Cole. "However, after being told that the lake level has dropped almost 4 feet during the past six months and no relief in sight, there was nothing we could do but cancel the event and look forward to a return next year."
Texas and New Mexico are in the midst of an unprecedented drought. The states between January and June completed the driest six months on record, according to the National Weather Service. The lack of rain and the extreme summer heat have contributed to the record drought.
Lake levels near the proposed pit area were too low to safely launch the Air National Guard boats, as was the depth in other parts of the lake. H1 rules require a minimum of 8-foot water depth on a racecourse, which was not the case.
"We are hopeful that Mother Nature cooperates between now and next Labor Day," Cole added. "It's a great venue for the Air National Guard Series. We had some successful events there in years' past, the interest has been keen and we were looking forward to making this our first venture with the folks at P1 Offshore."
The series competes this weekend at the Albert Lee Cup at Seattle's Seafair, moves on to the Air National Guard championship race in San Diego, Sept. 16-18.
