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Caddo Lake Reflections © 2017 Paul Tipton
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Much like politics, football, and BBQ, water issues often elicit strong opinions in Texas. With that in mind our Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Todd Votteler, is launching a new feature called (drum roll)... opinions+water, which will present a range of views on Texas water issues as well as water issues beyond our state with significance for Texas.
Items you may find in this feature as we march forward may include, but are not limited to, 1) surveys and the results of surveys of the general public and specific water user groups on various water topics, 2) commentaries from decision-makers on water issues and 3) contrasting points of view on specific issues.
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opinions+water: Texas Water Utilities Provide Snapshot of Financial Conditions and Prospects for Addressing Capital Needs
Recently, the Texas Water Infrastructure Network (TXWIN) decided to assess current and future water infrastructure conditions and issues facing Texas utilities. TXWIN enlisted the assistance of Water Opinions to develop the Texas Water Capital Needs Survey (2020). Full story from Texas+Water →
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q&a+water: Rex Isom
In this issue’s Q&A, Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Todd Votteler, interviews Rex Isom, Executive Director of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. Full story from Texas+Water →
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Here's a look at current and future conditions for drought and rainfall in Texas and beyond via The Meadow Center’s Executive Director, Dr. Robert Mace:
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outlook+water: Tropical Storm Hanna, a Record-Breaking Tropical Storm Season and a Coin-Flip La Niña For The Fall
The amount of the state under drought conditions increased from about 25 percent four weeks ago to about 36 percent. Tropical Storm Hanna should improve drought conditions in Central and South-Central Texas. Full story from Texas+Water →
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think+water: Fights Over the Rio Grande, Energy and Water, Groundwater Contamination in Colonias and a Saintlier St. Augustine
This month we explore academic publications on the topics of the Texas-New Mexico water war, the potential for greater solar development in West Texas, the development of interploid hybrids to enhance the water efficiency of St. Augustinegrass and a look at how water issues could constrain oil and gas production in the United States. Full story from Texas+Water →
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Book Review: Ogallala - Water for a Dry Land
Opie and others (2018) provide an environmental history and historical geography of the High Plains Aquifer. The book is a non-technical narrative, loosely flowing from one grain of knowledge to the next while generally moving from dryland farming to irrigation to groundwater mining to the inevitable return of dryland farming. Full review from Water Alternatives →
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Effects of Climate Change on the Movement Of Future Landfalling Texas Tropical Cyclones
A new study from Rice University examined regional atmospheric wind patterns that are likely to exist over Texas from 2075-2100 as Earth’s climate changes due to increased greenhouse emissions. Full report from Nature Communications →
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Unprecedented Drought Challenges for Texas Water Resources in a Changing Climate: What Do Researchers and Stakeholders Need to Know?
Texas’ future climate will feature drier summers and decreasing water supplies for much of the state for the remainder of the 21st century – likely resulting in the driest conditions the state has endured in the last 1,000 years, according to a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor. Full story from Advancing Earth and Space Science →
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Water Rising: Equitable Approaches to Urban Flooding
A new report by the US Water Alliance details five priority actions that water professionals and communities can take together to advance equitable flood resilience. It discusses urban flooding challenges, strategies to address disproportionate impacts of flooding on vulnerable communities, and case examples from around the United States. Full report from the US Water Alliance →
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The opinions in Texas+Water are those of the authors and shall not be construed to represent the opinions and policies of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, the Texas Water Journal or the Texas Water Resources Institute.
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Trump Scales Back Landmark Environmental Law, Saying It Will Help Restart the Economy
Activists warn that the changes will sideline communities of color and are concerned about projects’ climate impacts. Full story from Texas Tribune →
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Texas Water Newsroom: Water News on Demand
TWDB has created the Texas Water Newsroom, a platform to share stories about Texas water supplies, planning, financing and research. It will showcase TWDB’s expertise and resources including the people, places, issues and efforts involved in Texas water. Full story from the Texas Water Resources Institute →
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Texas, Colorado Give NM Permission to Use Stored Water
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and the state of New Mexico have received permission from neighboring states to access up to 38,000 acre-feet of water, or more than 12 billion gallons, that is currently stored in El Vado Reservoir under the Rio Grande Compact agreement. Full story from the Albuquerque Journal →
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Texas Primed to be Pearl in New Oyster Farming Industry
Whether you love them or hate them, you can’t deny that oysters are a staple in the Gulf Coast diet. That’s why it’s big news that Texas will finally be allowed to take part in and financially benefit from oyster farming. Full story from Texas A&M Today →
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New Partnership to Study Aquifer Species
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has partnered with the University of Texas at Austin to evaluate the use of environmental DNA to study the biodiversity and federally protected species of the Edwards-Trinity aquifer system. Full story from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts →
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Exploring the Value of Mindfulness in Environmental Interpretive Education
Increasing urbanization has created a growing disconnect between people and the natural world. A personal connection is important because it can not only change how people experience and perceive nature but also foster the desire to care for those natural spaces. Full story from Texas State University →
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Conservation is Essential to Texas’ Future, and It’s Time to Get Serious
The just-released 2020 Water Conservation Scorecard offers an in-depth look at how effectively Texas water utilities are saving water. Utilities have made some advances since 2016, but these new scores highlight that the state needs to take additional steps to conserve its most precious resource. Full story from the Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation →
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