With various levels of government in two countries making decisions that affect the Rio Grande, the 1,900-mile river has become the subject of interstate and international legal battles that have intensified during the continuing drought.
Troubled Waters
Six years ago, state leaders launched an effort to better manage the health of Texas’ rivers. But environmental advocates fear that ecology still takes a back seat as legislators fret about having enough water to sate Texas’ fast-growing cities. Now, every Texas river is threatened by nearly unprecedented drought and the looming effects of climate change. Our series explores the history, health and future of some of Texas’ most important and legendary rivers.
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Troubled Waters
Isolated Pecos River Faces Ecological Changes
The Pecos River has avoided some of the challenges faced by the state’s other waterways. But it has not been spared from the ecological changes brought by the manmade lakes bookending its passage through Texas.
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Troubled Waters
Devils River Could Feel Impact of Hunt for Water
Thanks to conservation efforts and its remote location, the Devils River is seen as one of the state’s last pristine rivers. But change could be coming for the river, as some are eyeing its basin for new water supplies.
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Troubled Waters
Communities Along Red River Seek Feds’ Help
As drought-ridden communities near the Red River spend millions on major water projects, water managers say a decades-old federal project to clean up salt in the river water could also ease the strain.
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Troubled Waters
When a River’s in Trouble, Many Face Sacrifices
The Colorado River, which flows from West Texas all the way down to the Gulf Coast, is caught in a tug-of-war amid the West’s prolonged drought.
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Troubled Waters
Reused Wastewater Key to Trinity River’s Survival
By virtue of its proximity to three major Texas cities, nearly half of the state’s population relies on the Trinity River for some of its water needs.
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Troubled Waters
On Guadalupe River, Tubers Aren’t Only Ones Facing Low Flows
Many Texans gauge the health of the Guadalupe River by the speed of their tubing trip. Given the drought conditions plaguing most of the state, people come prepared to walk. On a broader scale, the shallow spots are indicative of the growing demand on the spring-fed water source.
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Troubled Waters
Along the Canadian River, Concerns About Drought and Threatened Fish
The storied Canadian River has been so badly pummeled by drought that the reservoirs along it are essentially dry. That’s bad news for the thirsty cities of the Panhandle, not to mention a fish fighting for survival.
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Troubled Waters
Environmental Concerns Rise as Brazos Levels Fall
Concerns over water levels in the Brazos River have sparked debate over who gets to use the river’s water, how much water should be used and how much water should be left to keep the river healthy.
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Troubled Waters
Debate Builds Over How to Save San Saba River
About 140 miles long, the San Saba River in Central Texas is not considered one of the state’s major waterways, but it illustrates — in a state still dealing with a serious drought — the sensitivities surrounding the use of a limited resource.