For Texas Policymakers, Drought Exposes Limits of Power

by Kate Galbraith
July 13, 2011
13 Comments

The Texas drought has escalated into a significant natural disaster. Around the Panhandle, normally one of the most agriculturally productive regions of the state, acres of dry dirt fill would-be croplands. Lakes' levels are falling statewide. Cities are tightening water restrictions, amid the driest October-through-June stretch in Texas history.

So what can the government do to help those who are hit hardest?

Not much, at the state level, experts say.

Droughts are tricky to manage. Their effects vary significantly from place to place, so local authorities generally assume primary responsibility for drought management. Different counties or cities not only get ...

Full Story

Comment Policy

The Texas Tribune is pleased to provide the opportunity for you to share your observations about this story. We encourage lively debate on the issues of the day, but we ask that you refrain from using profanity or other offensive speech, engaging in personal attacks or name-calling, posting advertising, or wandering away from the topic at hand. To comment, you must be a registered user of the Tribune, and your user name will be displayed. Thanks for taking time to offer your thoughts.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login | Sign-Up

Comments (13)

July 13, 2011 @ 8:08 a.m.

Sebastian St.Troy

Yes, there are things lawmakers can do:

1. Remove Perry and any other elected official that violates church/state laws from office.

2. Ensure that the LCRA Board of Directors DO NOT APPROVE the 40 year contract with the White Stallion Coal Plant.

3. Pass laws to prevent further fossil fuel plants in our state, and pass laws that ensure the safety of our water supply.
July 13, 2011 @ 8:34 a.m.

EyesOfTX

Sebastian is certainly right about point number 2 - approving 7.4 BILLION gallons of water use annually by a coal plant that will burn West Virginia coal and would add zero to the texas economy other than pollution would be the height of insanity. Sadly, it looks like that is exactly what LCRA is going to do in the end.

This is great reporting work by Kate - thanks to the Tribune continuing to produce the kind of content that Texans can get nowhere else.
July 13, 2011 @ 9:50 a.m.

d f

Yeah, sure. Pray for rain. Then, pray to win a football game. Pray that homosexuals will all instantly explode. Pray that women fall down and cower before all men. Next, demand that the federal government declare Texas a disaster so Perry's pals can benefit from federal assistance, while at the same time pandering to the stupid who want to reduce big gummit. The ole Texas gov sure knows how to play both sides, depending on which group of fat cat bribers he wants to back his campaign for the US presidency.
July 13, 2011 @ 9:52 a.m.

Calvin Walker via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Yea!!! (Clap, applause, tumble, high-five, raise the roof!!!) :-)
- + Reply
July 13, 2011 @ 9:59 a.m.

ValorieJean Hosch via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Hey, it's summer in Texas. Isn't there always a drought somewhere in the state???
- + Reply
July 13, 2011 @ 10:09 a.m.

Ross Smith via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Can they do more than just pray? Sure they can - they can lay off a bunch of people at the agency that does long-range water planning. If we don't think about it, maybe the drought will just go away.
- + Reply
July 13, 2011 @ 10:22 a.m.

Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I'm not a fan of Perry, but you would have to be an unreasonable person to try and blame this on Mr. Wig...
- + Reply
July 13, 2011 @ 10:24 a.m.

Mary Lee via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Praying is good... Couldn't he also urge and support water conservation efforts?
- + Reply
July 13, 2011 @ 10:36 a.m.

Chris Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook

We can drill for more underground water. And we can build Desalination plants on the Gulf coast. Plenty of excess water in the ocean.
- + Reply
July 13, 2011 @ 11:16 a.m.

Riley LovesJoy via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Why doesn't the Texas Tribune go ahead and rename its Facebook page "PerryTracker"... The amount of coverage you guys are giving to Rick Perry's POTENTIAL campaign is ridiculous. Why haven't you given this much coverage to a Texan who's ACTUALLY RUNNING? In case you guys haven't heard, his name is Ron Paul. Maybe having the same initials as Rick Perry some how confused yall?
- + Reply
July 13, 2011 @ 11:43 a.m.

Sebastian St.Troy

For anyone interested in voicing their concerns about LCRA's contract with the White Stallion Coal Plant, their next board meeting is August 10th at 8 AM, but contacting the board members and letting them know you do not approve such an outrageous contract will help.

http://www.lcra.org/about/leadership/board/index.html
July 13, 2011 @ 6:55 p.m.

Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Ooouuuchhhh!!! TT - are you smooching up to Perry?
- + Reply
July 13, 2011 @ 10:30 p.m.

Mary McAllister

Here in Texas we pray for rain, yep. Like Bill Maher said on Real Time we've gone from the nation of "Can do!" to "Yehaw, Jesus take the wheel!" We're ancient Mayans now. And at the very same time that Perry is praying for rain in Houston, his appointees are planning to make a merchant coal plant in Matagorda named "White Stallion" the 3rd largest firm customer on the LCRA system. Lakes Travis and Buchanan are only half full now WITHOUT a coal plant can you imagine what they will look like under a drought with a coal plant sucking 25,400 acre feet/D of water in June, July and August? LCRA argues that they have the water and are obligated to sell it, but LCRA’s assumptions do not factor in the reduction in property values and tax revenues of a dry Lakes Travis and Buchanan.
Email the LCRA Board today.
Board@LCRA.org
Subject line: Oppose White Stallion Firm Water Contract