The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.
As the Highland Lakes that supply Austin drop to near-historic lows, the Lower Colorado River Authority is considering cutting off flows to Matagorda Bay. But officials on the Gulf Coast say the move could devastate the economy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/17/Matagorda.jpg)
Austin is among the large U.S. cities doing the most to conserve energy, according to a study released Tuesday by a national group that promotes energy efficiency. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20100915-DSC_4198.jpg)
The renewable-energy epiphany that launched Texas wind power came through an unexpected channel: public opinion polls in the mid-1990s. An excerpt from The Great Texas Wind Rush. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/10/KatesWindBook.jpg)
Environmental experts say the severe flooding in parched Colorado proves that just because drought-stricken states like Texas haven't seen that kind of weather in years doesn't mean it's gone for good. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/31/SanMarcosRiver-EdwardsAquifer.jpg)
University of Texas at Austin researchers have released new estimates of methane emissions from the production of natural gas wells. The data could affect regulations on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/15/HoustonShipChannel.jpg)
A recent court ruling in Texas has fueled an already fiery debate over whether groundwater resources can be adequately protected alongside property rights and economic development. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/13/TxTrib-WATER-003.jpg)
In 1996, then-Gov. George W. Bush shocked his Public Utility Commission chairman by endorsing wind power. A decade later, Texas would become the nation's top wind-energy producer. An excerpt from The Great Texas Wind Rush. Full Story
In energy-guzzling Texas, a group of environmental advocates and business leaders is calling a for new statewide energy building code. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/energyefficiency.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TroubledWaters-Guad-2.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/06/TroubledWaters-Guad-2.jpg)
Texas' biggest oil and gas companies are looking to take a prime role in protecting threatened species in the state, and such participation is drawing mixed opinions among environmental advocates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/26/Chicken-1.jpg)
In the wake of nearly unprecedented drought, environmental advocates fear that state leaders are prioritizing thirsty cities over ecology. Our Troubled Waters series explores the history, health and future of some of the state's most important waterways. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/10/TroubledWaters-Landing-2.jpg)
In Texas oilfields, thieves are targeting batteries that power pipeline monitors, saddling drillers with big replacement costs and stalling production. Some fear the temptation to steal will only swell as production expands. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/09/OilField-Theft.jpg)
Former State Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, says he will run for the Railroad Commission, joining a crowded field. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9e582d208014d69ba5d2ee3c4a305d7c/BD%20INC%20Christian%20CMS%202011)
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has suspended most water rights along the upper San Saba River, where water use has become increasingly contentious. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/23/SanSaba.jpg)
Oil and gas representatives, along with academics, gathered in Laredo this week to discuss the economic benefits of the drilling boom in the Eagle Ford Shale. But concerns over the environmental impact of the boom persist. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-NaturalgasRig-ES-04.jpg)
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/09/04/Canadian-TroubledWaters.jpg)
The three GOP candidates for agriculture commissioner stress that rural areas must not be left behind as the state moves forward on water policy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/30/Ag-Commissioner-Race.jpg)
In the Lower Rio Grande Valley, eradication efforts aimed at the boll weevil — an insect that can destroy the yields of cotton plants — are benefiting in part from the current drought. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/14/_MG_9085.jpg)
Groundwater managers in Texas have applauded lawmakers' push to fund a comprehensive water plan, but as a water summit this week made clear, money alone won't fix the tangle of concerns facing the state's groundwater authorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/28/JacobsWell.jpg)