Experts at a Texas Tribune Festival panel discussed how close the city and region came to disaster and how the experience exposed the need for long-term planning, diversification and groundwater reform.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Environment
Water official who pushed desalination plant for Corpus Christi region retires amid project setbacks
John Byrum’s departure comes as the Nueces River Authority board was set to discuss his employment behind closed doors.
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Hill Country floods
Texas Rangers pursuing criminal investigation of Camp Mystic, court documents show
In an affidavit, the Rangers said they believe camp leaders committed multiple crimes including manslaughter in connection with the deaths of 27 campers and counselors in the July 2025 flood.
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Environment
Exchange of land between SpaceX and federal refuge in Texas OK’d despite conservationists’ objections
The exchange of 715 acres in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge for 683 acres of private land is expected to occur Sept. 22.
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Environment
Gov. Greg Abbott broadens moratorium on data center approvals to include environmental permits
The move is the latest in a series of escalating efforts by the governor to slow data center development in Texas ahead of November’s election.
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Environment
Despite state law, only eight of 160 utility companies have filed wildfire response plans
Lawmakers recently learned of the slow progress made by the companies, which have four months to come under compliance with the law prompted by the 2024 Panhandle wildfires.
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Screwworm in Texas
Where is screwworm in Texas? Track cases here.
The New World screwworm poses a multibillion-dollar threat to the state’s cattle industry. We’re keeping track of where these cases are reported.
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Environment
Fire crews fully contains North Texas wildfire, which continues to burn three weeks later
The fire has burned 90,000 acres, making it the second largest fire in the region’s history.
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Data Centers in Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott orders Texas water agency to penalize data centers that don’t report their water usage
Last year, less than 30% of data centers responded to a state-mandated water usage survey conducted by the Texas Water Development Board.
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Politics
Inactive oil and gas wells to go under review at hearing
Under previous law, operators could keep inactive wells up indefinitely.
