The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.
Despite the drought, rice fields in Southeast Texas are emerald green this time of year, thanks to water released from two reservoirs hundreds of miles up the Colorado River. But the rice growers fear for their future, as water restrictions tighten. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-Rice-MS033.JPG)
The Texas Tribune and KUT 90.5 FM are running a five-part series this week on water supplies in Central Texas, looking specifically at the long-term future of two key lakes that supply water to Austin and other growing cities, as well as to rice farmers a few hundred miles down the Colorado River. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Drought_Lake-Travis_05162011_0090.jpg)
As Austin prepares to tighten its watering restrictions to once a week later this summer, trees and lawns — not to mention the water utility's revenues — are suffering. Long-term, Austin and nearby cities want to ensure the continued health of the Highland Lakes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/LargeTreeOnCampus.jpg)
Austin hopes to keep plenty of water in the nearby Highland Lakes over the long term, to reduce the risks posed by drought. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/OakTree_Tag.jpg)
With Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis getting lower by the day, local business owners fear for their livelihoods. Full Story
As Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis drop lower each day, worried locals are seeing their swimming coves dry up, and it's not just because of lack of rain. Rice farmers and Central Texas cities are taking a good share of the water. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Lake-Buchanan_Water_Level.jpg)
The state's record dry spell has rice farmers, growing cities and a proposed coal plant competing for water from drought-stricken lakes. This is the first in a five-part print and radio series, "Water Fight," with KUT News. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/LowWaterLevels_Travis.jpg)
The current drought, drier than any other October-through-May stretch in Texas history, has heightened the stakes in an already contentious long-term planning battle over water from the Highland Lakes. Full Story
Aaronson and Murphy visualize what happened to the nearly 5,800 bills introduced in the 82nd Lege, Aaronson, Hasson and Swicegood interactively recap the budget battle, Aguliar on the surge in illegal re-entry cases prosecuted by the Obama administration, Galbraith on a coal plant that wants a water deal from the LCRA, Grissom interviews a man wrongly imprisoned and nearly executed — twice, Hamilton on a controversial UT regent who wants a do-over in the debate over higher ed reform, Ramshaw on the continuing fight over pre-abortion sonograms, Root on Rick Perry's newsmaking trip to NYC and M. Smith on whether cash-strapped school districts will raise taxes: The best of our best content from June 13 to 17, 2011. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Triblive06132011.jpg)
In parts of the Permian Basin, less than 0.2 inches of rain has fallen since September. As the drought grows increasingly dire, officials and residents are taking more drastic measures to reduce water use. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-MidlandWater-RH001.JPG)
The Trinity has never been much-loved like the Guadalupe, the San Marcos or the Frio. For the first time, both Dallas and Fort Worth are making efforts to revitalize it and make it a destination for recreation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TribnityRiver.jpg)
Likely voters in Texas approve of President Barack Obama almost as much as they approve of Gov. Rick Perry, according to the third and final release of poll results from the Texas Lyceum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of civic leaders. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB0198.jpg)
In a victory for environmental groups, the L.C.R.A. board decided to delay the decision on whether to grant a large water contract to the proposed White Stallion coal plant near Bay City. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/COAL_LCRA2288.JPG)
Hey, Texplainer: Does the Texas Windstorm Industry Association have enough money for this year's hurricane season? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/twia.png)
Faced with extreme drought, the Midland City Council approved a plan today to fine residents $500 for violating watering restrictions, the first time the city has ever enacted such restrictions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Sprinkler-2.jpg)
The board of the Lower Colorado River Authority wasted no time in naming a long-time staffer to take over as the organization's general manager, following the resignation of Tom Mason a week ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Becky-Motal-photo.jpg)
With the Big Dry upon us, the fight over the water percolating under the surface in Texas' underground aquifers was bound to get contentious before the end of the legislative session. And it did, at least for a while, because of one modifier. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Drought_CC.jpg)
The general manager of the Lower Colorado River Authority announced his resignation Tuesday, setting off a potential battle over the future of the enormous Central Texas wholesale electricity and water supplier. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tom_LCRA.jpg)
The Legislature passed a handful of energy-saving measures this session, ranging from allowing churches access to an energy-efficiency loan program to recalibrating a statewide efficiency program. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/SolarPanels_0000_Layer_2.jpg)
Aaronson and Grissom on a freshman lawmaker who didn't mind making waves, Aguilar on E-Verify's new lease on life, Galbraith on the state's plodding progress toward solar power, Hamilton on Warren Chisum's exit, Philpott on the remapping of Lloyd Doggett's district, Ramsey on a proposed change to ethics laws for Texas pols, Ramshaw on efforts by the state to take control of Medicaid and Medicare, Root on why a Rick presidential bid shouldn't be underestimated, M. Smith on the unraveling of school finance legislation and Tan and Dehn on the highs and lows of the 82nd legislative session: The best of our best content from May 30 to June 3, 2011. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/06032011_Tribweek.jpg)