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The latest environment news from The Texas Tribune.

  • A Clash Over Water in Central Texas

    By Kate Galbraith

    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 

    Residents of Lake Travis have extended staircases and moved docks further out to accommodate lower lake levels. Some say the declining levels are bringing down property values.
    Credit: Todd Wiseman

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    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 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • Fun (Actually in the Water) on the Trinity River

    By Joe Nick Patoski

    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 

    Floaters splash and stay cool at "Rockin' the River-Live on the Trinity", a free event sponsored by the Trinity River Vision.
    Credit: Rodger Mallison

  • Poll: Obama Almost as Popular as Perry in Texas

    By Ari Auber

    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 

    Gov. Rick Perry on May 30th, 2011
    Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera

  • This Session, Water Policy Rode on One Word

    By Joe Nick Patoski

    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 

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    Credit: Luke Robinson

  • LCRA Boss Resigns

    By Kate Galbraith

    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 

    LCRA General Manager Tom Mason

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    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 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • Senate Passes Fracking Disclosure Bill

    By Kate Galbraith

    After a lengthy discussion, the Texas Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday that would require drilling companies using hydraulic fracturing techniques to disclose on a public website the chemicals they use in the process. Full Story 

    A worker untangles a hose at a Fountain Quail water management and treatment facility in Roanoake, Texas. Fountain Quail cleans and separates water used in fracking for natural gas removal.
    Credit: Matt Nager for The New York Times