The ruling came in a lawsuit from a group of homeowners and could be appealed. An estimated 14,000 homes were inside the Addicks and Barker reservoirs when Harvey dumped more than 50 inches of rain in 2017.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Environment
Conservation groups buy more than 3,000 acres on Texas coast for whooping crane habitat
Once on the brink of extinction, the birds have expanded beyond the protected lands set aside for them in the 1970s.
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Panhandle Wildfires
Texas AG Ken Paxton seeks damages from energy company linked to Texas’ largest wildfire
The lawsuit alleges Minnesota-based Xcel Energy failed to maintain utility poles that started the 2024 Panhandle fire that killed three people and thousands of livestock.
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Energy
Residents protest high-voltage power lines that could skirt Dinosaur Valley State Park
One of three possible routes would border the North Texas park. The project is part of a statewide effort to keep pace with Texas’ rapidly growing energy needs.
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Environment
Binational effort is fixing chronic pollution problem on the Rio Grande
Nuevo Laredo was dumping millions of gallons of sewage a day into the Rio Grande. The U.S. and Mexico worked together to find a solution.
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Hill Country floods
Kerr County flood victims pleaded for help in newly-released 911 calls
Emergency dispatchers received more than 400 calls in six hours on July 4 as homes and summer camps flooded.
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Environment
Contracts awarded to design gates and dunes for Gulf Coast “Ike Dike” project
Supporters say the massive project would protect the Galveston Bay area from dangerous storm surge, but it remains billions of dollars short of what’s needed to build the barrier.
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2025 Legislative Recap
Running water will finally reach West Odessa thanks to $17 million from state lawmakers
The Legislature approved $600 million for standalone water improvements, a dramatic increase over prior years.
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Investigations
Kerr County was among dozens of Texas communities to turn down state flood money, saying it wasn’t enough
Texas earmarked $1.4 billion to help fund flood prevention projects. But after learning that so many communities turned down the money, two lawmakers who approved the program acknowledged it was flawed.
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Hill Country floods
Camp Mystic announces enhanced safety plans after deaths of 25 girls, two counselors
Months after parents criticized plans for the camp to reopen next summer, Mystic’s owners said in a letter Tuesday that safety upgrades will exceed new state law.