Both deaths were related to flooding from the storm. More than a thousand others needed to be rescued and evacuated.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
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Environment
Tropical Storm Imelda’s flooding turns deadly as southeast Texas is swamped by rain
The storm quickly became the fifth-wettest rainfall event in the continental United States. Gov. Greg Abbott issued an emergency declaration for several counties Thursday.
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Environment
Central Texas river authority, lakefront property owners reach settlement to avoid draining four lakes — for now
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and property owners in Guadalupe and Gonzales Counties agreed to not drain four lakes held up by 90-year-old dams, on the condition that recreational use of the lakes is banned.
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Environment
Judge temporarily blocks plans to drain four Texas lakes and accompanying dams
The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority planned to drain the lakes, which it considers a public safety threat, on Monday.
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Environment
Texas environmental commission denies waste permit after residents rally against new facility
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality denied a permit request by a company seeking to open a hazardous waste processing facility near the Colorado River, citing concerns of contamination to both surface and ground water in the region.
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Environment
These dams needed replacing 15 years ago. Now Texas will drain four lakes instead — causing other problems.
Two floodgate failures on 90-year-old Guadalupe River Valley dams — and the plan to lower the remaining four — are highlighting Texas’ underfunded, aging flood infrastructure.
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Texas 2020 Elections
Julián Castro unveils climate plan centered on Green New Deal principles
The plan carries a $10 trillion price tag and calls on the country to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
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New Texas Laws 2019
After Harvey surprised thousands with unexpected flooding, new law aims to better inform homebuyers
The law, written by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, requires homeowners to disclose if their properties lie in a flood-prone area or have flooded before. It’s an effort to expand notification after many homes unexpectedly flooded during Hurricane Harvey.
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New Texas Laws 2019
Plastic bags are killing horses and cows across the state. What’s Texas to do?
A year after the Texas Supreme Court dealt a death blow to municipal bans on plastic bags, legislative efforts to revive them have fallen flat, and ranchers, city leaders and environmental groups say plastic bag litter is as big a problem as ever.
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Protecting the Coast
Texas might spend up to $20 billion to protect Houston from hurricanes. Rice University says it can do it for a fraction of that.
A government plan to guard the Houston-Galveston region from deadly storm surges isn’t expected to become reality for at least 15 years. Rice University says it has a plan that could be completed faster for a fraction of the cost.
