The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority planned to drain the lakes, which it considers a public safety threat, on Monday.
Environment
Coverage of climate, conservation, natural resources, and environmental policy shaping the state, from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
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.
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Protecting the Coast
Can the “masters of the flood” help Texas protect its coast from hurricanes?
After centuries of fighting back water in a low-lying nation, the Dutch have become the world leaders in flood control. And their expertise is helping Texas design what would become the nation’s most ambitious — and expensive — coastal barrier.
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Environment
Federal judge rules against Formosa Plastics in pollution case, calling company a “serial offender”
The judge determined this week that the Taiwanese-owned company has been in “enormous” violation of its state-issued permits and federal clean water laws for discharging plastic pellets and other pollutants into Lavaca Bay and other waterways from its plant in Point Comfort.
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University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
Texas voters’ biggest concerns for the country? Immigration and political corruption, UT/TT Poll says
Immigration and border security are at or near the top of voters’ concerns about the U.S. and Texas, and political corruption is also near the top of their U.S. list, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
