water supply

Phil Wilson Named New LCRA General Manager

By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal Dec. 18, 2013

The Lower Colorado River Authority's board has tapped Phil Wilson, the Texas Department of Transportation's executive director, to be the agency's new general manager. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
Troubled Waters: The State of Texas Rivers

By Travis Swicegood, The Texas Tribune, and Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal Dec. 16, 2013

Every Texas river is threatened by nearly unprecedented drought and the effects of climate change. Take a look back at our series exploring the history, health and future of some of Texas' most important and legendary rivers. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Travis Swicegood
Vast Rio Grande a Source of Numerous Legal Battles

By Julián Aguilar Dec. 15, 2013

With various levels of government in two countries making decisions that affect the Rio Grande, the 1,900-mile river has become the subject of interstate and international legal battles that have intensified during the continuing drought. Full Story

Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre
Wastewater Case Stirs Questions About Underground Trespassing

By Jim Malewitz Dec. 6, 2013

The Texas Supreme Court will hear arguments next month in a dispute that pits two interests that are dear to many Texans against each other: oil and gas resources versus private property rights. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato
Hot Seat: A Conversation With Campbell and Isaac

By Evan Smith Dec. 4, 2013

At our 12/3 Hot Seat conversation at Texas State University, state Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, and state Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, talked about water, transportation, public education and other issues in play in the 83rd session. Full Story
For Water Underground, Political Boundaries Trump Natural Ones

By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal Dec. 4, 2013

Groundwater doesn't flow according to the state's political boundaries. Yet it's regulated largely along county lines, a decades-old system that is facing increased criticism among some of those fighting for more access to the resource. Full Story

Credit: Texas Water Development Board / Todd Wiseman
Video: Lack of Freshwater Threatens Matagorda Bay

By Justin Dehn Nov. 28, 2013

Fishing and tourism in Matagorda Bay depend in large part on freshwater supplied by the Colorado River. But the drought has all but cut off those flows, and wildlife and recreation on Texas' Gulf Coast have suffered. Full Story
Momentum for Water Recycling on Oilfields, but Still a Long Way to Go

By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal, and Jim Malewitz, The Texas Tribune Nov. 22, 2013

As the drought continues across Texas, more oil and gas companies are considering the long-term benefits of water recycling, and state officials are trying to make the transition easier. Full Story

$Jonathan Jones, Field Supervisor for Water Rescue Services, holding partially cleaned fracking waste water.$

Credit: Jerod Foster
Looking Underground for Water, Finding Challenges

By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal Nov. 19, 2013

As the drought continues and farmers struggle to keep their crops irrigated, many are probing beneath their land for water. But when water is such a precious commodity, procuring it is not ever simple. Full Story

Credit: Jason Janik
Advocates Say Saving Matagorda Bay Could Take Legal Action

By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal Nov. 14, 2013

Environmental advocates and fishermen along the Gulf Coast met this week to discuss the uncertain future of Matagorda Bay's ecology. Their conclusion: Saving it could require legal action. Full Story

Credit: Patrick Lewis
With Prop 6 Approved, Plans Remain Uncertain

By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal Nov. 13, 2013

Now that Texas voters have agreed to spend $2 billion to finance water supply projects, legislators say the state finally has some money to execute its water plan. But it's a plan full of contradictions and uncertainty. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
With Water Fund Approved, a Flood of Projects to Consider

By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal Nov. 12, 2013

Now that Proposition 6 has passed with close to 75 percent of the vote, the real work of water planning — and jockeying for funds — begins. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Jinjian Liang
Facing Drought, Wichita Falls Bans Watering

By Edgar Walters Nov. 12, 2013

On Saturday, Wichita Falls will enter an unprecedented stage 4 of emergency drought response, which includes a total ban on outdoor watering and an internal audit of water consumption by local businesses. Full Story

Credit: Eric M Martin
Where in Texas the Prop 6 Votes Came From

By Ryan Murphy Nov. 12, 2013

Check out our interactive, county-by-county map of voter turnout and results on the creation of a new water fund from the state's Rainy Day Fund. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Ryan Murphy / Todd Wiseman
Texas Weekly Newsreel: Voting, Polling and Fracking

By Justin Dehn Nov. 9, 2013

This week in the Newsreel: The voting is over for now, the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll is out, and a statewide candidate questions the loyalty of anyone who loves Texas but hates fracking. Full Story
Pricey State Problems and Penny-Pinching Voters

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 8, 2013

Texas voters said yes to a big-ticket proposition for water projects and no to some other spending items, leaving a question for policymakers with a to-do list full of expensive problems: Is the public willing to go along? Full Story

Credit: Spencer Selvidge
All Nine Constitutional Amendments Approved

By Ross Ramsey, The Texas Tribune, and Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal Nov. 6, 2013

Texas voters addressed the state's fast growth and lingering drought Tuesday by approving a $2 billion water fund and eight other constitutional amendments in a low-turnout election. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Interactive: How Prop 6 Fared in Drier Counties

By Ryan Murphy Nov. 6, 2013

Use our interactive map to check out the correlation between the success of the water ballot measure and the severity of drought conditions around the state. Full Story
Liveblog: Statewide Ballot Propositions Pass

By Texas Tribune Staff Nov. 5, 2013

Nine amendments to the Texas Constitution passed easily on Tuesday. Find county-by-county results on our interactive election map. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
With or Without $2 Billion, Water Woes Unlikely to Go Away

By Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune and Reveal Nov. 4, 2013

Whether or not Texas voters approve Proposition 6, which would take $2 billion from the state's savings account to use for water financing, the state has a long way to go in dealing with its water deficit. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller