exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

 Tyler City Council approved the decommissioning of three wells that were deemed non-operational by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Wednesday.

“The decommissioning of these wells is a proactive and fiscally responsible initiative aimed at addressing the evolving water needs of the community and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements,” said Utilities Director Kate Dietz, P.E.

Residents in the Coldspring and Camilla communities were asked to voluntarily evacuate Wednesday as the Trinity River rises and officials opened Lake Livingston's dam gates. As of 8 p.m., the Trinity River Authority said it was releasing 80,000 cubic feet of water per second from the at-capacity Lake Livingston.

Under the plan approved Tuesday, the desalination plant would also treat 30 million gallons of water per day. Prior plans had only called for treating 20 million gallons of water per day.

A foul odor coming from a wastewater treatment lagoon system in Baird has residents concerned. In 2023 three complaints were filed with the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality regarding the Wastewater Treatment Lagoon System.

The San Jacinto River Authority announced a slow release of water from Lake Conroe on Jan. 22 as storms across the region caused the lake level to rise above 201 feet. According to the news release, the SRJA manages the Lake Conroe water level when the lake level exceeds 201 feet above mean sea level.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has cleared the way for the construction of a wastewater plant that would dump millions of gallons of treated effluent into Helotes Creek as opponents gear up to fight it. The wastewater plant would serve a 2,900-home development on 1,160 acres northwest of San Antonio in an area known as the Guajolote Ranch.

A neighborhood in San Elizario has been dealing with a smelly mess since the weekend when a pump went out and sewage backed up into the area. Approximately 15 homes are impacted.

A boil water notice has been issued for residents living in an area of Galveston County due to a pressure drop in the water system from a water main break. According to Galveston County’s Office of Emergency Management, the boil water notice was put in place for the Bacliff area around 4:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

Efforts by state environmental agencies to improve the water quality within the Medina River could have significant trickle-down benefits for the San Antonio River. The Texas Water Resources Institute, a research arm of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, has partnered with the San Antonio River Authority to create a watershed improvement plan that will help improve the water quality of the Lower Medina River watershed. Currently, the water quality in the Medina River below Diversion Lake — just west of San Antonio — is designated by the state as impaired because of elevated bacteria levels, said Jason Gerlich, a research specialist at the institute.

Two consecutive summers of brutal heat and drought have left some parts of Texas with notably low water supplies going into 2024. A wet year or a well-placed hurricane could quickly pull these regions back from the brink. But winter rains have disappointed so far. Recent downpours are the first in weeks for parts of the state, and they won’t hit the watersheds that need them most.

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for areas north of the Houston Metropolitan area. It will remain in effect through midnight tonight. As of 2PM, NWS extended the flood watch to include Harris, Fort Bend, Brazoria, Galveston, Chambers, and Liberty Counties through Wednesday morning.

Troubled waters are getting some attention down in Texas, with a partnership formed by the Texas Water Resources Institute and the San Antonio River Authority aiming to clean up the spoilt Medina River. According to a report by the San Antonio Report, elevated bacteria levels have put a damper on the water quality below Diversion Lake, just west of San Antonio.

The people of Lake City are breathing a sigh of relief. After a long dry spell, they finally got some rain to help with lake levels. According to lake-level reports by the Nueces River Authority, data shows Lake Corpus Christi at 45.4% of capacity, a week ago. Today that number has increased to 47% capacity.

Industrial facilities in Texas released an estimated 2.1 million pounds of unauthorized pollution into the air during the recent winter storm, according to reports filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Officials say freezing weather forced oil refineries, petrochemical plants and other unprepared facilities to shut down, releasing toxic chemicals into the air. 

It seems the growth is non-stop for SpaceX in South Texas as the company looks to expand its operational footprint around its launch facilities. In its efforts, they are working on an exchange of land with Texas Parks and Wildlife, requesting 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park. The transfer of land from Boca Chica State Park will bring nearly 500 acres near the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

Texas emergency resources have been activated ahead of a storm system moving across the state over the next few days. The system is expected to bring heavy rainfall and the potential for flash flooding, with higher risks anticipated in the eastern half of Texas, says the National Weather Service.