exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

The city of Amarillo is considering using a program that they described as “Uber for Trash” that would involve letting citizens to get paid to clean up areas of illegal dumping and get paid for it. At Tuesday’s Amarillo City Council meeting, Donny Hooper, the Amarillo public works director, presented to the council the idea to combat illegal dumping across the city. The program would be aimed at the worst-hit areas of the city including the Barrio, Eastridge, San Jacinto and North Heights neighborhoods.

The San Jacinto River Authority named Aubrey Spear as its new general manager Nov. 15.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's permit for Sempra to build a liquified natural gas terminal in Port Arthur, according to information from the appeals court. The court sent the case back to the TCEQ "for proceedings consistent with our opinion."

Aging water and sewer pipelines in Nacogdoches has been a longtime issue, and according to city staff, delaying repairs can bring more extensive problems and higher costs. The City of Nacogdoches saw a successful general bond election of $43.9 million last week, which will fund multiple projects across the city.

In response to recent sewage spills in September and October, the Hollywood Road Wastewater Treatment Facility is undergoing crucial upgrades. Amarillo City Council approved the purchase of some equipment focused on addressing immediate needs and enhancing efficiency at the plant.

The legal battle over the fair market value of the roughly 5,000-acre property a Dallas-based developer purchased earlier this year containing a now-shuttered state park continued Tuesday at the Freestone County Courthouse with special attention to the cost of water rights. The state has argued the value of the property is $85 million but property owner Shawn Todd testified Tuesday he believes it’s worth $475 million.

Sugar Land residents will soon have improved water quality and pressure after the city decided to install a new water line along Ransom Road. On Nov. 7 Sugar Land City Council voted to approve installing a 2,400-foot, 12-inch water line along Ransom Road that will connect the existing water line from Indigo River Lane to just east of the Grand Parkway, behind the existing Bank of America, according to agenda documents.

Attorneys for the city of Midland, the oil capital of Texas, made an unusual request to regulators this year: Could they please be allowed to challenge drilling permits? Midland isn’t contesting permits to drill for oil. The city is challenging applications by Pilot Water Solutions to inject oil and gas wastewater deep underground adjacent to the T-Bar Ranch, where Midland gets about 30% of its drinking water. City leaders worry that Pilot’s disposal wells could jeopardize their long-term water supply.

Old documents showed that a Texas water district's pump station was built using site plans that misplaced the state border. A new station on the Texas side could cost at least $50 million.

After more than 20 years of planning, Pearland workers will soon be able to treat and pump the city’s own surface water, decreasing its dependence on buying water from Houston. Located just south of Magnolia Parkway in Rosharon, the $175 million Surface Water Treatment Plant will pump 10 million gallons of water per day for Pearland.

J. Kevin Ward expected a bigger crowd. As the longtime chair of Dallas-Fort Worth’s regional water planning group, Ward has been in rooms with hundreds of northeast Texans upset over the group’s proposal to flood 66,000 acres of hardwood forest for a massive new reservoir along the Sulphur River. He recalls breaking bread with a few opponents, sitting down to explain why North Texas water planners believe the controversial Marvin Nichols reservoir is necessary to create enough water supply for the region’s explosive population growth. 

Most North Texas cities compete for new homes and businesses. The city of Heath on the east side of Lake Ray Hubbard plans a six-month development moratorium. Heath Mayor Kelson Elam said it is to arrange more water supply and new regulations to deal with irrigation.

The San Antonio River Authority received a $50,000 grant for the native plants, which will help with flooding.

Taylor Mayor Brandt Rydell said Samsung is investing $17 billion into the community. The facility will bring 2,000 jobs. Rydell said when it comes to water, Samsung will use a third-party provider.

A 113-acre mixed-use development project is underway in Hutto, but it needs help from the City of Hutto to supply water and wastewater services before the process can get the go ahead.

Before the La Vernia City Council took preliminary steps Nov. 9 on issuing $1.25 million in certificates of obligation, citizens had an opportunity to review what the money should address at a Nov. 6 town hall event. City Engineer Clarence Littlefield of Southwest Engineers led the review of a study of La Vernia’s drainage problems, which identified probable causes and recommended rec- solutions.

An interlocal agreement between Plano and the North Central Texas Council of Governments that will pave the way for future Cotton Belt Regional Trail construction was approved by Plano City Council. As part of the interlocal agreement approved during the Nov. 7 meeting, Plano is providing a local match of a little more than $1.7 million, which will be transferred to Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the project’s overseer.

The City of Marlin, if awarded state funds, could turn Brushy Creek into a second water source.

The lack of sewer infrastructure in this corner of Bexar County has slowed development and challenged the city's volatile governing body. In September, Bexar County commissioners approved an agreement between the county and the City of Von Ormy that provides funds for the design of regional sewage infrastructure that will serve about 400 households. 

Richard J. Lee Elementary's 5th grader, Ahiri Neeli, has claimed the top spot in her grade level and is the grand prize winner of the Trinity River Authority's 2023 Art Contest. This year, the Trinity River Authority had a record-breaking 1,941 entries from nine counties