exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

The Amarillo City Council has approved a series of financial allocations to address significant infrastructure needs at the Hollywood Road Wastewater Treatment Facility. The total approved funding exceeds $1 million and will be drawn from various sources, primarily water and sewer revenues and drainage fees.

As the fall weather cools things down in North Texas, there’s one thing people need to be weary of: fire ants. The Lone Star State is home to over 200 ant species, but the one that truly packs a punch is the red imported fire ant, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. These ants produce a stinging and burning sensation with each bite.

TSTC’s Workforce Training and Continuing Education has scheduled two 20-hour courses for water system employees.  Cindy Brunett, TSTC’s executive director of Workforce Training and Continuing Education, said it will help fill a need in many West Texas communities.

Texas wildlife received the right amount of rain at the perfect time for the crucial growing stages of 2023. In spite of worsening drought conditions, wildlife populations have prevailed, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

In 2020, rebellious Mexican farmers occupied a dam in parched Chihuahua state to prevent the federal government from sending its reservoir water to Texas under a 1944 treaty. With the clock ticking toward another treaty deadline, the two sides are struggling for a solution.

The Kilgore City Council recently approved a roughly $4 million project to make improvements to the city wastewater treatment plant. Clay Evers, the public works director for the city of Kilgore, says the plant has been open on the same plot of land since 1955 and some parts are around 40 years old.

These small but mighty lizards were released out into the wild after they were raised in Texas zoos. Footage posted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department show the small but “iconic” lizards on their first journey out into the world.

Levels have been dropping at Canyon Lake for months due to severe drought, which has hit hardest in central and eastern Texas. Comal County, home to the lake, is suffering exceptional drought, the most severe classification by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the dry weather has caused water levels at the lake to fall throughout the summer.

The Kilgore City Council approved two projects related to the city’s water system at a recent council meeting: one to rehabilitate and improve some elements of the wastewater treatment plant and another to initiate an update to the city’s water system model.

It’s no secret that this summer's drought has had a major impact on water supplies throughout Central Texas, and Kempner Water is no exception.

Missouri City City Council adopted new water and sewer service fees for the recently annexed Sienna Municipal Utility District No. 2 during an Oct. 2 meeting.

The scorching summer that felt like it would never end may finally be winding down. A cold front has brought rain – and in some areas, severe storms – to much of the state. Long-awaited fall weather has arrived with highs in the 70s and low 80s. And even cooler weather, minus the rain, should make for a pleasant weekend across the state.

Residents in the southern Louisiana parish of Plaquemines were left thirsty this summer after saltwater started flowing from their kitchen taps. In late June 2023, saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico moved up into the Mississippi River and began to impact the drinking water supply for communities located in Plaquemines Parish. This phenomenon, known as a saltwater wedge or saltwater intrusion, raised the salt content of the drinking water in the area, forcing residents to rely on bottled water.

Port Arthur Water Utilities Department has placed Highland Heights-Taft Additions under a boil water notice.

Due to a water main leak, the City of Port Arthur's water system pressure in Highland Heights and Taft Additions fell below the 20 psi state requirement.

Without public hearings, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is proposing to adopt its 17-year-old standard that scientists and public health officials say fails to account for cumulative air pollution.

Current food production practices — including business-as-usual breeding scenarios — do not suffice to meet future food demands. Researchers are scrambling to accelerate what are usually very long plant breeding times in order to compensate for climate pollution and resulting weather disasters.

Another historical Halloween event was the creation of Lake Conroe, the local landmark that has shaped the lives, history, and economy of our community. The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) is marking the golden anniversary with a month full of memories and marked moments.

Texas State Parks received the 2023 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management Wednesday morning. The National Gold Medal Award Program is governed and administered by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA) and announced at the National Recreation and Park Association's (NRPA) annual conference.

A Kentucky angler and a Texas guide went out to catch some alligator gar in the hope of breaking some records, but never expected to possibly break two with one fish.

Texas did get some much-needed rain last week, but the region is still seeing some of the most intense drought in Texas. This has led cities and counties to issue water restrictions as a way to combat high demand and low supply. These calls for conservation include specific schedules for when residents can use outdoor sprinkler systems, water by hand and use decorative water features like fountains.

The new dedicated fund would start with $1 billion in seed money approved this spring in Senate Bill 30, and it would be administered by the Texas Water Development Board. At least 25% of the fund would be used for new water supply, such as new and expanded reservoirs, aquifer storage, desalination and wastewater reuse. Other portions would go to conservation efforts and projects to improve water distribution systems in rural areas, which are known for huge water losses.

Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Commissioner David L. Fuentes accepted the prestigious 2023 Texas Rain Catcher Award in Austin on Thursday on behalf of his precinct and the Hidalgo County Drainage District #1.

For a second consecutive year, honeybee colonies throughout the country have experienced record losses. While some of the devastation is because of mites, extreme weather is also playing a role in the bees’ demise, which is impacting people’s health and wealth.