exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

Tim Howe, director of water and wastewater utilities, says the city acquired a sizable area from the Springs Hill Water Supply Corporation. When the deal was approved in the fall, it was called a “win-win” for the city and for Springs Hill. Howe says the expansion of the city’s water service territory helps it meet future demands for growth. It also allowed Springs Hill to focus on other areas within its boundaries. 

During its Feb. 14 meeting, the Magnolia City Council unanimously approved a utility development and escrow agreement with Magnolia East 149—managed by Magnolia Place developer Stratus Properties Inc.—for a water supply plant. The plant, which will be located on 2.9 acres that Magnolia East 149 owns, is estimated to cost $6.29 million and will include a 1,500-gallon-per-minute water well, control building, generator, 10,000-gallon hydro tank, three 1,500-gallon-per-minute booster pumps and a 400,000-gallon ground storage tank, according to the Feb. 14 agenda packet.

Continued rainfall over the past several weeks has helped eliminate most of the remaining drought across the Brazos Valley. This drought monitor does not include the 1.03″ of rainfall that fell at Easterwood airport on Wednesday, February 8th. Only “abnormally dry” regions remain on the Brazos Valley drought monitor. With more heavy rainfall forecasted for early next week, conditions should improve.

Beaumont City Council is scheduled to discuss fluoride in drinking water during a work session at Tuesday's council meeting, and the possibility of authorizing a referendum on whether to remove it.

The work session on the agenda indicates council will review and discuss fluoride in water treatment, and consider authorizing the City Manager to place an item on the May ballot to remove fluoride from the surface water treatment process.

Is Texas neglecting the care of water in lakes, rivers and estuaries? A federal inquiry into the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may reach that conclusion and could potentially revoke the agency’s authority to regulate water quality.

The village of Vinton was awarded a $4 million check for its water and sewer phase III project. Funds will be used to provide for the expansion of a looped water and sewer system with a wholesale supply of treated potable water and treatment of wastewater provided through a purchase agreement with El Paso Water Utilities.

The 2022 drought and subsequent poor hay production resulted in stressed hay supplies going into winter, according to AgriLife Extension specialists. Those short hay supplies and demand have now pushed hay bale prices toward record high prices.

City of Weslaco Engineer, Albert Aldana, states, “We expect that approximately 600 homes will be eliminated from the 10-year storm floodplain. This will benefit greatly this area that routinely floods with minor rain events.” 

The first phase of the project, which will start in the spring, will add a regional stormwater detention facility on Mayor Pablo Pena park to mitigate flooding.

The feces from large colonies of migratory birds at the park harm the ecosystem of the San Antonio River because they’re packed with substances that, among other things, cause algae blooms that damage wildlife. So the city is using noise makers, spotlights and other nonlethal means to shoo the birds to spots elsewhere in the park where they’ll muck up the waters less.

It took a while, but the Midland City Council approved an agreement with Parkhill to provide engineering support and other services for water the city of Midland owns near Fort Stockton. The additional water, it was stated, will add to the City of Midland’s water resources and will help the city when it comes to negotiating water rights with the Colorado River Municipal Water District. The city of Midland currently receives 75% of its water from the CRMWD (17.5 million gallons a day) and the CRMWD contract ends at the end of the decade.

A cascade of issues including inflation and growing distrust in government aren’t helping local governments hire for critical positions in public safety and utilities.

Water is shaping up to be a priority during the 88th Legislature. Texas weathered its fourth-most intense drought on record last year and entered 2023 with half the state still in drought. Spurred by this precarious situation, a group of House lawmakers recently formed the first bipartisan caucus on water issues. 

The mushroom, known as the "Devil's Cigar," is one of the rarest mushrooms in the world and was designated as the state mushroom of Texas in 2021. During the late fall season, the fungus pops up as a fuzzy, dark brown capsule about three to four inches in length, inspiring its nickname “Devil’s Cigar.”

Denison officials are moving forward with the design phase of a project that could ensure water resources for generations. The City Council approved a $329,000 contract with Plummer and Associates for the design of a new 24-inch waterline that will connect the water treatment plant to the future Lake Texoma pump station.

Lewisville City Council approved the interlocal agreement on Feb. 6, which will allow two interconnects located near MacArthur Boulevard and Lake Vista Drive, and Denton Tap Road and Highland Drive. Recent nationwide events have led federal and state regulatory agencies to require water systems to evaluate their capabilities in water delivery in times of stress, according to the agenda item. 

State Engineer Mike Hamman, the state's top water official, called the proposed consent decree critical for the future of the Lower Rio Grande basin south of Elephant Butte Reservoir. Under the agreement, New Mexico would pay no penalties for water Texas had accused it of improperly diverting. Officials had feared the state, if it lost the court battle, would have to shell out as much as $2 billion, plus legal fees.

Progress continues on most of the 21 drainage projects included in League City’s $145 million bond from May 2019. About $73 million of the bond was dedicated to drainage projects, and the cost has been supplemented by grants, City Manager John Baumgartner said.