exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

Gov. Abbott appointed Benny Fogleman to the Trinity River Authority Board of Directors for terms set to expire on March 15, 2027. The authority oversees development and conservation of surface water resources of the Trinity River Basin.

The plan to create a 100-mile network of hike-and-bike trails connecting San Antonio to Austin has hit a new milestone.

The Great Springs Project, the name of the project and of the organization bringing it to life, released a 200-page plan last week that outlines the vision for the project and frames the actions needed to make it a reality.

The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) swept this year’s Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT) Operations Challenge held at Texas Water 2022 to take home the coveted trophy for Overall First Place State Champions and was recognized in three categories related to water conservation and reuse, and public education programs. Jenna Covington, NTMWD Executive Director, said “I am humbled by the quality of representation we had at this year’s Texas Water 2022, and the extraordinary performance of employees to earn honors that validate the important work we do that truly matters for the health and welfare of the region we serve.”

Tarleton State University researchers believe they have demonstrated how combinations of food-grade plant extracts have the power to remove microplastics from wastewater. 

Specifically, the extracts came from plants like okra, aloe, cactus and psyllium.

Heavy rainfall and consistent springlike, stormy weather have led to improved drought conditions across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

The current index, released Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor, downgraded drought conditions from “extreme” to “severe” in Dallas and Tarrant counties.

Rural areas of Texas receive only a fraction of a percent of bonds for state water plan projects, far less than what lawmakers intended nearly a decade ago when the program was conceived, a state report shows. The Texas Water Development Board is entrusted with billions of state dollars to issue bonds, provide loans and disburse grants for water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control and conservation projects.

Tesla’s first European auto plant opened in eastern Germany after delayed approval from local officials who worried that the massive facility could deplete shrinking water resources. Elon Musk’s electric car powerhouse opens an even bigger factory tomorrow in Austin where environmentalists are similarly concerned about its impact on water in a fast-growing Texas city that’s increasingly prone to drought.

Lower Colorado River Authority employee volunteers dug in and lent a hand to several Highland Lakes communities on Friday, April 1, during the LCRA’s Steps Forward Day, an annual day of service.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative volunteers and Burnet city staff jumped in to help on several projects.

Central Texas Water Coalition President Jo Karr Tedder said she wants to see the city of Lakeway push for responsible water usage in the face of drought conditions. "I would love for the city to take a stand and say we need a more protective water management plan in order to maintain the households that we're required to have here and to meet the needs of all of our constituents,” she said.

The Lower Colorado River Authority made its business pitch to Kerr County for a new countywide radio system Monday morning.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday sought to list the Houston and Dallas metro areas as “severe” violators of 2008 federal ozone pollution standards, kicking off a process that will likely impose stricter pollution controls in both regions to reduce local smog. Ground-level ozone pollution, known as smog, harms human health by constricting lung muscles, making it harder to breathe and exacerbating lung diseases such as asthma.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a plan to move Bexar County from “marginal nonattainment” to “moderate nonattainment” for ozone after the area failed to meet air quality standards. The new designation would mean the San Antonio area would be required to comply with new EPA air quality regulations of 70 parts per billion by September 24, 2024.

According to the US EPA, fixing easily corrected household water leaks can save homeowners about 10% on their water bills. But fixing a running toilet or a dripping faucet isn’t something all homeowners feel comfortable doing and calling a plumber could lead to economic strain, if household budgets are tight.

COVID-19 has been detected in El Paso's wastewater, according to the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention's National Wastewater Surveillance System. Three out of the four sample sites show changes in the levels of COVID-19 in the wastewater during between March 17 and March 31.

On March 18, the Brazos River Authority (BRA) implemented Stage 1 – Drought Watch for Lake Georgetown and Stillhouse Hollow Lake, the City’s primary sources of water.  The warning is due to drier than normal conditions in the Brazos River basin and drought trigger levels set by the BRA’s Drought Contingency Plan.