exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

Researchers dived into the San Marcos River last week in hopes of understanding a non-native species of fish. The results from the study will help in guiding and enhancing the ongoing removal efforts to protect the native habitats.

One San Antonio resident said water builds up seven or eight feet high after heavy rain. Another compared their street to the Amazon River.

The John Bunker Sands Wetland Center (Center), along with the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) and The Rosewood Corporation, invites the public to celebrate the completion of expanded education facilities at a grand reopening event slated Saturday, April 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, 655 Martin Lane, Combine, TX 75159. The festivities will include free entry to the Wetland Center, cattail ribbon cutting ceremony, live bald eagle presentation by Window to the Wild, sneak peek of environmental field studies, boardwalk tours, local food trucks and much more. 

What are you up to this coming weekend? We have an idea for you. The San Antonio River Foundation and its partner, the San Antonio River Authority, will host the official kayaking event of Fiesta San Antonio: the Mission Reach Flotilla Fiesta.

Austin Water crews are responding to a domestic wastewater overflow near 2704 Catalina Drive, in the collection system of the South Austin Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Due to a leaking wastewater main, there was an overflow of over 100,000 gallons of wastewater into a tributary of Country Club Creek.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the Alto Rural Water Supply Corporation public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc).

Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.

The tank of aerating bodily waste at the Oso Wastewater Treatment Plant in South Side Corpus Christi is strangely mesmerizing. The brown-and-tan fluid within the 181-foot-long, 25-foot-deep rectangular vat is in constant motion, its surface broken by large bubbles and foam that make the fecal brew resemble cappuccino.

The city of Port Arthur will soon put to just more than $26 million in federal funding — $18 million of which will go to improve the city’s wastewater plant. Port Arthur Mayor Thurman “Bill” Bartie made the declaration during his State of the City address on March 21 at the Bob Bowers Civic Center.

It’s spring break week at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, and no teachers or students can be seen. The parking lot and classrooms are empty on an early Friday afternoon.

CSA Construction, Inc. will begin work on significant upgrades to the Whitecap Wastewater Treatment Plant in April. At its March 29 meeting, the Corpus Christi City Council approved a $12.3 million contract to begin the extensive renovations.

Lower Colorado River Authority employees will be out and about working on six local community projects in Burnet and Llano counties Friday, April 1, as part of authority’s annual Steps Forward Day. During the day of service, volunteers will work on 35 projects throughout the LCRA service territory.

Lake Georgetown is currently a little more than 70 percent full. As the water level drops, a bright white limestone shoreline slowly expands around the lake.

Robert Goode, a former assistant city manager with infrastructure planning experience, will take the helm of Austin Water next month following the departure of the utility's longtime director, Greg Meszaros. Meszaros tendered his resignation last month after operational failure at Austin Water led to a citywide boil-water notice and left residents and businesses without reliable drinking water over the course of four days in early February.

The spill at the City of Amarillo’s Lift Station No. 40 was due to a power outage and the failure of a backup generator.

The power outage was fixed this afternoon and is now operational.

The San Antonio River Authority is aware of the presence of oil found on the San Antonio River on Wednesday, March 23. Officials tell MySA the oil spill is from South Cross to Military Drive. 

Fast moving storms pummeled areas of Texas overnight but left Montgomery County with nothing more than a few inches of rain and slick roads. “We were very lucky the storms proved to be less severe than forecast,” County Judge Mark Keough said.

After a week of dry weather that has had fire crews on alert for wildfires, Austin's forecast for Monday calls for as much as an inch of rain in the city. Any rainfall will be appreciated as drought conditions expand throughout the state.

Most people don't even think about it, but whenever they use the restroom, they're helping scientists collect data. Sewage from cities across the nation is being used to track COVID-19 trends, including types of variants.