exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

The fourth and final piece of a $213 million water development project was approved in July when the city of Buda committed to paying $10.86 million over the next 20 years as part of a joint effort with the cities of San Marcos and Kyle as well as the Canyon Regional Water Authority.

AUGUST 10th, 2017 -- Soaking rainfall August 7th was a key factor in helping to erase Moderate Drought conditions across a large part of the Western Brazos Valley. As of the Drought Monitor released August 3rd, a majority of Milam, Burleson, and Lee Counties were considered to be in that Moderate Drought. Abnormally dry conditions had consumed Washington, Robertson, Brazos and North Austin Counties.

SAN ANTONIO - The San Pedro Creek Improvements Project is channeling a new vision for San Antonio mixed with pieces of the past. It might be a little difficult to envision exactly what this will look like, but once it's finished, 2.2 miles with eight different themes of art work and design won't only tell the story of the people of San Antonio, but it'll make the city a safer place every time it rains.

SAN ANTONIO - From bottles and cans to large clumps of debris, the San Antonio river is flowing with the aftermath of Monday's storms. The San Antonio River Authority's Watershed and Park Operations Manager Kristen Hansen says after a major storm, there's a lot to do to get the Mission Reach back in shape.

SAN ANTONIO - Our heavy rains are a blessing to local farmers and cattle ranchers but was it enough to relieve issues caused by our drought? The early morning storm was loud and long causing flooding on city streets, and remote fields. It was a blessing to cattle ranchers like Beatrice Browning. "We needed the rain. It was pretty dry." So dry she and her husband have been buying bales of hay.

LLANO, Texas (KXAN) — Around 150,000 gallons of wastewater spilled into Oatman Creek, about 150 yards from the Llano River. The wastewater spilled from the city’s wastewater collection system starting around 7 a.m. Monday. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality suspects flash flooding is the cause of the spill east of Ford Street. Officials are unable to contain the spill because of the water flow, but have increased monitoring of the water supply systems. They’re waiting for the water to go down so they can gain access to the spill area.

San Antonians wanting to review and comment on the latest design concepts proposed for the San Pedro Creek Improvements Project gathered inside the boardroom of the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) Friday for a public input forum. The goal of the forum was to collect feedback on the design concepts recently approved by Bexar County Commissioners. Commissioners have yet to approve construction of the proposals, pending a final review of the expected costs of implementation.

RINITY COUNTY, TEXAS - Charges have been filed against a man whose dogs attacked and killed at least a dozen goats on Goat Island in Lake Livingston. A witness saw the attack and alerted the Trinity Game Warden on Monday.

The Nueces River Authority informed the Commissioners about an invasive plant species called Arundo Donax. The giant reed-like plant can grow to over 20 feet in height. The River Authority is on high alert about this plant because its giant reeds choke riverside and stream channels, crowds out native plants, interferes with flood control, increases fire potential and reduces habitat for wildlife, the fibrous root mats can create debris dams behind bridges, culverts and other structures, it also ignites easily and has high heat burn.

Center Point residents gathered last week to hear the most recent updates to planned construction for the approximately $47 million Center Point-East Kerr County wastewater project. Construction crews will be arriving within the month of August to begin the project. Kerr County officials have been working on funding and planning for this project for well over a decade.

LAN Project Manager Paul Banschbach and TRA Inspector James Williams observe placement of controlled low-strength material backfill on the 78-inch-diameter wastewater pipe. Photo: LAN The Trinity River Authority of Texas’ (TRA) Central Regional Wastewater System began operations in December 1959 as the first regional facility of its kind, serving Irving, Grand Prairie, and Farmers Branch, plus a portion of western Dallas. The system has since expanded to serve all or part of 21 contracting parties and approximately 1.2 million people in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

RIVER OAKS Some residents in River Oaks want to know why their drinking water is brown. One resident who emailed the Star-Telegram said she is spending about $90 a month on bottled water and takes her laundry to a service. “I feel I am living in a third-world country,” she said. City Manager Marvin Gregory said the water is safe to drink, but understands the concerns and insists that help is on the way.

Hundreds of thousands of Montgomery County residents—including those in and around The Woodlands—are footing the bill for water fee increases as the stakes continue to mount in legal disputes between neighboring communities and local water authorities. Due in part to ongoing litigation, effective Sept. 1, monthly groundwater and surface water usage fees paid to the San Jacinto River Authority will increase by 14 cents per 1,000 gallons pumped for residents of The Woodlands and Oak Ridge North.

SAN ANTONIO - High waters and flash flooding triggered by heavy rainfall are all too common in San Antonio, and those issues are something the city's Transportation and Capital Improvements department said it is constantly working to improve. Nefi Garza is the department's assistant director. He oversees storm water. “We've seen a lot worse. We're prepared for a lot worse,” he said. “The event [Monday] really highlighted many of the low-lying areas. That event could have been so much worse,” said Garza.

TRINITY COUNTY, TX (KTRE) - More than a dozen goats, their presence on an island dating back three decades, were killed by dogs on the loose almost two weeks ago. It happened on Goat Island, which is located in Lake Livingston within Trinity County. Tradition dates back all those years to the Trinity River Authority leasing the island to a man, who has since passed away, and originally brought the goats there.

AUSTIN, Texas - The heavy overnight rain fell right over the Highland Lakes and the Lower Colorado River Authority opened up floodgates on two of its lakes to make room. Lake Buchanan is one of the largest lakes, and it is the largest, high lake as far as area is concerned. it is about the same size as Lake Travis in regards to volume.

Devastating floods in April 2016 destroyed thousands of buildings and homes around Houston and claimed the lives of eight people. Lesser known is that the network of bayous and waterways around Houston, many built and maintained to control floodwaters, also took a significant hit -- and officials are trying to undo the damage. Harris County Commissioners Court this week accepted nearly $10 million in grant funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help repair the damage, money they hope can help repair eroded waterways, cracked concrete lining and damaged culverts.

While LSGCD works on protecting the county's groundwater, the water authority, which was created by Texas lawmakers in 1937 to manage and protect the waters of the San Jacinto River basin across Montgomery County and six other counties, provides what it terms "reliable, cost-efficient and sustainable water resource management."

AUSTIN (KXAN) — City council members are looking into a request from the Austin Water department to take out a $45 million loan to help pay for upgrades to two wastewater treatment plants. The city says the population growth is the main reason the city needs to help improve the filtration systems.

DALLAS - Several neighbors in North Dallas are sharing their concerns about water bills they say are abnormally high. If you've ever held your breath while opening a bill, you know Debbie Noel's pain. At her house in Prestonwood North, Dallas Water Utility provides the water needed.