News
America is using up its groundwater like there’s no tomorrow
Global warming has focused concern on land and sky as soaring temperatures intensify hurricanes, droughts and wildfires. But another climate crisis is unfolding, underfoot and out of view. Many of the aquifers that supply 90 percent of the nation’s water systems, and...
Concern growing about region’s future water needs
The Edwards Aquifer Authority is currently under a Stage 4 critical period management permit reduction for permit holders in Uvalde County. Edwards groundwater permit holders within Uvalde County are required to reduce their annual authorized pumping by 35%. The...
‘Like liquid gold’: Central Texans turning to rainwater collection amid drought
Even though there hasn’t been a consistent amount of rain in Central Texas for the last few months, one local business said many people are turning to them for rainwater collection tanks. It is in such high demand, one farmer is on a months-long wait list to get one....
SAWS to temporarily cut service of chronic offenders of water restrictions
The San Antonio Water System plans to temporarily cut service to customers who are chronic offenders of the water restrictions. This new penalty is in addition to over 6,000 citations SAWS has issued to their customers for violating restrictions. Read more from Kayla...
Residents concerned proposed private dam on South Llano River could affect Austin’s drinking water supply
Residents of Llano and Edwards counties are fighting a pending Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permit that could have implications on Austin’s drinking water supply. An application filed by Waterstone Creek LLC seeks authorization to “construct and maintain...
Heat, drought and population growth have stressed aquifers that supply water to millions of Texans
Almost every other day, Charlie Flatten gets a call about another local water well gone dry. Last week, he tried to help one woman find a water truck to fill her home cistern. But all the hauling companies had suspended service amid a deepening shortage in Central...
Dry Springs in Central Texas Warn of Water Shortage Ahead
Almost every other day, Charlie Flatten gets a call about another local water well gone dry. Last week, he tried to help one woman find a water truck to fill her home cistern. But all the hauling companies had suspended service amid a deepening shortage in Central...
‘Faucet got turned off’: Hill Country lakes, streams struggling as drought drags on
Paul Bertetti, the Edwards Aquifer Authority’s senior director for aquifer science research and modeling, said the drought is a long-term issue for the aquifer, which started the year with water levels about 30 feet below historical norms “We’ve been exceedingly dry,...
Hays groundwater district says water company overused 89M gallons in 2022, impacting Jacob’s Well zone
A groundwater district in Hays County said one Central Texas water provider overpumped nearly 90 million gallons of water in 2022, leading to “by far” the largest penalties for overuse in the district, which manages the Jacob’s Well zone. The Hays Trinity Groundwater...
The invisible laws that led to America’s housing crisis
In the 1910s, US cities began enacting policies that would shape neighborhoods and, unintentionally, lay the roots for the severe housing shortage today: single-family zoning laws. Zoning laws, at their most basic, follow a simple concept. In one part of town, only...
‘It’s heartbreaking’: Jacob’s Well stops flowing for sixth time in recorded history
Jacob's Well, the popular spring-fed swimming hole in Wimberley, has reached zero flow for the sixth time in its recorded history. All six of those times have occurred in the last 23 years — and it's become more frequent. Earlier this summer, the Hays County park...
Comal Springs have only stopped flowing once in recorded history. Could it happen again?
The impacts of the current long-term drought are far-reaching. Jacob’s Well is closed, San Antonio Water System has stepped up enforcement of water usage and Canyon Lake is nearing an all-time low. These are all bad situations, but it could become even more critical...
The battle for Zilker Park
It’s not all bad news. There is, at the very least, widespread consensus that Zilker is in dire need of assistance. But what that help looks like—and how much it costs—has become the latest chapter in a long-running and increasingly hostile debate about how much...
Eclipse roundtables ‘like preparing for a hurricane’ in the Hill Country
DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN) — The Hill Country Alliance, a non-profit focused on conserving and protecting the Texas Hill Country, will host the latest of its Hill Country Eclipse Roundtables on July 25th. The total solar eclipse, happening on April 8th, 2024, is...
‘It’s a crisis for our community’: Jacob’s Well has zero flow once again
WIMBERLEY, Texas (KXAN) — Jacob’s Well has now had zero flow of water for the sixth time since the summer of 2000, according to the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association. “There are multiple factors contributing to Jacob’s Well’s near-dry condition, and it’s crucial...
Water resources at risk: Preserving open space in Comal County
The Texas Hill Country has long been revered for its scenic landscapes, pristine water resources, and the allure of a peaceful retreat. In fact, a survey conducted in the 1990s revealed that a staggering 80% of Texans expressed a desire to retire in this picturesque...
‘Extreme’ drought in nearly 50% of county
After being held captive by 100-degree temperatures for two straight weeks, San Antonio is under siege by a resurgent Texas drought. In South Texas, the drought has taken a big step in the wrong direction over the past several weeks. The heavy rain we saw back in...
A Comal County ranch owner ponders selling his land, setting off another clash between property rights and environmental concerns
Facing a two-lane highway about 13 miles west of New Braunfels, a 546-acre ranch hugging the west fork of Dry Comal Creek has caused a stir in the community. Behind a small gate, hills dotted with live oaks and a few freely roaming horses can be seen. But neighbors...
Central Texas water restrictions increase as hot, dry summer persists
A big question some city leaders have to ask this summer is whether residents should have drinking water or a nice lawn. Of course, drinking water is the only answer. That's why at least four cities in the KVUE viewing area have increased water restrictions for...
In Texas and elsewhere, cities see potential in building deconstruction
The cavernous Maryland warehouse housing Community Forklift bulges with doors, windows, flooring and light fixtures, some lightly used, some more so, but all for sale at big discounts. Dozens of customers browsed the wares on a recent weekday morning at the East Coast...
Save Lake LBJ lays out plan for stopping sand plants
"There is plenty of sand on land. They don't have to ruin our lakes for this," Ortiz [of TRAM Texas] said. "We've got to stop it right here, we've got to stop it right now, or we'll live to regret it." Click here to read more from Dakota Morrissiey with DailyTrib...
A look to the future of Texas State Parks
Andrew Sansom got his first job in 1959 as a lifeguard at Lake Jackson Municipal Pool in his hometown about 55 miles south of Houston. Little did the 14-year-old know the job would set the stage for a lifelong career in parks administration and environmental...
Drought-stricken property turned into thriving oasis with rainwater harvesting
Between the ongoing drought and summer heat on the way, water is in short supply and high demand. One local man has found a way to reuse water that falls on his property. "This is just innate to me. This is what I do. I rebuild habitats," said Bill Nash. Read more...
Say goodbye to lawns in drying U.S. West
Mark Marlowe, who directs the water supply for fast-growing Castle Rock, a Denver suburb, has a dim view of lawns. Irrigating grass in summer consumes 40 percent of Castle Rock’s water. And unlike water used indoors, outdoor water cannot be recycled. Marlowe is not...
State environmental agency proposes new rules for concrete plants in Texas
Communities statewide have demanded that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality strengthen environmental regulations for concrete batch plants, which combine raw materials such as sand, water and cement to make concrete. Residents who live near the plants have...
Want to see next year’s total solar eclipse? Make plans now
The path of totality. That’s where you’ll want to be on April 8, 2024, to take advantage of the last opportunity for decades to see a total solar eclipse over the contiguous United States. The path, which will be about 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide, will make its...
Ranchers raising birds to boost biodiversity
If you step outside into the morning sun but don’t hear birds singing, you may have a problem. “Birds are a leading indicator of what’s happening in your ecosystem,” says Chad Lemke, a Texas rancher who took over his family’s operation in the early 2000s with his...
Critics set to push back against Comal County project that calls for 1,400 homes, wastewater plant
Environmental groups are asking Texas regulators to say no to a proposed Comal County development that calls for 1,400 homes and a plant that could release 600,000 gallons of treated wastewater a day into a creek that feeds the Comal River. The Texas Commission on...
WATCH: Panelists discuss managing Hill Country development amid finite water resources
Partnerships among land developers, public entities and nonprofits will be vital in managing the Texas Hill Country’s water resources in the coming years, experts said during a panel discussion Wednesday hosted by the San Antonio Report. But whether state legislators...
Texas’ water infrastructure is broken, jeopardizing quality and supply for a growing state
The Lone Star State’s drinking water infrastructure barely received a passing grade in a 2021 report from the American Society of Civil Engineers, a low mark for the nation’s second-most-populous state with a reputation for bravado. The multibillion-dollar situation...