Texans approved billions for water and broadband infrastructure. Now what?
The legislation behind the historic investment directs state agencies to send money to the stateโs smaller, cash-strapped towns that have difficulty paying for upgrades. Federal money is also expected to flow to regions that need broadband.
Texasโ plan to provide water for a growing population virtually ignores climate change
Texasโ biggest single solution to providing enough water for its soaring population in the coming decades is using more surface water, including about two dozen new large reservoirs. But climate change has made damming rivers a riskier bet.
Texas drought strengthens its grip, triggering wildfires, water restrictions and crop disasters
Hundreds of wildfires have broken out this spring. More than a dozen areas are under voluntary or mandatory water use restrictions, and more than 200 Texas counties have been designated as crop disaster areas.
Rural Texas was meant to get 10% of state bonds for water projects. A report shows itโs getting less than 1%.
Rural Texas communities often donโt have the resources, technical experience, or ability to take on large amounts of debt to pursue state funds for water supply and quality projects. So, many simply donโt apply.
Texas ranchers, activists and local officials are bracing for megadroughts brought by climate change
Allie Goulding/The Texas TribuneSign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. This problem will be particularly pronounced for Dallas, which relies entirely on surface water for its water supply, the study says. Allie Goulding/The Texas TribuneCattle on a ranch on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 in Gonzales. Allie Goulding/The Texas TribuneCattle on a ranch in Gonzales. Legislators can basically impress upon various river authorities and municipal water suppliers that certain types of water projects like surface water reservoirs are not going to be the answer to our future of water during megadroughts because those surface water reservoirs lose a lot of water to evaporation, he said.