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.
San Antonio River Authority endorses Prop. 6, aimed at strengthening Texasโ water infrastructure
The San Antonio River Authorityโs (SARA) Board of Directors adopted a resolution endorsing Proposition 6, which would โ if approved by voters in November โ create more investments in Texasโ water infrastructure and finance water projects.
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](https://www.ksat.com/resizer/kcfWj70rmWpqGFONvBXtGT4ru1o=/425x284/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DR64XC4ZCNAL5O2E4PMYKE2RGI.jpg)
Texas ranchers, activists and local officials are bracing for megadroughts brought by climate change
This century, Texas could face the driest conditions it has seen in the last 1,000 years, according to a new study from a team of Texas A&M University and University of Texas at Austin researchers. The study highlighted a slew of looming problems for the stateโs water supply. This problem will be particularly pronounced for Dallas, which relies entirely on surface water for its water supply, the study says. โAnd if there is a shortage, then the very next step is they have to determine how they are going to meet their water supply needs for that growing population,โ she said. So the state is well-prepared and is looking at future populations and water supply needs for municipalities.โBut the warnings are alarming to water conservation advocates and ranchers alike.