By Sadhbh Walshe, The (UK) Guardian, May 9, 2013

The United States Supreme Court has been called upon to settle a battle that is raging over access to the Red River which serves the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. The heart of the matter is that water-starved Texas feels that it is entitled under the Red River compact, which was signed by all four states, to billions of gallons of water from the Oklahoma side of the river basin. For its part Oklahoma insists that Texas is not doing enough to conserve.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/colorado-river-water-states-battle-access

A Water Generation Gap Portends Confrontation Between Texas’ Past, Future

By Ari Phillips, Texas Climate News, May 15, 2013

Many experts say as climate patterns shift and populations grow, global thirst for water will be unquenchable by mid-century. In arid regions like North Africa and Aus tralia that time is now. In Texas a perfect storm is brewing as the population booms and water resources deplete, and many people believe water will soon overtake oil and natural gas as the next major natural-resource play in the state. Already, inves tors are making sustained efforts to secure water assets and rights. At the same time, often without weighing the long-term impacts, Texans continue to use vast quantities of water for lush lawns and poorly suited agriculture, while significant amounts are lost because of overtaxed infrastructure like leaky pipelines and pipes.

http://texasclimatenews.org/wp/?p=7543

Water-Reuse Projects Move Forward, Despite Concerns

Reports from Texas Tribune, Lubbock Avalanche Journal

The idea of turning treated sewage into drinking water may give some people ause, but desperate times . . . Cities pursuing this strategy for water reuse include El Paso, Wichita Falls and Big Spring A $13 million reclamation plant in Big Spring began operation in mid May, convert ing sewage wastewater into drinking-water by mixing with lake water and retreating, according to press reports. The plan adds 2 million gallons daily to the supply for a 500,000-customer water district that uses 40 million to 80 million gallons a day.. The district services a cities of Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, Snyder and Stanton.

Bill Seeks to Address Mexico Water Debt

By Laura B. Martinez, The Brownsville Herald, May 15, 2013

Federal legislation has been filed that would prevent the U.S. government from extending benefits to Mexico in an attempt to get the U.S. State Department more involved in the ongoing water-sharing dispute between the two countries. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, filed an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act that would prohibit the U.S. secretary of state from extending benefits to Mexico if the State Department fails to submit quarterly paperwork to Congress that describes Mexico’s efforts to comply with a water-sharing treaty that governs the countries’ use of common water sources, such as the Rio Grande and its tributaries.

http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_9bf8fb54-bced-11e2-bcb3-001a4bcf6878.html

In Parched Southwest, Anxious Wait for Summer Rains

By Andrew Freedman, Climate Central website, May 10, 2013

On the thirsty rangelands of Arizona and New Mexico, which have been mired in an on-again, off-again drought since 1999, ranchers and water managers are hoping for an unusually wet summer monsoon season that will help make up for this winter’s lackluster snowpack. Reservoirs have been depleted to near-record lows, and the major rivers and tributaries are running at barely a trickle, making the summer rainfall season crucial to avert potentially severe water shortages, at least temporarily.
However, if the past two summer monsoon seasons are any guide to what’s ahead, meaningful drought relief may be wishful thinking . . .

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/in-drought-stricken-southwest-anxious-wait-forsummer-monsoon-15971

Texas Groundwater Levels Suffer Sharp Drop, Study Finds

By Kate Galbraith, Texas Tribune, May 7, 2013

Groundwater levels in Texas’ major aquifers dropped considerably between 2010 and 2011, as the state’s drought intensified, according to a report published recently by the Texas Water Development Board. The report showed significant declines in the Ogallala Aquifer, which underlies much of the Panhandle. The water board monitors 26 wells in the Ogallala, and water levels dropped in all but one during the 2010-11 period. The average drop was 3.5 feet, with a median decline of 1.8 feet . . .
http://www.texastribune.org/2013/05/07/texas-groundwater-dropped-sharply-amid-droughtstud/

Texas Water Shortages Could Put Limit on Fracking

By Nathan Bernier KUT, Austin, News May 2, 2013

Shortages of water could limit the growth of fracking in Texas, according to a report from Ceres, a nonprofit group that advises investors about corporations’ sustainability practices. Monika Freyman, who wrote the report for Ceres (http://www.ceres.org), says that fracking accounts for more than 20 percent of the water used in some Texas counties.

http://www.kutnews.org/post/texas-water-shortages-could-put-limit-fracking

Monitored Water Supply Reservoirs in Texas’ Colorado River Basin 28.8 Percent Full

Texas Water Development Board, Water Data for Texas, May 22, 2013

According to the Texas Water Development Board’s Water Data for Texas website, lake levels in reservoirs feeding the Colorado River average 28.8 percent full, with the few constant level lakes in the group helping the average. West Texas reservoirs Lake Champion Creek at 7.1 percent full, E.V. Spence at 4.5 percent, Twin Buttes at 1.1 percent, O.C. Fisher at 0.8 percent and J.B. Thomas at 0.1 percent made up the bottom five lakes on the list as far as amount of water retained. East Texas lake levels are improving and are up compared to 2011 levels.

http://www.waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/statewide

More Storage, More Supplies: Lubbock and Lake Texoma Success Stories

Texas Water Development Board website

When water supplies allocated by the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority started to diminish, the City of Lubbock looked to other sources to supplement its water. Using more than $83 million in TWDB financing, the city was able to tap into Lake Alan Henry and build 60 miles of raw water lines, pumping stations and a treatment plant.
The project was completed in 2007 and filled Lubbock’s requirements: a program with less red tape and better interest rates. The Lake Alan Henry project now serves 230,000 Lubbock residents, users in smaller nearby communities, Reese Technology Center, Texas Tech University and cotton-related industries . . .

http://www.twdb.texas.gov/newsmedia/newsletters/2013/04/index.asp

Tree Ring Study Reveals Long-Term Droughts

A new tree-ring study, led by the University of Arizona, reveals that long-term droughts in Southwestern North America often mean a failure of both summer and winter rains. According to the new data, both summer and winter rains were sparse year after year during the severe, multi-decadal droughts occurring from 1539 to 2008.

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112801461/tree-rings-evidence-long-termdrought-031213/

The site, http://water.tamu.edu,  provides a “front door” for all of AgriLife Extension’s information on water conservation, water management, irrigation and water quality, which makes it easier to navigate, according to the developers.

“With water being our agency’s No. 1 topic, it was crucial that we develop easy access to water materials,” said Dr. Pete Gibbs, AgriLife Extension associate director. “AgriLife can be the go-to source for objective and reliable water information.”

Here’s the odd bit about this — Harrington was collecting rain and snow melt on his own property.

Read more here.

DROUGHT UPDATE—Improvement in Texas Conditions Under El Nino!

Richard Heim National Climatic Data Center,  NOAA July 19, 2012

Latest map of July 17th shows 87% of TX still at some level of drought rating. But, zero at Exceptional level and 8.17% at Extreme level. Big improvement for most of state compared to 2011. Normal areas on upper coast and SE corner of state. Which means most of the rangeland and intensive cropping areas are still in a drought….. with a couple of months of typically hottest summer weather yet. We would still benefit in many of our crucial lake catchments by having a wet tropical storm drift northward across from the coast to Red River country. Many important lake levels are still dangerously low.

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/DM_state.htm?TX,S

Texas Water Systems Under Drought Restrictions

Of the over 4,000 public water systems, almost 25% are under drought restrictions and 600 under mandatory usage restriction, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quailty. Map on the web page below.

http://www.tceq.texas.gov/drinkingwater/trot/location.html

Texas Rice Farms vs. Recreation for Water

By Matthew Tresaugue San Antonio Express-News July 14, 2012

More than miles separate the rice farms of the Texas coast and the Highland Lakes, where the outward march of Austin is marked by each new house, strip mall and marina. They are divided by how to share the water of the Colorado River, pitting agriculture against recreation in a state that values both . . .

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Farmers-residents-debate-priorities-for-lakes-3707861.php#ixzz215ZwaVUV

State’s 50-year Water Plan Won’t Be Enough to Secure Our Future

By Bill Bunch, Ex. Dir., Save Our Springs Alliance Austin American-Statesman  July 12, 2012

Most water experts agree that investing in water conservation is the cheapest and most reliable way to meet future water demands. So how is it that our best water supply strategy gets a single paragraph in the Texas Water Development Board’s recently adopted 250-page, 50-year water plan?

The plan estimates that total water demands will increase 22 percent by 2060.

A projected 71 percent surge in municipal water demands is offset by reduced agricultural pumping. The plan proposes to meet these demands with $53 billion to permit, design and build pipelines, reservoirs and other projects.

It also estimates more than $170 billion will be required in local capital costs to increase water and wastewater treatment and distribution.

The plan says very little about the billions more in energy and other operation and maintenance costs required to pump the to-be-developed water long distances and then to treat the water and resulting wastewater.

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/bunch-states-50-year-water-plan-wont-be-2415802.html

Drought forces ranchers to sell herds to cut losses

By Jack Healy The New York Times July 15, 2012

TORRINGTON, Wyo—As a relentless drought bakes prairie soil to dustand dries up streams across the country, ranchers struggling to feed their cattle are unloading them by the thousands, a wrenching decision likely to ripple from the Plains to supermarket shelves over the next year. Ranchers say they are reducing their herds and selling their cattle months ahead of schedule to avoid the mounting losses from a drought that stretches across a record-breaking 1,016 U.S. counties. Irrigation ponds are shriveling to scummy puddles. Pastures are brown and barren. And they say the prices of hay and other feed are soaring beyond their reach . . .

Because the cattle being sold now (at auction due to drought) are younger and lighter than those fed all summer on prairie grass, ranchers are losing $200 to $400 for each one they are dumping early . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/us/heat-forces-ranchers-to-sell-herds-to-cut-losses.html?_r=2

For Texas Ranchers, the Grass Isn’t Always Greener

By Terrence Henry and Kelly Connelly   National Public Radio    July 5, 2012.

Last year’s drought dried up hay fields, sent feed prices through the roof and forced many Texas ranchers to sell off large portions of their herds. And while winter rains helped ease the drought in Central and East Texas, they weren’t enough to wipe it out completely . . .

“Most of the state is out of exceptional drought now,” says Gene Hall with the Texas Farm Bureau. “But the real problem is going to be feed, growing enough grass, [and] putting enough hay away to matter.”

Some think the state’s cattle industry may never fully recover from the drought. But Hall says the cattle business is cyclical. “You can track it over time,” Hall says. “The beef economists, the cattle economists can look at it and show you okay, cattle numbers will build to the point where prices decline, they sell off, and then they start building again. Ranchers want to be building their herds now.” . . .

http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/07/05/for-texas-ranchers-the-grass-isnt-always-greener/

AgriLife Extension helps test new mesquite control herbicide

Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608.

STEPHENVILLE – Texas AgriLife Extension Service range specialists have been working with Dow AgroSciences LLC since 2007 on a joint project to develop a new herbicide mix for mesquite control. The result of the AgriLife Extension-led study is Sendero herbicide from Dow AgroSciences. The company is calling the product the “new standard for mesquite control in Texas,” said Dr. Charles Hart of Stephenville, Texas A&M University associate department head for ecosystem science and management and an AgriLife Extension range specialist.

http://tinyurl.com/6vkquq3

The confab of groundwater conservation district representatives will explore topics and form discussion panels. From the agenda:

Join us for a refresher course on groundwater and its management. Industry experts will provide an in depth look at Texas water history, groundwater science and law, the current state of groundwater management, and administrative procedures related to groundwater conservation districts.

For more information or to attend the conference visit www.texasgroundwatersummit.com.

Who Should Attend?

• Groundwater conservation district staff and board members
• Legislative, agency, and university leaders and staff
• Municipalities, counties, water providers, and members of RWPGs
• Groundwater industry professionals, including lawyers, engineers, and geologists
• Oil and Gas industry professionals
• Groundwater technology experts and vendors
• Organizations and people interested in the future of groundwater in Texas

]]> http://ranchmagazine.com/water/water-districts/529/texas-groundwater-summit-set-for-aug-28-30/feed/ 0 http://ranchmagazine.com/water/drouth-drought/517/prediction-drought-should-ease-in-specified-areas/ http://ranchmagazine.com/water/drouth-drought/517/prediction-drought-should-ease-in-specified-areas/#comments Fri, 08 Jun 2012 17:27:53 +0000 Gary Cutrer http://ranchmagazine.com/water/?p=517

Drought continues but easing expected in some areas.

Latest Seasonal Assessment – La Niña conditions in the equatorial Pacific transitioned to ENSO-neutral during Spring 2012, according to the National Weather Service’s Climate Predition Center. ENSO-related climate anomalies were not used in this outlook since ENSO-neutral conditions are expected to continue this summer. Tropical Storm Beryl brought a swath of heavy rain across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia northward through southeastern Virginia, easing drought conditions, while much of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast were drenched by heavy thunderstorm activity. Further drought improvement is likely across Florida and the coastal Southeast as seabreeze driven thunderstorms continue during the summer months, while summer convection is less likely to ease long term drought conditions in the southeastern Piedmont region. Persistence and slight expansion of drought can be expected across the central/southern Great Plains and middle Mississippi Valley. During the upcoming three month period, drought persistence is expected across the Great Basin and central Rockies due to a dry climatology. The onset of the monsoon season may bring some relief to portions of the Southwest. Beneficial rainfall during the next two weeks along with a wet summer climatology favor improvement across the upper Mississippi Valley.

Forecaster: A. Allgood and B. Pugh

Next Outlook issued: June 21, 2012 at 8:30 AM EDT

Prospects for drier-than-normal conditions for both March 2012 and March-May 2012 are elevated over the Southwest, the southern and central High Plains, the immediate Gulf Coast, and Florida, according to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center.

Texas Water Conservation Association 68th Annual Convention

March 7-9
Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Dallas, TX

Hearing on Appeal of Groundwater Management Area 12 Desired Future Conditions
March 7, 10:00 a.m.
Milano Civic Center
Milano, TX

Texas Rural Water Association Annual Convention

March 14-16
Fort Worth Omni Hotel
Fort Worth, TX

Texas Water Law Conference

March 22-23
Westin La Cantera
San Antonio, TX

Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts Quarterly Meeting

March 27-28
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Austin, TX

Central Texas Water Conservation Symposium – Drop by Dropless: Managing Your Resources Through a Drought

March 30, 2012
LCRA Dalchau Service Center
Austin, TX

This press release from TSCRA says it all:

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) today [Feb 24] applauded the opinion of the Texas Supreme Court in the Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Burrell Day and Joel McDaniel case regarding whether or not landowners own the groundwater below their land.

“The Texas Supreme Court has affirmed that landowners own the groundwater in place below their land and that it is subject to constitutional protection as a property right,” said Joe Parker Jr, rancher and president of TSCRA.

“This opinion is a victory for Texas landowners and will be important for generations to come.  It also recognizes the important legislation, S.B. 332, that was passed by the Legislature in 2011” Parker said.

“TSCRA would like to thank the Texas Supreme Court for their diligent efforts in writing this opinion,” Parker continued.

In the opinion, the Texas Supreme Court states:

“…we held long ago that oil and gas are owned in place, and we find no reason to treat groundwater differently.”

“…last year, the Legislature amended section 36.002 [S.B. 332], to set out its fuller understanding of the matter…By ownership of groundwater as real property, the Legislature appears to mean ownership in place.”

“Groundwater rights are property rights subject to constitutional protection, whatever difficulties may lie in determining adequate compensation for a taking.”

“Today we have decided that landowners do have a constitutionally compensable interest in groundwater…”

TSCRA is a 135 year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has over 15,000 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.