An Interactive Look at the Texas Drought

Background

Just how much damage has the record single-year drought done to Texas? For the first time, you can see an interactive map and several visualizations that show just how severe the drought has been. On our new interactive web app, ‘Dried Out: Confronting the Texas Drought,’ you can see the intensity of the worst single-year drought in Texas’ history; learn more about the hard choices the state has to make; see the drought’s progression and its impact on the state; explore the pros and cons of the policy decisions that need to be made and share your stories.

See for yourself at our new interactive webpage, Dried Out: Confronting the Texas Drought.

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January 10, 2013

Lawmaker Moves Forward to Start Funding Water Plan

A state representative filed legislation today to start funding new water projects in Texas, as the state continues to struggle with water supplies and drought. In two House Bills, State Rep. Allan Ritter (R-Nederland), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, advocates taking $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to start “a new, dedicated […]

January 4, 2013

Latest Drought Outlook: Dry Spell Could Continue in Texas

Map by NOAA As the 83rd Texas Legislature convenes next week, there’s considerable pressure on lawmakers to do something about the state’s water woes, whether it be funding water infrastructure, increased conservation or even desalination. The state’s population is booming, with over 100,000 people moving to Texas in 2011 alone. And as new forecasts out […]

November 16, 2012

What the Dust Bowl Can Teach Us About Climate Change

If you were making your way across parts of Texas last year, you would be forgiven for wondering if it all wouldn’t simply burn up and turn to dust. A new documentary shows how that literally happened to a wide swath of the country during the thirties because of human actions. “The dust bowl was […]

November 12, 2012

Water and the Land: Where Texas Ag Goes From Here

We recently sat down with a panel of land experts at the Texas Tribune‘s Oct. 29 summit on water to discuss agriculture and state water management. The panel featured Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, David Langford of the Texas Wildlife Association and Laura Huffman of The Nature Conservancy of Texas. You can watch it in full […]

November 8, 2012

By the Numbers: Texas’ Long Heat Wave

People are starting to think of hotter-than-average weather as the new normal here in Texas.

November 7, 2012

For Texas Lawns, It’s Not Easy Staying Green (But It Is Possible)

Drought doesn’t have to kill your lawn, say Texas A&M Agrilife researchers. Though it may appear brown, the grass can stay alive during water-restricted months. Researchers say it’s a matter of watering with the right sprinklers and the right techniques. Texas A&M Agrilife researchers studied the best watering techniques during water restrictions by simulating drought-restrictions […]

November 1, 2012

El Niño Changed His Mind: Cooler, Wetter Winter No Longer Forecast

Without the appearance of El Niño, the odds decrease that Texas will get above-normal rain to bring back lakes and reservoirs still suffering from drought.

October 28, 2012

The Science Behind Hurricane Sandy: Climate Change or Freak Storm?

As Hurricane Sandy approaches, many are wondering about the ‘Frankenstorm’ and whether there’s any connection to climate change.

October 26, 2012

Looking at Water From Above: A Conversation With Jay Famiglietti

The myriad issues of water and drought in Texas are often confusing. There’s the hundreds of pages in the Texas Water Plan, numerous surface water districts, and then the completely different set of rules that applies to water underground. Trying to sort through that confusion is Dr. Jay Famiglietti, a professor at UC Irvine. He […]

October 23, 2012

The State of Texas Irrigation: More Efficiency Amid Less Water

Texas irrigation is a big deal. The state is home to more than 10 percent of the irrigated acres in the country. Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension looked into Texas’ agricultural water use in a recent report. It examines Texas’ economic dependence on irrigation, improvements in state-wide irrigation efficiency, and problems the state faces as water reserves dwindle. Urban […]