SUMMARY: Drought conditions increased to affect 2.5 percent of the state. Statewide reservoir storage is at 90 percent. The Pacific remains warm enough for El Niño, but has not yet linked with the atmosphere; the chance of El Niño conditions has decreased to ~65 percent. It was a heck of a water year in Texas with rainfalls reaching more than 100 inches in the south-east to a healthy 10 inches in Trans-Texas with blotches of
Author: Robert Mace
Robert Mace is the Executive Director and Chief Water Policy Officer at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and a Professor of Practice in the Department of Geography at Texas State University. Robert has over 30 years of experience in hydrology, hydrogeology, stakeholder processes, and water policy, mostly in Texas.
leg+water: Texas Legislature – January Update
Every month during the 86th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature Dr. Robert Mace and Dr. Todd Votteler will provide an update on water-related legislation. The key water committees are Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs in the Senate, and Natural Resources in the House of Representatives. Senator Charles Perry has been re-appointed as Chairman of Senate Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs. Representative Lyle Larson has been re-appointed as Chairman of House Natural Resources. Neither committee
outlook+water: December 2018
SUMMARY: Drought is affecting less than 1 percent of the state. This year’s hurricane season affected Portugal more than Texas. The Pacific is warm enough for El Niño, but has not yet shown an effect on the atmosphere; so no Niño yet. We landed at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport about 9:30 am before Thanksgiving. After dropping our bags off at a BagBnB, my bride asked “Where next?” Without hesitation, I answered: “Lower 9th
outlook+water: November 2018
SUMMARY: October was another rain-filled month for much of Texas. Drought is down to affecting only 1 percent of the state. Statewide reservoir storage is close to exceeding the highest percentages since at least 1990. The odds of El Niño paying a visit are up to 80 percent for this winter. One thing I learned over the past month is that I would die from dysentery during a boil water notice if a cryptosporidium passed
outlook+water: October 2018
SUMMARY: September was the wettest September on record for Texas and the third wettest month on record. Drought is down to affecting 12 percent of the state. Statewide reservoir levels continue to rise. The odds of El Niño paying a visit are up to 70 to 75 percent. Our cats have not been happy. Over the past couple of months, their hollow gazes have been fringed with disappointment and concern, plaintive mews escaping their cute