In this conversation, Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief Dr. Todd Votteler talks with the Owner and Editor of The Water Report, Shaina Shay. The Water Report is a monthly publication that provides detailed and timely coverage of the innovations and decisions shaping our water future.
Sections
outlook+water: Big improvements in drought east of I-35, El Niño on the way out (and La Niña in the fall), and last year was the warmest on record
Summary: The amount of the state under drought conditions (D1–D4) decreased from five weeks ago at 39% to 23% this week, with drought improvements across much of the state. El Niño conditions have a 90% chance of extending through the February-March-April season, giving way to neutral conditions in April-May-June and greater odds of La Niña conditions in the fall. Last year was the warmest on record for Texas, a full 3.5 F warmer than the long-term average.
law+water: Nathan Vassar and Jake Steen
This month in law+water, we explore a multi-billion-dollar PFAS contamination settlement, new Texas legislation that tightens groundwater availability requirements for developers, and how the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District’s Stakeholder Committee could provide a model for other groundwater conservation districts throughout the state.
think+water: Boil water notices during Uri, predicting water levels with neuro-fuzzies, and produced water for agriculture
This month, Dr. Robert E. Mace explores academic publications on the topics of examining the effectiveness of boil water notices as heath-risk communications, forecasting aquifer water levels in wells in Texas and Florida using an ensemble coactive neuro-fuzzy inference system, and analyzing the potential for using produced water from the Anadarko Basin as a resource for agricultural production.
talk+water: Rachel Fern
In this conversation, Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief Dr. Todd Votteler talks with Dr. Rachel Fern, Statewide Wetland Program Leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, about the state of wetlands in Texas, including their history, current status, and future challenges.