In this issue, we explore academic articles on the topics of weighing the economic costs and benefits of existing and expanded maize and soybean irrigation throughout the U.S. under future climate projections, investigating how climate change will affect the Upper Trinity River Basin’s firm yields, and examining the effects of unincorporated status in relation to (in)equitable access to stormwater management in the Lower Río Grande Valley of South Texas.
Sections
outlook+water: The drought deepens, drought is expected to get worse, high temps to continue
Summary: The amount of the state under drought conditions increased considerably from 43% four weeks ago to 79% this week, drought is expected to remain over the next three months, and we need a LOT of rain to come out of the drought.
outlook+water: Drought expands, drought is expected to get worse, high temps to continue
Summary: The amount of the state under drought conditions increased considerably from 23% four weeks ago to 43% this week; drought is expected to expand in Texas and the southwest, and higher-than-normal temperatures are expected to continue over the next three months.
talk+water: Brian Richter
Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief Dr. Todd Votteler talks with Brian Richter, President of Sustainable Waters, and former Director of the Global Water Program of The Nature Conservancy.
outlook+water: El Niño is here, drought is down, reservoirs are (slightly) up
Summary: • El Niño is here and is expected to stay with us through the year.
• Less than a quarter of the state remains in drought. Reservoirs are now 77.2% full but still 7 to 8% below normal.