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

q&a+water: Congressman Beto O’Rourke

Beto O’Rourke, Congressman & U.S. Senate Candidate In this issue’s Q&A, Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Todd Votteler, invited U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and U.S. Representative Beto O’Rourke, to share their thoughts on Texas water through an identical candidate questionnaire. While the Cruz campaign ultimately declined to participate, the O’Rourke campaign returned the questionnaire. Rep. O’Rourke has served in Congress since 2013, and previously served as a member of the El Paso City Council from 2005-2011. An alumnus of Columbia University, Rep.

q&a+water: John Nielsen-Gammon

John Nielsen-Gammon, State Climatologist of Texas In this issue’s Q&A, Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Todd Votteler, interviews Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, the State Climatologist of Texas. John Nielsen-Gammon is a Regents Professor at Texas A&M University. Dr. Nielsen-Gammon joined the faculty of Texas A&M University in 1991 and was appointed Texas State Climatologist by then-Governor George W. Bush in 2000. Dr. Nielsen-Gammon conducts research on large-scale and local-scale weather, climate, and air pollution. He teaches courses in weather analysis

outlook+water: September 2018

By Robert Mace, Chief Water Policy Officer at The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment SUMMARY: Statewide drought conditions have improved considerably over the past month with the amount of the state suffering from drought declining from 59 percent to 29 percent. Statewide reservoir storage reversed its downward trend and is now on pace to exceed average for this time of year. Drought is expected to improve, but persist, particularly in the western half of the