ECONOTES 2013-12-03: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region
Featured
- If Rains Refill Reservoirs, Can Texas’ Dams Hold Up? (Michael Marks – StateImpact, 11/26/2013)
Recent rain and snow haven’t been enough to replenish Texas’ water supply. Years of drought have taken their toll on the state’s reservoirs, some of which remain nearly empty. Eventually, the reservoirs should fill back up. But it’s unclear if Texas’ infrastructure will be able to hold back the waters once that happens.
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - The Future of Texas State Parks? It’s All About the Money (Mose Buchele – StateImpact, 11/25/2013)
Texas Parks and Wildlife is the only state agency with a dedicated sales tax. Under state law, a portion of the sales tax on sporting goods is meant to go for parks. But lawmakers consistently divert some of that money to balance the state budget. The situation was even worse for parks a few years back when the department’s budget was slashed along with those of most other state agencies. This year, lawmakers restored much of that money, but came nowhere close to providing enough for park upgrades, to say nothing of acquiring more parkland.
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Drought relief isn’t likely to last through winter, forecasters warn (Texas Climate News, 11/22/2013)
Texas’ long-running drought has eased considerably because of recent rains, but don’t count on that relief continuing through the upcoming months, federal forecasters warned. In its annual Winter Outlook for climate conditions across the country, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said drought will probably make a comeback in Texas and neighboring areas.
http://texasclimatenews.org/
EcoNotes
- 2 December
- Unique Exhibition Highlights Art Inspired By Urban Sprawl (Gail Delaughter – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/
- Unique Exhibition Highlights Art Inspired By Urban Sprawl (Gail Delaughter – KUHF News)
- 1 December
- Devils River Could Feel Impact Of Hunt For Water (Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/
- Devils River Could Feel Impact Of Hunt For Water (Neena Satija, The Texas Tribune – KUHF News)
- 30 November
- Juncos’ arrival means winter is all but here (Gary Clark – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/ - Video: Lack of Freshwater Threatens Matagorda Bay (Justin Dehn, The Texas Tribune – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/ - Can frack water trespass? Texas Supreme Court takes up disposal wells (Nicholas Sakelaris – Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/
- Juncos’ arrival means winter is all but here (Gary Clark – Houston Chronicle)
- 29 November
- Signage display educates about life along banks of Buffalo Bayou (Rusty Graham – Your Houston News)
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/ - Why seasonal hurricane forecasts went bust this year (Eric Berger – Houston Chronicle)
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/ - Recycle that cooking oil (Charles Kuffner – Off the Kuff)
http://offthekuff.com/
- Signage display educates about life along banks of Buffalo Bayou (Rusty Graham – Your Houston News)
- 28 November
- Analysis: High-ethanol gas – Not coming to a pump near you (Michael Hirtzer – Planet Ark News)
http://planetark.org/
- Analysis: High-ethanol gas – Not coming to a pump near you (Michael Hirtzer – Planet Ark News)
- 27 November
- Your Thanksgiving Carbon Footprint is a Total Bummer (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/
- Your Thanksgiving Carbon Footprint is a Total Bummer (Terrence Henry – StateImpact)
- 26 November
- Should Texas Pay Power Companies Just For Having Power Plants? (Veronica Zaragovia – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - If Rains Refill Reservoirs, Can Texas’ Dams Hold Up? (Michael Marks – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - Funding Woes Imperil Future of State Parks (Mose Buchele, KUT News/StateImpact Texas – The Texas Tribune)
https://www.texastribune.org/ - Is A Gridlocked Congress Good For Texas Oil & Gas? (Dave Fehling – KUHF News)
http://app1.kuhf.org/
- Should Texas Pay Power Companies Just For Having Power Plants? (Veronica Zaragovia – StateImpact)
- 25 November
- The Future of Texas State Parks? It’s All About the Money (Mose Buchele – StateImpact)
http://stateimpact.npr.org/ - On Market Decision, Lawmakers Question PUC’s Authority (Jim Malewitz – The Texas Tribune)
https://www.texastribune.org/
- The Future of Texas State Parks? It’s All About the Money (Mose Buchele – StateImpact)
- 22 November
- Drought relief isn’t likely to last through winter, forecasters warn (Texas Climate News)
http://texasclimatenews.org/
- Drought relief isn’t likely to last through winter, forecasters warn (Texas Climate News)
- 21 November
- Fracking without freshwater at a west Texas oilfield (Anna Driver and Terry Wade – Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/
- Fracking without freshwater at a west Texas oilfield (Anna Driver and Terry Wade – Reuters)
- 19 November
- As Drilling Proliferates, Scammers Look to Cash In (Dave Fehling, KUHF News – The Texas Tribune)
https://www.texastribune.org
- As Drilling Proliferates, Scammers Look to Cash In (Dave Fehling, KUHF News – The Texas Tribune)