Texas Living Waters

Tomorrow, the Texas Water Development Board will adopt the first-ever State Flood Plan. This is a major milestone for the state, and an important step forward to protect nearly 5 million Texans who live in floodplains.

We applaud the Texas Water Development Board for its efforts to seek input from regional flood planning groups representing diverse stakeholders from across the state. We also look forward to continuing to work on educational and engagement opportunities to ensure that the plan prioritizes climate resilience and equitable solutions for all Texans.

🚰 Our colleagues at are working on innovative water reclamation and reuse project in the works in partnership with the City of Laredo. The organization is spearheading the development of a Community Water and Energy Resource Center that could convert wastewater and food waste into reclaimed water and clean energy.

📈 Demand for water in the region is increasing as reservoirs hit record lows, and the Rio Grande's flows become a trickle. In an op-ed published in , read more about how RGISC's project could transform the city's approach to water security, increasing resilience and sustainability for its residents — and why cities across Texas should embrace reuse and conservation as we face the impacts of climate change.

🔗 Link in bio!

The Texas Water Development Board () has released a draft of the first ever State Flood Plan this month. What is the plan, and how was it created? Swipe to find out.

🗣️ If you would like to provide comments on the plan, you can submit through TWDB's online form, or register for tomorrow's public meeting in Austin or virtually.

🔗 Details are linked in our bio!

⚠️⚠️⚠️ Public comment deadline approaching! The Texas Water Development Board is currently deciding how to spend $1 billion available through the Texas Water Fund. Through April 30, the board is accepting comments and responses to surveys. We're making our materials available for review!

🔗 Find details at the link in our bio.

🌊Nearly 6 million Texans live in a flood plain. But until 2019, the state had never addressed the need for a comprehensive flood plan. This year, the Texas Water Development Board will submit a State Flood Plan to the legislature, after gathering input from regional flood planning groups on the needs for investments in infrastructure, modeling and mapping, education, and more.

📝 The agency will release a draft of the plan in May. The Texas Living Waters team provided comments and input on the plan at an April work session at the Board. Read more about our suggestions and priorities on our blog.

🔗 Link in bio.

We spoke with about the Texas Water Fund: a $1 billion opportunity to invest in infrastructure across the state.

Jennifer Walker, director of the National Wildlife Federation's Texas Coast & Water program explains why some of that money should go towards conservation, reuse, and water loss mitigation.

🔗 Full article is linked in our bio!

New on our blog: The City of Austin recently adopted an ordinance expanding its water reuse and conservation systems. By using gray water for non-drinking water uses, the city may be able to reduce its water demand by 16 million gallons a day by 2040! Most cities in the state will face pressure from growing populations and climate impacts, which will force them to rethink water systems and strategies sooner or later. Austin’s ordinances and overall approach to water management can be a model for the rest of the state.

Read more on our blog! Link in bio.

📣 Public comment opportunity! 📣

TOMORROW March 5, the Texas Water Development Board will take your comments on how to implement the Texas Water Fund. Swipe through to find out more about the program, and how to get involved! Links in our bio.

This month, Texas Living Waters teamed up with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to host the Texas Water Trust Workshop.

The program allows water rights holders to donate or lease their rights to the state, which can then protect stream flows and fresh water inflows.

At the all-day workshop, participants learned about how this little-used program could have major impacts on our ecosystems and aquatic species. Learn more by reading our new post on the blog! Link in bio.

📣 Exciting announcement: We're hiring! Come join Texas Living Waters and as our new Policy Director for NWF's Texas Coast and Water Program.

🗓️ Applications are now open, and will close on March 23. Link in our bio for details and application form!

📍 Austin, Texas
💰 $82,000-$95,000 (based on qualifications and experience)
✈️ Generous vacation, wellness and other benefits!

💼 You'll be responsible for helping to develop and advance our program's educational initiatives, policy goals, and legal efforts, in collaboration with NWF colleagues across the country, as well as our local partner organizations across Texas.

The policy director will focus on the following key issue areas: 1) Community resilience in the face of climate change; 2) Sustainable, just, and resilient water infrastructure solutions for Texas communities; 3) Healthy river and coastal ecosystems.

🗓️🚨 Public comment opportunities! The Texas Water Development Board is seeking input on how to spend $1 billion through the Texas Water Fund to support infrastructure investments across the state. Water experts and advocates, now is your chance to help shape the future of this program. Find details here: https://lnkd.in/dMKdvRnE

🗓️🚨 Public comment opportunities! The Texas Water Development Board is seeking input on how to spend $1 billion through the Texas Water Fund to support infrastructure investments across the state. Water experts and advocates, now is your chance to help shape the future of this program. Links in our bio with more information on the meetings and how to sign up.

We probably don't have to remind you that Texas has had two back to back, record breaking hot and dry summers. This year could continue the trend. Delicate ecosystems, from river beds to coastal wetlands, are vulnerable to both natural and man-made consequences of these extremes. Read more from Texas Tribune and Inside Climate News on the health of our waterways and environmental flows.

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22012024/texas-low-water-reserves/

The Texas Living Waters team has had a busy year, with legislative sessions and elections, public comments and studies. Read all about our year in review on the blog!

https://texaslivingwaters.org/texas-living-waters-year-in-review/

Texas voters overwhelmingly passed constitutional amendments which opened up $2 billion in funding for water infrastructure and state parks and conservation.

Today's the day! If you haven't already, make sure to head to the polls and make your voice heard on 14 constitutional amendments that are on the ballot this year.

Find your polling station: https://www.votetexas.gov/

And read up on the amendments: https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_2023_ballot_measures

Tune into to learn more about Proposition 6, a ballot initiative that could add $1 billion in water infrastructure funding for Texas. Jennifer Walker, director of National Wildlife Federation's Texas Coast and Water Program, talks about water loss mitigation, climate change and more as it relates to this unique funding opportunity. https://theaustincommon.com/state-props-podcast/

New on our blog: What do building codes have to do with water and energy conservation? Read more from
Texas Sierra Club on their recent win in Houston, advocating for more efficient codes that will help residents increase their climate resiliency.
https://texaslivingwaters.org/houstons-new-building-codes-are-a-win-for-the-climate/

Happy Halloween from Texas Living Waters! Early voting is still underway in Texas, and ends Friday. Make a plan to vote: https://www.votetexas.gov/

Where does the water future of Texas stand now that the dust is settling on an epic legislative session in Austin? We're taking stock of wins, missed opportunities, & next steps at the Capitol in the quest to ensure a resilient Texas for all:

Water Wins & Losses: Key Takeaways from the 88th Legislative Session - Texas Living Waters Project Texas Living Waters partner organizations were hard at work this session aiming to protect our water resources and to ensure healthy, safe, reliable water infrastructure for all Texans. Prior to session, our team laid the groundwork for impactful water legislation through advocacy on key water a

Some great news for Texas’ strained water resources: after months of intense advocacy on addressing water loss in Texas systems, the Texas Living Waters team got a critical win yesterday as the House amended Senate Bill 28 to include water loss mitigation projects as an intended use of funds from the new Texas Water Fund.

We have worked extensively this session to get water loss mitigation into the center of the water supply conversation. The release of 'Hidden Reservoirs'—our groundbreaking statewide analysis of water loss and recovery potential—spurred a flurry of conversations at the Capitol culminating this week in Representative Tracy King proposing a water loss mitigation amendment to SB 28.

Read more from the study that got the ball rolling this session:

Hidden Reservoirs: Addressing Water Loss in Texas – Texas Living Waters Project Texas water systems lose at least 572,000 acre-feet per year —about 51 gallons of water per service connection every day. That’s enough water to meet the total annual municipal needs of the cities of Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Laredo, and Lubbock combined. It’s a lot of water. Our first of i...

New Research: Texas Water Markets A new report from The Nature Conservancy in Texas and the Texas Living Waters Project examines how water markets can help alleviate scarcity, protect the economy and benefit the environment.

"This is the water we already have...Let’s be as efficient as we can before we have to start looking up and around to bring new water supplies in."

Texas Observer spoke to Texas Living Waters' own Jennifer Walker on our recent study of water loss in Texas: https://www.texasobserver.org/jennifer-walker-water-infrastructure-leaks/

The Lost Reservoir Inside Our Water Infrastructure Texas could meet much of its future water need simply by plugging leaks.

Another major Central Texas district is in EMERGENCY Stage drought for the first time in history!

This means a mandatory 40% curtailment. Check our their post below for excellent conservation tips.

EVENT: Texas is set to become a major offshore wind center. Join National Wildlife Federation Environment Texas, & Gulf Wind Power for an evening discussing what offshore wind power will mean for the environment & people of Texas.
TUES, Aug 9 @ 6PM IN-PERSON & ONLINE
Register at: http://ow.ly/x1Tr50K94Ho

Due to climate change and environmental racism, flood risk over the next 30 years “falls disproportionately on communities with large African American populations on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.” https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/07/black-communities-us-flood-risk-climate/

Black communities in the US will be hardest hit by floods caused by climate change, say scientists Scientists issued the warning after modelling new flood risk maps that detail the impact of flooding on a street-by-street basis across the US.

For most of the year, beloved springs that are part of a West Texas town’s cultural fabric run dry. Texas must manage groundwater more effectively — ensuring reliable water for people AND nature. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/columnists/native-texan/article/In-a-West-Texas-town-there-s-hope-for-springs-17282462.php

In a West Texas town, there’s hope for springs eternal Long before West Texas settlers arrived, long before the actual fort was established,...

. paints a grim summer picture: record-breaking heat and 81% (& rising) of the state in drought conditions. The state can’t make it rain, but it can take actions to reduce the drought’s effects. https://www.myhighplains.com/news/local-news/texas-continues-to-dry-up-breaking-drought-records/

Texas continues to dry up, breaking drought records AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) reported another record-breaking week for the state as it continued its longest streak since 2013 in which over 75% of i…

One day every 12 yrs Texans get a chance to provide feedback on the agency charged with managing the quantity and quality of water flowing in Texas waterways.

Today is that day.

Read our water-focused intro to 's Sunset review: https://texaslivingwaters.org/tceq-sunset/

And follow us on Twitter for updates through the day: https://twitter.com/txwater