Nuclear plant proponents overlook drought’s reality

Two recent Express-News articles were highly predictive of South Texas’s future: “This dry spell may be the drought of record” and “Energy giant wants to keep Guadalupe River water rights.” The two highlight the relationship between nuclear power and water.

Global warming studies predict South Texas will experience longer and more severe droughts.

The future is here and its reality is staring us in the face.

Paper water rights deceptive

Central Texas is experiencing one of the worst natural droughts of the last 50 years. It’s dry and we all know it - we feel it. And during such times, it makes a lot of sense to seriously question our state and local water policies. When it rains, we have enough for all of our dreams. It is when we are dry that reality appears.

Victoria’s Choice: the nuke, or the Guadalupe and the whooper?

I suppose I can respect why the city of Victoria thinks its water needs are covered by spending millions of dollars on water rights - it’s their job to make sure they’ve secured enough water for the city - at least on paper. But those rights have little value if there is no water in the river.

Guadalupe River Reaches Critical Level

What’s the outlook for the Guadalupe River?

“Unfortunately, it’s not real good,” said Mark Lenz, a National Weather Service hydrologist.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that much of the Guadalupe River was running at less than 10 percent of its normal flow.

Human Use of River Water is Killing Whooping Cranes

The winter of 2008/2009 was the worst in recent history for the whooping crane, the icon of federally protected endangered species. The flock had grown from 16 birds in 1941 to 270 birds in the fall of 2009. However, last winter seven adults and 16 chicks died, totaling 23 birds and 8.5 percent of the flock. This is rivaled only by the 1990/1991 winter when 11 birds out of 146, or 7.5 percent of the flock died.

Bird Study Linked to Water Debate

The marshes along San Antonio Bay produce enough food — even when little water is flowing from the Guadalupe River — to sustain the flock of endangered whooping cranes that winter there, according to a new study that could play a key role the state’s ongoing debate over water rights.

Severe Texas Drought Threatens Coastal Wildlife

A severe drought gripping Texas is causing unusually salty conditions along the Gulf Coast, upsetting the region’s ecological balance and threatening coastal wildlife including oysters, crabs and whooping cranes, the most endangered crane species.

Crane deaths raise alarm about water rights

A record number of whooping cranes have died while wintering along the Texas coast this year, leaving biologists stunned and once again placing the Guadalupe River at the center of the state’s ongoing battle over water rights.

A dry spell has reduced the Guadalupe’s flow so severely that the supply of fresh water and food for the endangered whooping cranes dwindled in San Antonio Bay. As a result, 23 whoopers have perished, the deadliest year on record for the majestic bird, federal and state wildlife officials said.

Texas Needs Better Understanding of Energy-Water Relationship: Report

Energy and water are two resources hugely dependant on one another, and a new report focuses on how those two resources interact in Texas and what the state needs to do to balance demands for them.

Exelon chooses ABWR design for Texas nuclear plan

HOUSTON, March 26 (Reuters) - Exelon Corp, (EXC.N) the nation’s largest operator of nuclear plants, has selected an alternate technology from GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GE.N) (6501.T) for a proposed Texas nuclear plant, the company said Thursday.