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.

New Power-Plant Drain On Rivers Sparks Debate

New power plants planned along the lower Colorado River could use the same water supply that was denied San Antonio for future growth.

The driving force is simple. Power shortages are forecast for Texas’ future - shortages that power companies are rushing to meet with new plants.

But experts, environmental groups and others are beginning to question whether there is enough water available to serve the massive facilities.

Silent Springs

Sixty feet below the shimmering surface of Jacob’s Well, an artesian spring that for thousands of years has pulsed iridescent blue-green water from the Trinity Aquifer to the surface, a sophisticated instrument measures the spring’s vital signs. The results are beamed almost instantaneously to the Internet.

These days the gauge detects only the thinnest of pulses.

Southeast U.S. Water Goes to Power Plants, Report Says

Water and Watts, the third report in a three-part series about energy issues in the region, notes that approximately two out of every three gallons of freshwater withdrawn in the Southeast United States are sent to thermoelectric power plants, which are mostly coal-fired and nuclear.

These plants require about 40 billion gallons of freshwater each day — nearly equal to the total daily freshwater withdrawals required to meet public supply needs for the entire nation.

The Nuclear Power Lobby

U.S. Congressman Charlie Gonzalez wanted two things out of the Waxman-Markey climate bill: assistance for the nuclear industry, and free pollution credits for utilities like our City-owned CPS Energy.

He nailed free pollution days before the legislation was voted out of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce last week by requiring most carbon credits to be given away to industry rather than auctioned off. This industry-friendly change, among others, outraged the environmental community, most of whom still felt pressured to support the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 in order to make some progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Remarkably, however, amid the bill’s 170,000 words, “nuclear” gets hardly a mention.

Freshwater research also warns of danger

The recent rains were a wonderful respite from what is becoming one of our region’s worst droughts. But we are still far short of the rainfall needed to make this an “average year.”

And let’s not forget that during the record 1950s drought, there were 408,000 San Antonians while today, there are 1.4 million of us.

San Antonio and Austin, and the burgs around the two, continue to be among the nation’s fastest-growing cities, with no slowing of growth in sight.

So if we must now limit our water consumption, we are likely to face even greater shortages in the near future.

Will Water War Drain Area Supply?

As an urban guzzler battles for rights to lower Colorado River basin water, many in the Crossroads worry stalled talks may hurt this region’s supply.

The San Antonio Water System on Tuesday declared the Lower Colorado River Authority in breach of contract for pulling out of a water supply project the two considered for years.

The Lower Colorado River Supply Project, proposed in 2001, was estimated to create up to 330,000 acre-feet of water for both agencies, including 150,000 acre-feet for San Antonio.

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.

Whooping Cranes Drastically Decreasing

Video Coverage of Decreasing Cranes

State officials are asking the public to report any sightings of whooping cranes, after the population of endangered seabird has dropped for the first time in eight years.
The whooping cranes call Rockport home during the winter months. Over the last year, about 20% of the flock of almost 300, has died. [...]