Community | June 26, 2011 | 88 comments

Industry and residents square off over water as severe drought continues in Texas

source: http://www.circleofblue.org/waternews/2011/world/dried-up-texas-industry-and-residents-squar...

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JanforGore
With nearly 65 percent of Texas experiencing exceptional drought, water is becoming increasingly precious—and scarce—in a state that has to divide the resource between the growing appetites of farmers, city residents, and energy corporations.
A severe drought continues to wreak havoc in Texas and shows no sign of letting up, pitting stakeholders against each other as the dry spell threatens reservoirs and rivers.

The dry period began in October 2010, and, since then, only 2 inches of rain have fallen in southeastern Texas, Businessweek reported. Now, 65 percent of the state is categorized as having exceptional drought, and 88 percent is experiencing extreme drought conditions or worse, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Though Texas is no stranger to dry spells, this is the driest 7-month period in Texas history since record keeping began in the late 1800s. The worst drought is still considered to be the 10-year period from 1947-1957, with lake levels hitting an all time low in 1952. However, falling water levels could surpass even that record if no rains come. Currently, some lakes are dropping 35,000 acre-feet a week, The Texas Tribune reported.

City Residents vs. Farmers and Ranchers
With supplies running so low, city residents and businesses that depend on reservoir lakes for both their drinking water and livelihoods are worried that lakes will run dry if the agricultural industry downstream continues to consume large amounts, despite the drought. In Central Texas, Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis—which supply the city of Austin with water and support a thriving tourist industry—are only 59 percent full and continuing to drop, The Texas Tribune reported. Much of the water from the lakes is being used downstream by farmers who are trying to protect their rice, a water-intensive crop, from the effects of the drought.

The Lower Colorado River Authority, which manages the lakes and sells the water to both Austin and the rice farmers, allows farmers to buy the water at a cheaper price than the city because it retains the right to shut off supply in times of drought. However, while farmers have not had supplies cut, or even reduced, this year, Austin residents have been asked to conserve water, creating tensions between the two groups, according toThe Texas Tribune.

The drought is also dealing a heavy blow to cattle ranchers, who are sending large portions of their herds to slaughter because vegetation is so scarce.

“Because we’re not raising the amount of grass that we usually do, we’re having to destock these ranches,” rancher Pete Bonds told Reuters. “We are having to cut the numbers down and sell cows that we don’t want to. And since it is dry in a huge area, most of these cows are going to go to slaughter.” These include young female cows, called heifers, that are used to breed—putting a difficult barrier between the herd and its future.

Even if rains alleviate the current drought, the impacts will be lasting. Bonds told Reuters that it will take years for ranchers to recoup their losses, so many are giving up and selling their land to developers.

Farmers vs. Energy Executives
Texas energy corporations have resorted to buying water from farmers so they can support booming shale gas operations. The water is needed for hydraulic fracturing or “fracking,” the process of injecting water, chemicals, and sand at high pressure into sedimentary rock formations to free up the oil and natural gas trapped inside.

In 2009, there were 358 natural gas drilling rigs in Texas alone, and that number had increased to 709 rigs by 2010, according to the Natural Gas Supply Association. Each rig can drill multiple wells in a year and each well typically uses upwards of 19,000 cubic meters (5 million gallons) of water for “fracking.”

The Eagle Ford Shale formation, however, which angles across the state from the southwest to the northeast and is the location of many new shale gas wells, has an unusual geology that requires more water per well than in other locations. A single well in the Eagle Ford Shale can require up to 49,000 cubic meters (13 million gallons), Businessweek reported. To obtain this amount during the drought, companies have offered farmers as much as $US 0.70 per barrel of water—equivalent to 164 liters (42 gallons).

So far, farmers have been reluctant to sell too much water, especially when they are running low on supplies to quench their own thirsty fields.

Additionally, because of the severe drought in Texas, water supplies have become a big issue for opponents of a coal-fired power plant proposed for Matagorda County. On June 16, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) delayed a vote to decide whether to sell more than 30 million cubic meters (8 billion gallons) of water per year to the owners of the planned White Stallion generating station.

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88 comments // Industry and residents square off over water as severe drought continues in Texas

  • letsliveinpeace
  • protohippy
    • +1
      protohippy  

    • Wow, sure are a lot of haters for those that happen to live in Texas. Not all of us are Bush/Perry lovin' sheeple you know. I for one don't like either one of those people, and feel sad every time this state does something that they really shouldn't. Can't diss a whole state just cause a bad few. It's not like everyone in California is a Nazi lovin' pot head.

      These water wars are just now starting to get heated. You have companies like Pepsi-Co, and Coca-Cola buying up all the water that they possibly can, so that it can be flouridated, and then bottled, to get the suckers to buy crap that's worse than tap water.

      Honestly had no clue they grew rice in Texas. What moron thought that was a good idea deserves to be dragged out and shot. Just seems like a lot of small minded people are making comments that they have no clue about in the first place. Walk a mile in Texas' shoes before resorting to calling them all names and such.

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • -1
      JanforGore  
    • protohippy:

      You are so right about companies like Coca Cola, Pepsi, Nestle, etc. They are invading public water supplies thinking their money can buy a public trust. Our water is no longer ours, it is considered a commodity and that indeed will lead to water wars, especially in places such as The Great Lakes if this behavior continues. There is a global push by companies like Suez, Veolia, Thames Water, American Water, etc. all moving to privatize the water supplies of countries. Italy however, just voted down their referendum calling for privatization of their water. South America has been fighting them off for years as well as India, Mexico, and in our own country, most recently through a scheme by T. Boone Pickens who was looking to buy up water rights I believe in Texas using emminant domain. In many areas it is subtle, but nevertheless it is here. What is happening in your state now regarding drought is an indication of something that transcends politics. I really wish you had leaders who understood that as well.

    • 11 months ago
  • protohippy
    • -1
      protohippy  
    • JanforGore:

      You're not the only one. Perry has pushed more crap onto Texans than you can imagine, from trying to force kids to get the HPV vaccine, to destroying social programs and taxing the hell out of the working class....I wish that all of our leaders would just disappear so that we can get new people into office and reverse a lot of the damage that they have done......

      Not one to incite violence, but I really do think that it's time for 1776 to repeat itself and take down our coporate slave masters.....

    • 11 months ago
  • Steamed_N_More
    • +1
      Steamed_N_More  

    • Wasn't there speculation (UGH!!!!!) that water was the next "oil boom" for private investments? And so it begins........ Mad Max becomes the self fulfilling prophecy.

    • 11 months ago
  • maasanova
    • +2
      maasanova  

    • Wow, the comments here.

      When it floods its global warming. When there is a drought, it's global warming. Tornados, hurricanes-all global warming. When there's coldsnaps, blizzards and record freezing, guess what? Yup its global warming.

    • 11 months ago
  • coolplanet
    • -1
      coolplanet  
    • maasanova:

      It's not each individual extreme weather event.
      It is that they are happening with more frequency every year for the past 30 years, which climatologists warned us about since the 1980s.
      Global climate is going berzerk if you havent noticed.
      Rapid warming can even trigger an ice age like it did 11,000 years ago when the North Atlantic was flooded with melting freshwater from glaciers disrupting the Gulf Stream and brinking back the ice age for another thousand years, wiping out megafauna worldwide.
      Educate yourself on this subject before spewing your lack of knowledge.

    • 11 months ago
  • jackshin
    • 0
      jackshin  

    • http://1.cl

      A pro-enviornment friendly government would have figured out a way to move the water from the flood zone to the draught areas.

      Just saying, maybe they could catch some of that rain in large stadium size open tanks. Connect the tanks to underground pipes that connect to main water grids.

      Maybe in climates that are Humid, set up a couple of enviornment friendly de-humidifiers capture that mositure.

      Just saying, I am not that cleaver in these matters, but I seriously believe clean water is the most important issue facing our world today. A vary close second is marine life. And a third is the melting of the polar ice caps.

      The fact that humans cannot see their own doom, leads me to conclude that maybe it's for the best.

    • 11 months ago
  • figgdimension
  • figgdimension
  • Gravity_Man
  • JanforGore
  • Gravity_Man
    • 0
      Gravity_Man  
    • JanforGore:

      It's getting about time to move into the caves. Nice, clean, no radiaoactivity caves. No bats either since we've about finished them.

      But even if there is radioactivity in the caves we're used to it. We've built up antibodies [and thickened skin]... good strong fat-contianing & supporting heavy duty skin. We're armed for bear.

      To the batcave Robin!

    • 11 months ago
  • nobsartist
  • ColeRayne
  • figgdimension
  • leftleftgivemeyourleft
  • remanns
  • BEAR101
  • toadware
    • +1
      toadware  

    • "Much of the water from the lakes is being used downstream by farmers who are trying to protect their rice, a water-intensive crop, from the effects of the drought."

      Why are farmers trying to grow rice in Texas?

    • 11 months ago
  • figgdimension
  • jackshin
  • JanforGore
  • PigFarmington
  • jackshin
  • nobsartist
  • Gravity_Man
    • -1
      Gravity_Man  
    • nobsartist:

      His car could easily run on water using a steam-water-steam cycle that never destroys the water... so it would only need a Fill-up once from the factory. And that's it. Steam and compressed-exploded-compressed air, together in a symbiotic synergistic no-exhaust wonderful engine. No fuel pumps ever again, 100% doable. However, right now many billions ($$$.xx) are being spent on Cold Fusion (ITER being one) because they're sexy, and skirt chasers are in control not Problem Solvers.

      That thing in your back? That's a called a SCREW. It will be there til Jesus arrives.

    • 11 months ago
  • Leen61
    • +2
      Leen61  

    • Texas doesn't believe in climate change. As Rick Perry said, "Pray for rain." But the drought worsened. You think the Lord has sent the good people of Texas who don't believe in climate change a message yet?

    • 11 months ago
  • TDK729
    • +4
      TDK729  
    • Leen61:

      Perry is Scary 2012 He wants to do away with government spending yet he wants help from the government. He wanted to secede and now he wants to take over what he wanted to get away from. He tells his people to pray for rain? I'm sure a lot of them did and yet look at where they are now, worse than before. How many unanswered prayers does it take before people take their on action and face the consequences of their inaction. By no means am I saying don't pray or don't believe in your faith, but our actions are what ultimately get things done. We have free will and if you really think that god is all knowing he planned for us to advance in science, technology and to walk our own paths.

    • 11 months ago
  • Leen61
  • TDK729
    • +2
      TDK729  
    • Leen61:

      Exactly, no matter your faith, we are the ones to make a difference in how long this world survives, not god, or whatever your higher power may be, they are not the owns that dictate what happens on this planet, we are. You deny climate change so what, what's wrong with just doing something that makes this country or world better by using renewable energy, like wind or solar. What's wrong with having cars that go 100 miles on a gallon of gas, or better yet a car that gets 100 miles on a charge of the battery. You know what's stopping that Greed the lust for money. The Bible defines lust as the root of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:10, says, “the love (lust) of money is the root of all evil” and yet the ones that keep this greed going is the Religious Right who if they were to actually follow what's in the Bible that they call Gods word they themselves are the ones that are sinning and the ones that are an abomination

    • 11 months ago
  • Leen61
    • -1
      Leen61  
    • TDK729:

      Exactly, TDK729. I don't deny climate change. But I do know what you mean for those who do. Take care of the planet no matter how you feel. It's never a bad idea to take care of the planet we call home no matter where someone stands on this issue.

    • 11 months ago
  • jackshin
    • +2
      jackshin  
    • TDK729:

      To be honest, there wasn't many beautiful swaths of land in Texas anyway. People don't care because it wasn't pretty to begin with. I have notice those states with large diversity in their ecosytem are bit more protective of it. In Austin, they try at least to a have a green agenda. San Antonio was built on a tumbleweed. The sentiment seems to be "if I live in crap, why does it matter to me how you live."

    • 11 months ago
  • protohippy
    • +1
      protohippy  
    • jackshin:

      I happen to live in San Antonio. It's a large military town. We have our prolems and such, but many people don't consider it living in shit (I guess it just depends on what side of town you are on... ;) ) Austin is not the only place that has a "Green Agenda" they are just the most vocal about it........

    • 11 months ago
  • oldbanjo
  • Gravity_Man
    • 0
      Gravity_Man  

    • Under "normal" conditions lakes go dry then it rains then they go dry, a never-ending cycle in America. People are behind the times thinking these are normal conditions that have always existed during their lifetime.

      It helps people to stay sane by taking the long view that way. However, it works against us if "normal" decides to re-define itself, for whatever reason.

      Texas is a rather unique area, a long ways from the Pacific for clouds to carry in rain, but one of the "saving graces" that regularly saves Texan's bacon is hurricanes carrying water in from the Gulf. Supposedly the hurricane season of 2011 will have enough powerful ones to do that, and all will be right with Texas again.

      But in the meantime the lakes and reservoirs losing water to evaporation ALSO MEANS they are losing the rain caused by that same evaporation, so that a direct relationship exists where as the lake~reservoir levels drop, and people begin flushing toilets less, and running dishwashers less, and stop washing their cars, the end result is a terrificv drop in water evaporation entering the cycle to cause more rains.

      The future of Texas is hanging by a thread. We had a drought here in southwest Virginia back in 2001-2003 and I wrote an editorial into the Roanoke Times explaining this, so people began using more water and so on, when suddenly clouds formed and gully washers came and we haven't had any droughts since, because we kept the cycle going. That is of course IMHO.

      But with drillers doing their fracking they're accomplishing the EXACT OPPOSITE sending water deep underground where no evaporation happens... so the water cycle is going into Reverse~Negative. The future of Texas is being hung by the neck til dead. For fuel.

    • 11 months ago
  • Gravity_Man
    • 0
      Gravity_Man  
    • Gravity_Man:

      It is however an excellent way to exterminate Texas Voters. Who tend to be a bunch of whiners and complainers anyway, insisting on their rights, fussing about illegal immigrants getting across their borders by the thousands and then soaking up tax dollars, all kinds of puny little "Causes" they tend to dream up all the time.

    • 11 months ago
  • VFORVENDETTA
  • Gravity_Man
    • +1
      Gravity_Man  
    • VFORVENDETTA:

      Duh. Well, if it was absolutely the last choice... but it isn't. It's just bullies making big money and laughing and driving nice cars out with their goyl on Saturday night... contented in their belief men can't alter the climate no matter what we ants do.

      Ants with machinery! hahaha I slay me sometimes.

      Use em up burn em up roll em out G T O. a-wah-wa-a-wahwahwah

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  

    • Just also wanted to make the observation that the areas of intense drought are off the Gulf Coast where all of that methane went into the atmosphere from the BP Macondo well blowup.

    • 11 months ago
  • EcoCapitalist
    • -1
      EcoCapitalist  
    • JanforGore:

      Stop trying to connect every dot. Climate science doesn't support immediate greenhouse effects in the vicinities of where they're emitted. If so...the ice caps would still be cold and America would resemble the arid Mojave.

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • coolplanet
    • 0
      coolplanet  
    • JanforGore:

      You have a valid point. Methane is well over 30% worse a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide when it is first released and I've seen reports that methane is still spewing from the Gulf.
      Furthermore, climatologists suspect the sudden extreme melting of Arctic sea ice and tundra since 2007 is directly linked to the enormous amount of methane recently discovered being released from the warming Arctic.
      EcoCapitalist is an oxymoron by the way......

    • 11 months ago
  • nobsartist
    • +2
      nobsartist  

    • Pretty soon our water in Michigan will be worth more than your shale. Plus, if you dont have any drinking water, it will be difficult to attract workers so soon after your water dries up, so will your economy.

    • 11 months ago
  • rgrisham
    • +3
      rgrisham  

    • An organized citizenry could make the state do the right thing, but that would be something close to communism or socialism and Texas doesn’t do communism or socialism.

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +3
      JanforGore  

    • "Populations in Texas cities continue to explode, and, in the energy sector, water use is expected to increase to 10 times the current amount by 2020, Bloomberg reported, setting the stage for further debates over who gets to use what water—and when".

      Hmm,. theTexas Water War? Because you know these companies looking to frack and use it for coal aren't going to relent. That leaves farmers taking great losses, with prices increasing, and the Colorado River no longer flows to the Gulf. Add to that if the Keystone XL pipeline is approved and constructed over the Ogalalla Aquifer. This is what happens when you take water for granted.

    • 11 months ago
  • figgdimension
  • JanforGore
    • +4
      JanforGore  

    • OK, I don't know if the Keith Olbermann staff ever reads these posts on current.com. But if someone from his staff or even Mr. Olbermann himself does, could you please report on this and what is now happening globally and be at least one facet of our media that has the temerity to say the words "climate change" in the same sentence? Mr. Gore's incredible essay rightfully made mention of the media "referee" that has been so remiss in doing this. It would be very refreshing and actually the right thing to do in mentioning this on Current. You are the one now here who has the attention of those who watch this station. We need to go where other media outlets won't. To the truth. This truth is one we can no longer ignore.

      Thank you.

    • 11 months ago
  • EcoCapitalist
  • JanforGore
  • meesh76
    • +3
      meesh76  
    • EcoCapitalist:

      Eco, that would mean that science and intelligence really do exist.. You know the Batshits believe when it rains too much, or snows really hard, or even when the Earth is being deprived of the necessary moisture, as the case in Texas, batshits believe God is very angry, and instead of trying to lighten our carbon footprint, in hopes of saving our planet, maybe try to reverse some of the damage were doing, the answer is PRAY.

    • 11 months ago
  • EcoCapitalist
    • -2
      EcoCapitalist  
    • meesh76:

      Lets not rag and label those who believe in God "bathshits". Thats the same mentality that leads to the extreme partisanship we see in our country. Skeptic will just disregard what you have to say...which leaves us intellectual-superiors with only our own support. You have to approach skeptics with calm civility and brutal reason, not rash animosity. You're your own worse enemy when you make posts like that.

    • 11 months ago
  • figgdimension
  • figgdimension
  • timetide
    • 0
      timetide  
    • EcoCapitalist:

      In an ideal world that would be appropiate, but these people have reached past the point where rational explination can effect them. They ignore science, reason, observation etc under the argument thats its jsut a theory. look at evolution for an example. a well proven scientific theory that these religious morons refuse to accept because it would mean admiting their invisible fried would have a weakness (not a rational argument but thats a different train of thought). while calling them batshit insane doesn't help convince them any better it at least gets the steam out of the system so we don't calmly and rationally pick up a gun a go church shooting.

    • 11 months ago
  • 14_Crusaders
    • 0
      14_Crusaders  

    • I think it's a plan that has been going on for years..to drought Texas and other near by states....I really think that HAARP has something to do with it.....I think that it's been controlling the weather patterns for years. I don't know what there is more of /as to farms in Texas .. Cattle / Dairy or Crops...but it all seems to be effected and...our government isn't going to help when they are the one's doing it.......It's all part of the NEW WORLD ORDER OF THINGS...You'll see i know i'm right on this....Blame it all on global warming...and they are global warming to the maxx

    • 11 months ago
  • figgdimension
  • Timmit
    • 0
      Timmit  

    • God is punishing Texas for all the people that they kill that are on death row. And don't be looking for Government payouts for your losses, you all voted tea party style and now you can just suck it up. (no pun intended)

    • 11 months ago
  • protohippy
    • 0
      protohippy  
    • Timmit:

      First off, we didn't ALL vote Tea Party style, I for one definitely did not. I am very anti-Perry, and many others are as well. I think that some of this is a wake up call, but unfortunately, you can't change things overnight. You people really should think about what you say before you say it. I know it's easy to spout your hate-filled messages when you are hidden behind a keyboard and all, but really? You really think that "God" is punishing Texas just cause they voted in a manner that you don't agree with? That's pretty petty of "God" if that's true......I would figure that "God" has much better things to do with it's time than that.....Baa baaa baaa

    • 11 months ago
  • artemis6
    • +3
      artemis6  

    • Soon , Texas will be referred to as Texas wastelands , Former Texans are moving away , those who see the writing on the wall ..... In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie ...

    • 11 months ago
  • bailey78
  • JanforGore
  • bailey78
  • artemis6
  • bailey78
    • +1
      bailey78  
    • artemis6:

      I'm happy so long as it has water. They tried to pass a law saying we had to install water meters and pay for the water. That got shot down real quick. My great Uncle put the well in back in 67 or so. We have never had a moments trouble with it but we did quit drinking it a few years ago when they started drilling for natural gas and fracing the wells. I will die some day by I will do what I can to not die from drinking the water.

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • bailey78
  • rustyred
    • +3
      rustyred  

    • Oh my brothers and sisters! What is going on in Texas is an ant compared to the Godzilla we'll see when the planet's potable water is down or gone. The wars over oil will look like saber rattling by comparison. Already free access to usable water is very difficult because of the water systems being owned and/or run by governments or industries. Eventually, if you don't pay, you don't drink. We should start doing something about our ability to make all water usable!

    • 11 months ago
  • figgdimension
  • timetide
    • +4
      timetide  

    • but if they give the water to the orphans, children and adults and living things in Texas that would be anti-bussiness, socialist, facist, communist, 1984 wanna be degredation of american moral which will lead the Secret gay communist, facist, socialist, marxist, muslism, kenyon, liberals to victory. to save america we ahve to follow the republican lead and destroy every instance of human feeling when we see the dead children lining the streets. i'm sure they were illegal anyways. (end sarcasim)

    • 11 months ago
  • figgdimension
  • meesh76
    • +3
      meesh76  

    • Severe drought in Texas, could that be that mofo Global Warming? Ask Gov. Perry if he needs any of that FEMA money to help his country/state get back on it's feet?

    • 11 months ago
  • 14_Crusaders
  • remanns
  • JanforGore
  • remanns
    • +2
      remanns  

    • This drought is indeed a bitch. ( I live far enough North in Texas to be out of the "BAKE ZONE",.....but Austin is COOKING ! +^d

    • 11 months ago
  • meesh76
    • +4
      meesh76  
    • remanns:

      You guys out there in Texas stay well. And be safe. You have Perry to deal with. I am a Floridian and we are dreading a Hurricane season with Rick Scott calling the shots. May the force be with us.

    • 11 months ago
  • artemis6
  • VFORVENDETTA
    • +3
      VFORVENDETTA  
    • remanns:

      Hey, I didn't know you were in Texas? what part? anyway, yes it's very very bad here in Austin, and our successionest governor is a fundamentalist whose sage advice is to pray for rain, and people wonder what ever happened to the Inca Empire?

    • 11 months ago
  • bailey78
  • bailey78
    • +3
      bailey78  
    • VFORVENDETTA:

      How goes things in Austin this fine day? Bet your have your best jacket on with wool sox even :) The Texas Gulf Coast is being over run with tourist. I have a great dislike for tourist.

    • 11 months ago
  • remanns
    • +2
      remanns  
    • VFORVENDETTA:

      I lived in Austin from 1976 to 2000.
      Still miss AUSTIN.

      Still live in Texas though.

      - - - sigh - - -
      ( not a GOOD part o' TEXAS )

      thanx for asking -
      . . . .crying now . . .

      p.s. kidding. AUSTIN,.........IS "The Best In Texas",.....but every OTHER place in Texas ,.....is NOT "MORDOR",......you just dot want to work or live there.

      Except WEST TEXAS HILL COUNTRY,......( in a survivalist cave or something. . . .)

    • 11 months ago
  • VFORVENDETTA
  • VFORVENDETTA
  • JanforGore
    • +5
      JanforGore  

    • http://www.lcra.org/water/drought/index.html

      You can find drought updates here.

      So, industry doesn't give a damn if people have no food or water. Just give it to them to "frack" to also pollute what little there is. This is the critical mass we were warned about regarding our water resources. Depending on energy sources that rely on huge amounts of water in areas prone to drought and now more severe droughts is insanity.

      Texas needs solar and leadership, not prayers for rain Rick Perry.

    • 11 months ago
  • remanns
  • artemis6
    • 0
      artemis6  
    • JanforGore:

      Tragically , I bet solar could have met almost all their energy needs . Now we will not have a chance , because it will be unlivable . Maybe they can power the neighboring states someday ...

    • 11 months ago
  • JanforGore
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