Water marks are seen on the gates and concrete at the Falcon Dam in Starr County on Aug. 18. This area of the reservoir is normally underwater, but because of an extended drought, water levels have been below 20% since earlier this year., our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
Known as water trades, the transactions help keep water in nature and prop up the state’s agricultural economy. Experts believe this could become a major conservation strategy for the drought-prone state, given the state’s preference for solutions that boost markets, over regulation. According to Kapnick, 64% of the country was in drought conditions this summer, and much of that was concentrated in Texas. At the peak of the summer, 95% of the state was experiencing drought, compared with 59% of the state now. Without nature chipping in with consistent rainfall, farmers have to turn to irrigating their crops, which can strain natural resources such as the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer and the Ogallala Aquifer.
The Ogallala is heavily relied upon in the High Plains region, which produces 30% of the nation’s crops and livestock, in times of drought. However, the region has also had more decline in the aquifer’s water levels than anywhere else in its span through seven other states, according to a 2019 report from NOAA.
Leurig said that with population growth and climate change driving the demand for available water, more market deals will likely happen. The Texas chapter of The Nature Conservancy, a national environmental organization, is also working on a similar program. One water transaction it offers is a dry-year lease option. This arrangement outlines a base payment made to the farmer every year, with the understanding that they will not take water from the stream when the source of surface water falls below a certain level.
The Edwards Aquifer Authority also tries to prepare for those critical times. The water management agencythat enable water permit-holders to forbear pumping from the aquifer during periods when the groundwater is at historic lows.
I don't think it's the farmers who are the problem.
We should allow millions more to cross our border to help out, they won’t drain our resources at all
But... Greg said....
Oh a repost! Such hard cutting news from the Texas rag
But Texas farmers, more likely than not, are voting for the policies that are killing their livelihoods.
Wow! Maybe we should let millions of more ppl into our country to drain even more of natural resources. I am sure we can handle it
While Texas Big Oil still pumps methane & CO2 into the air and fights any efforts to curb climate change!!
Also