- TWDB’s Weekly Drought Report shows consistent improvement in drought conditions, with additional improvements expected for the rest of June.
- As storm-water systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable to being overwhelmed by effects of climate change, more and more cities are implementing low-cost sensors that detect water levels. These sensors can be added to existing systems to make operations more efficient.
- The EPA is revising the 2020 Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule to provide states and Tribes with the authority to “protect the quality of their waters from adverse impacts resulting from federally licensed or permitted projects”.
- The Texas General Land Office has approved $28 million to improve flood mitigation infrastructure in Bastrop County. This funding will be used to fortify homes and businesses, improve drainage systems, and extend roadways for first responders and evacuations.
- David K. Langford, member of the Headwaters Alliance, warns about shrinking groundwater supplies in an opinion piece from his perspective as a Texan with an underground aquifer beneath his family ranch. He writes, “We work hard to be responsible stewards of this precious, irreplaceable resource. If everyone approached groundwater this way, stewardship would create sustainability. Unfortunately, not everyone does. Texas needs to figure out how to protect Texans who are doing the right thing.”
- The US Department of Health & Human Services is establishing a wastewater-based disease monitoring program. As clinical testing becomes less frequent, data from wastewater can be used to stay ahead of COVID-19 variants and to help prevent future pandemics.