lcra

TCEQ Needs More Time to Examine LCRA Water Plan

Laura Rice, KUT News and Filipa Rodrigues — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:57:25 +0000

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is taking more time to review the Lower Colorado River Authority’s water management plan. The additional evaluation could take about a year.

The water management plan directs how the LCRA uses lakes Travis and Buchanan to meet the needs of water users. The state wants to meet with stakeholders and collect more data before approving the new plan.

Pumping from Lake? Get a Contract

Trey Shaar, KUT News — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:21:00 +0000

The Lower Colorado River Authority is reminding people who live along the Highland Lakes that you need a contract to pump water from the lakes.

The reminder comes at a time when Central Texans are starting to think about lawn care.

The LCRA wants to keep track of the water removed from the lakes and help educate people about responsible water use.

Rainfall Didn't Make It to the Lakes

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 21:25:12 +0000

Two days of storms that delivered about 3 inches of rain to Austin did little for the levels of the lakes that serve as Austin’s water supply. Lake Travis rose by less than a foot; Lake Buchanan was up slightly more than 2 inches.

Dan Yates with the Lower Colorado River Authority says it provided a very small bump.

“We need a good season of rainstorms like this that we saw yesterday and the day before... that would get us out of the trouble,” Yates said.

Political Effort to Keep More Water in Highland Lakes

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 00:55:18 +0000

The agency that manages the Highland Lakes, which serves as Austin’s primary source of drinking water, would not be allowed to send water downstream to rice farmers if the lakes are less than 42 percent full, under a bi-partisan proposal in the state legislature.

The bill was filed by State Senators Kirk Watson (D-Austin) and Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay). Watson says the Lower Colorado River Authority needs to prioritize so-called “firm” customers, such as cities and power plants, over “interruptible” customers such as rice farmers, who pay a fraction of the price for water.

New Rules Reversed at Hippie Hollow, Austin's Clothing-Optional Park (Update)

Tyler Pratt — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:46:38 +0000

Update: Travis County Parks reversed its decision to change boating rules at Hippie Hollow on Lake Travis at a public meeting last night.

In fact, after about a week of tension between Travis County Parks and people who frequent Hippie Hollow, the meeting ended with laughter and applause.

“This is a great example of a grass roots movement. Where people are trying to reach out the administrators who work in their government and the guys come to the table and listen to what the folks have to say,” Friends of the Hollow member Randall Huntsinger said.

LCRA Proposes Relief for Rice Farmers

David Barer — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:37:43 +0000

The Lower Colorado River Authority approved a plan this week that could ease the strain on the Highland Lakes in the future. For StateImpact Texas, David Barer explains plans to build a new reservoir for downstream rice farmers.

The Lead: Austin’s Frosty Morning, LCRA May Cut Off Rice Farmers

Wells Dunbar, KUT News — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 14:55:18 +0000

Good morning, and congratulations on reaching another Friday. It’s a cold and wet one out there, so drive carefully.

The weather outside is frightful: The National Weather Service says most precipitation will be cold rain, albeit with some light sleet will briefly mixed in. That rain won’t be helping out much with the drought either: accumulation is expected to be below an inch, with a dry and warmer weekend forecast.

Lake Levels Up Slightly After Rainfall

Laura Rice, KUT News — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 17:28:23 +0000

Recent rainfall is helping to fill the Highland Lakes—at least a little bit.

Parts of Central Texas received more than two inches of rain on Sunday. Combined with rainfall from earlier last week, rainfall totals for some areas topped nine inches.

The Lower Colorado River Authority says the water level of Lake Travis is up a little over a foot. Lake Buchanan only saw a gain of a few hundredths of an inch.

"The location of the rain makes all the difference and, in this case, the vast majority of the rain fell over the Highland Lakes basin," LCRA river operations center supervisor Dan Yates says.

AM Update: LCRA Wants More Water, Parks Burn Ban, Another Hasan Trial Delay?

Laura Rice, KUT News — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:38:27 +0000

Securing More Water for Central Texas

The Lower Colorado River Authority is taking action on three projects that the Board of Directors say will increase its water supply and reduce demand for water from the Highland Lakes.

The LCRA has put money down to hold land near the Colorado River while it explores the option of building two water reservoirs there. The LCRA says water could be diverted to the reservoirs in times of heavy rain or floods and then be made available for customer use.

The LCRA is also putting together a purchase agreement to buy the Alcoa aluminum property northeast of Austin that would give it rights to a groundwater aquifer *as well as surface water.

AM Update: Food Recall Affects Texas, LCRA Won't Lower Lake Levels, Another Longhorn Gold

Mary Mattia and Laura Rice, KUT News — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:33:58 +0000

Watch What You Eat

A Minnesota company is recalling more than 15,000 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products – some of which was sent to a distribution center in Texas.

The meat products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recall affects:

5.6 oz. packages of "Armour Active Packs Turkey & Cheese Wrap" Package Code 1026090112 or Case Code 27815-17994
5.6 oz. packages of "Armour Active Packs Ham & Cheese Wrap" Package Code 1026090112 or Case Code 27815-17995

Recent Rain Barely Boosts Lake Levels

Laura Rice, KUT News — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:03:55 +0000

Parts of North Austin and Round Rock received more than four inches of rain in last night’s storm. But Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan are only up a couple of inches. That’s because most of the rain fell downstream of the watershed.

Bob Rose is the chief meteorologist with the Lower Colorado River Authority. He says the recent rain has been great, but is no drought-buster.

“To really start re-filling the lakes, we kind of need an overall change in the whole weather pattern," Rose says. "Where we start getting more rain more frequently and the rain falls all across the area, including the Hill Country."

Colorado River’s Oxygen Levels Dropping

Mose Buchele, KUT News — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:07:41 +0000

The Colorado River not only supplies much of Central Texas with its drinking water, it’s also a cherished destination for summer recreation seekers. But new data suggests that the health of the river ecosystem might be in jeopardy.

And authorities might not have known about the scope of the problem without the help of some teenage naturalists.

For about 20 years, Austin Youth River Watch has organized groups of teens to monitor the water quality of the Colorado. Every week they check water at different parts of the river and its tributaries. Lately they’ve been getting some unusual readings.

AM Update: EPA May Approve Clean Air Plan, Free Life Jackets, New Disc Golf Course

Olivia Gordon — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:54:00 +0000

EPA Hints at Approval of TCEQ Air Plan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has signaled it will likely approve changes to the state’s clean air plan.

A revised plan from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality establishes site-wide emission caps with specific monitoring at units for existing major sources of air pollution. The EPA said the proposal gives the industry more flexibility in day-to-day operations.

The agency will seek public comment on the approval for 30 days before it makes a final decision. You can read more over at StateImpact Texas.

Grant to Help Some Landowners in Conservation Efforts

Laura Rice, KUT News — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:10:59 +0000

Landowners in the lower Colorado River basin have the opportunity to get more money for conservation efforts. The Lower Colorado River Authority received a federal grant that will help landowners reduce soil erosion and increase native plant and animal diversity.

The EPA grant will increase the amount of matching funding for qualified landowners in 11 counties from $10,000 to $15,000.

The LCRA says this program can make a big difference.

AM Update: Lakes Travis & Buchanan Low, Ron Paul Speaks at UT, Perry Endorses Romney

Divya Darsi — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:39:15 +0000

Lakes Travis and Buchanan Still Low

According to the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), lakes Travis and Buchanan remain low –less than half full to be exact.

Texas saw an increase in rainfall last month but that hasn’t been enough to raise water levels in the Highland Lakes. As of April 25, lakes Travis and Buchanan combined are about 48 percent full; that’s much lower compared to last April when the lakes were 71 percent full.

The record-setting drought last year hit the Highland Lakes hard; the lack of rain brought the amount of water flowing into the lakes, called inflows, to a record low. The rains this March caused inflows to surpass the historical average, but with dry weather this month the inflow levels have not hit their normal average.