June

The Texas Water Resources Institute’s Summer 2015 issue of txH₂O is now online. This issue spotlights innovative work in improving urban water conservation, a new partnership in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and several natural resources nexuses, including the water, energy, food nexus and the water, soil nexus. 

Among all the negative effects of the recent drought in Texas, there was one positive result: drought, and the resulting closure of many boat ramps, may have limited the spread of zebra mussels, an aquatic invasive species. With the recent heavy and frequent rains, however, the state’s zebra mussel outlook has changed.

Quick reflexes and a set of hands — these were Dr. Wade Ryberg’s childhood tools for catching reptiles and amphibians. After the capture, he would often bring the animal home for further study. “I would catch something in the wild, keep it, feed it, watch it eat, and then I would just put it back where I found it,” he said. 

July is Smart Irrigation Month, and the Texas Water Resources Institute and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service have many resources to help Texans save water supplies and money by irrigating their landscapes more efficiently.