Drought/Burn Bans/Wildfire/Water Supply

Monthly Change in Drought Monitor Classification

Plan now for future fires - Huntsville residents take action by making the necessary preparations to battle wildfires in the near future. They cleared unnecessary brush piles and procured fire plans for homes and buildings.
The Huntsville Item, Tori Brock, June 1, 2012.

North Texas Municipal Water District returns to Stage 2 water restrictions - Even though water levels have returned to near-normal levels in local lakes and reservoirs, officials take preliminary steps to protect water supplies.
Mesquite News, June 1, 2012.

Spring showers could spare Texas scorching summer - With considerable more rainfall than in 2011, summer of 2012 has a much greater chance of bypassing drought conditions across the state.
The Houston Chronicle, Betsy Blaney, June 3, 2012.

Exhibit provides flood of new uses for water - Artists create projects in New York to raise awareness about water conservation and the issues currently facing the world.
YNN Austin, Adam Balkin, June 4, 2012.

City approves water contract - Texarkana is now able to sell water to the Miller River Authority. 
Texarkana Gazette, Brandy Chewning, June 4, 2012.

Gladewater officials: Water safe despite notice - Officials found higher levels of potentially harmful compounds like trihalomethanes in the area water supply. Longview News-Journal, Christina Lane, June 5, 2012.

El Pasoans heed water utility's call to conserve; no mandatory restrictions to be implemented - West Texans are used to drought conditions, and their actions kept them in the clear for the upcoming summer.
El Paso Times, Aileen Flores, June 6, 2012.

City plans to issue bonds to fund water system, other improvements - Cameron, in South Texas, looks to improve its water system and other public works in the face of drought by issuing certificates of obligation to produce funds.
The Cameron Herald, Candace Velvin, June 7, 2012.

Wesley Seale Dam Water Flowing - Residents are confused by the actions of officials to release the dam during a drought, but officials claim that it helps the local ecosystem by providing fresh nutrients.
KIII Corpus Christi, June 8, 2012.

Chambers County wildfire smokes up Galveston - Galveston residents were surprised to see their skies filled with haze and smoke.
Houston Chronicle, Carol Christian, June 9, 2012.

Lightning strike ignites Anahuac forest wildfire - Hundreds of acres were lost to the wildfire. 
Baytown Sun, Mike Gunning, June 9, 2012.

TPWD plans for summer burn at Government Canyon - The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department informed residents of a planned burn.
San Antonio Express News, Melody Mendoza, June 12, 2012.

Has the rain helped Lake Meredith water levels? - To answer the question: yes, water levels have risen in West Texas.
Connect Amarillo, Lindsey Stiner, June 13, 2012.

Fire officials cautious about summer drought conditions - Rain does not necessarily indicate safer conditions against wildfire because soil moisture content is a greater factor. 
Woodlands Villager, Carrie Thornton, June 14, 2012.

Water tested again in Panola-Bethany wells - The wells are located in East Texas and numerous harmful substances like arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, and benzene were identified in the contents. 
Longview News-Journal, June 16, 2012.

Taylor County Commissioners will discuss burn ban, fireworks - In addition, the officials discussed the claims on hail damage repair. 
Abilene Reporter-News, Brennan Peel, June 18, 2012.

Water weed thriving in Lady Bird Lake - Eurasian Water Milfoil has made a huge appearance into the waterways of Austin for the summer.
YNN Austin, Sebastian Robertson, June 19, 2012.

No burn or fireworks ban expected this Fourth of July - San Antonio folks were excited to hear the good news and businesses have geared up for fireworks sales.
WOAI San Antonio, Emily Baucum, June 20, 2012.

Water supply firms to celebrate $10.8 million in funding - The Karnack, Leigh, and Caddo Water Supply Corporations raised $10.8 million for future water funding.
Longview News-Journal, June 20, 2012.

League City institutes mandatory water rationing - The article includes tips and restrictions that every citizen must adhere to, like yard watering only on specific days of the week. 
The Bay Area Citizen, June 21, 2012.

Florence faces water woes - Stage 5 restrictions were put into place and officials believed that the water supply could deplete in the next several months.
Killeen Daily Herald, Phillip Jankowski, June 23, 2012.

County approves burn ban - Ellis County supported a full burn ban and it was immediately put into effect.
Waxahachie Daily Light, Mike Sackett, June 25, 2012.

Water supply line leak causes emergency water rationing in League City - A major line suffered a severe leak and the citizens of League City had to enter into emergency restrictions.
The Bay Area Citizen, June 26, 2012.

Burn ban in effect for Travis County - Fireworks are still allowed under the burn ban for July 4 celebrations.
KXAN Austin, Callie Cantrell, June 26, 2012.

Corpus Christi to request permit so it can sell raw water to companies involved in Eagle Ford Shale - Council members are at odds with the public as to how they should manage water supply. 
Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Jessica Savage, June 27, 2012.

Water users petition rate hike - The rates almost doubled for all water-users.
Fredericksburg Standard, Ken Esten Cooke, June 27, 2012.

Texas beaches aided by drought - As a result of the drought, beaches became cleaner as less vegetation and debris can be washed ashore. 
Houston Chronicle, Matthew Tresaugue, June 28, 2012.

Homeowners at the ready for another dry wildfire season - Spring rains eventually diminished and people prepared for a dry summer by keeping a wary eye out for fire.
YNN Austin, Dan Robertson, June 29, 2012.

Agriculture

Military veterans invited to attend agriculture workshop in Seguin - The Texas AgriLife Extension Service provided veterans with the knowledge and skills needed to start their own farming or ranching business.
Longview News-Journal, June 2, 2012.

Texas crop, weather for June 5, 2012 - West Texas endures continuing drought conditions and East Texas is reclaimed by abnormally dry conditions.
Texas AgriLife Today, Robert Burns, June 5, 2012.

Drought still a concern for farmers across state - Rains have begun to diminish in frequency across the state and farmers are waiting to plant in some areas.
Wichita Falls Times-Record News, June 8, 2012.

Texas farmers plant seeds to sustain agriculture - The younger generation is not fully interested in agriculture and current farmers seek to influence their profession.
Houston Chronicle, William Pack, June 10, 2012.

Farmers enjoying bountiful veggies after drought - There has been an encouraging turnaround for agriculture across Texas, especially for grain, wheat, soy, and pecans. 
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Steve Campbell, June 10, 2012.

Reduce Cattle Heat Stress with Good Quality Water - Water supply is one of the most important aspects of cattle that ranchers must focus on. 
The Eagle Bryan/College Station, Robert Fears, June 12, 2012.

Beetles help control salt cedar population along Lake Meredith - The biological experiment has finally taken a turn for the better as beetles are successfully surviving the seasons and feeding on the salt cedars. 
Amarillo Globe News, Kevin Welch, June 17, 2012.

Texas crop, weather for June 19, 2012 - The Texas AgriLife Extension Service gives its weekly report on weather and agriculture; especially noting the drop in water tables for Southwest Texas. 
AgriLife Today, Robert Burns, June 19, 2012.

Drought has farmers considering new crops - Farmers are considering more dry-resistant crops like sesame to keep their business afloat.
YNN Austin, Dan Robertson, June 19, 2012.

From the ground up - a renaissance in agriculture - Major and developing countries are in a greater need for agricultural products, especially countries like China and India.
KBTX Bryan/College Station, Kailey Carey, June 21, 2012.

Drought threatens U.S. food prices - Corn prices skyrocketed because of the drought.
Corsicana Daily Sun, Pete Whoriskey, June 28, 2012.

Inclement Weather

Lightning ignites Collin County fires - Several homes were struck by lightning during severe storms, and a few homes caught fire.
McKinney Courier-Gazette, Chris Beattie, June 3, 2012.

Hurricane safety tips - Waste Management encourages its residents to prepare for the hurricane season by securing all of their trash receptacles.
Victoria Advocate, June 4, 2012.

Hail damage far from repair - A number of homes in McAllen have yet to be repaired after the great hailstorm in March.
Valley Central, Brett Crandall, June 5, 2012.

Southlake water woes - A couple cannot discover the mysterious water source that continues to flood their backyard.
KDAF CW 33, Catherine Bilkey, June 6, 2012.

Heavy rains, gusty winds roll through Dallas-Fort Worth - A series of storms pummeled the DFW Metroplex.
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, June 7, 2012.

U.S. sees hottest spring; warm temperatures for Abilene expected to continue - In the Big Country, warm temperatures will stick around for the summer.
Abilene Reporter News, Brian Bethel, June 8, 2012.

Severe weather rips through southeast Texas - Numerous trees were damaged and over 100,000 homes went without power after the storms.
KTRK Houston, June 12, 2012.

Storm cells trigger damaging hail In DFW - Damage estimates are still uncertain, but large portions of North Dallas were hammered by baseball-sized hail.
CBS Dallas, Matt Goodman, June 13, 2012.

Spring homeowners face big cleanup after severe storms - Houston residents braved severe storms and were forced to remove fallen trees and broken windshields.
KHOU Houston, Doug miller, June 13, 2012.

National Weather Service classifies Fannin County storm as tornado - The twister was classified as only an EF-0 and no lives were lost.
WFAA Dallas-Ft. Worth, Casey Norton, June 14, 2012.

Severe storms bring heavy rain, frequent lightning to South Plains - In addition, high winds were measured and small hail caused some brief power outages.
KCBD Lubbock, June 15, 2012.

Hurricane Carlotta bears down on Mexico coast - The storm produced winds over 100 mph and was believed to have a later effect on Texas.
KSAT San Antonio, June 15, 2012.

Weather conditions good for short-lived funnel clouds - A tornado was spotted in the southwest area of Houston in the late morning hours.
Houston Chronicle, Carol Christian, June 16, 2012.

Repaired Chihuly artwork greets visitors - The Dallas Arboretum recreated the glass sculptures that had previously inhabited the Chihuly exhibit.
NBC Dallas-Ft. Worth, Andres Gutierrez, June 17, 2012.

Triple-digit heat can be dangerous for people, pets - City officials warn residents of the dangers of extreme heat.
KFOX El Paso, June 18, 2012.

NOAA offers toolkit during Lightning Safety Awareness week - This toolkit was offered nationwide to the public, city organizations, and businesses. 
KETK Tyler, June 20, 2012.

Should tornado alley be moved? - Recent damage has been recorded in numerous states east of tornado alley and experts have begun to question the original boundary lines.
CBS Dallas-Ft. Worth, Jeff Ray, June 22, 2012.

Heat strokes account for 700 deaths - Across the nation, an average of 700 people die from heatstroke each year.
KXII Sherman, Morgan Downing, June 22, 2012.

Drought could affect tropical storm damage - The drought killed an incredible number of trees, which means that a hurricane will have fewer trees to demolish.
KHOU Houston, Larry Seward, June 23, 2012.

Tropical Storm Debby staying still - Debby teased Texans as numerous models indicated that her track might lead her westward across the Gulf.
KPRC Houston, June 24, 2012.

TRE slows trains due to excessive heat - The Trinity Railway Express cannot operate under extreme heat conditions because the tracks can kink and warp. 
NBC Dallas-Ft. Worth, Frank Heinz, June 26, 2012.

Local man dies from heat stroke, first heat death of season - In Harker Heights, a middle-aged man incurred a heat stroke that turned fatal.
KXXV Waco, Stephanie Jacksis, June 27, 2012.

El Niño could spell quick end to hurricane season - El Nino usually suppresses tropical systems in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.
Houston Chronicle, Eric Berger, June 29, 2012.

Flood waters slowly going away - Storms dumped up to two inches of rain during a short period of time and localized areas and streets like Price Street and downtown were flooded. 
The Brownsville Herald, Laura Martinez, June 30, 2012.

Electrical worker struck by lightning - The man was hospitalized after he was struck by lightning when leaving his truck. 
KPRC Houston, June 30, 2012.

Other Climate Impacts

Paddling with a purpose - Plano man lives dream on the Mississippi. A North Texan accomplished the daunting task of kayaking along the two largest river systems in North America.
Plano Star-Courier, Kelley Chambers, June 1, 2012.

Rain men not so excellent drivers of showers into San Angelo in 1911- A columnist shares a fun story about two men that could not inspire rain to fall in West Texas in the early 1900s.
San Angelo Standard Times, Rick Smith, June 2, 2012.

Southlake hosts annual Relay for Life - Rain put a damper on the festivities of the national event that raises funds for cancer research.
Southlake Times, Heather Goodwin, June 2, 2012.

Remember the lessons of the drought, experts say - Gardeners may have had a tough time last summer, but they gathered valuable experiences when they learned how to take care of thirsty vegetation and plant drought-hardy flowers. 
San Antonio Express-news, Tracy Hobson Lehmann, June 3, 2012.

County renews contract for airport weather station - The new installation will provide East Texas with a crucial station for weather data.
Marshall News Messenger, Robin Richardson, June 6, 2012.

Houston Zoo makes a splash with new water park - Animals have their share of watery delights, and now human guests have the opportunity to cool off during the summer.
KHOU Houston, June 7, 2012.

Naval Air Station Fort Worth worried about wind turbines - Wind turbines can cause disruptive signals for radar echoes—a problem for naval air bases.
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, Chris Vaughn, June 9, 2012.

Firefighters change tactics to cope with extreme heat - Fire departments in Austin send more crews to any fire situation during the summer to keep the rotation fresh.
YNN Austin, Sebastian Robertson, June 11, 2012.

National Weather Service could furlough employees - Congress has the power to allow the National Weather Service to adjust its finances within the budget.
KPRC Houston, Jennifer Bauer, June 11, 2012.

Too much water kills Texas Water Safari racer - In the world's toughest canoe race, a man died from water poisoning.
Victoria Advocate, June 11, 2012.

Whooping cranes survive Texas drought, numbers up - After the population decreased during drought years, the cranes endured harsh conditions and came out on top.
Valley Central, June 14, 2012.

Education efforts hoped to stop spread of zebra mussels - Lake Texoma has lost a sizeable portion of drinkable water to zebra mussel population expansion.
Allen American, Conner Hammett, June 15, 2012.

Developing a drought plan for your yard - Homeowners are provided with helpful tips for fighting drought conditions in their own backyard. One tip was to change your sprinkler heads from a spray nozzle to a coarse droplet nozzle.
The Courier of Montgomery County, Mike Mendeck, June 16, 2012.

Hit the trails: Elm Fork Nature Preserve welcomes visitors, wildlife alike - Summer may be hot and dry, but park officials are encouraging citizens to go outside and enjoy the parks and trails.
Carrollton Leader, Marthe Stinton, June 17, 2012.

Dozens of dead Zilker Park trees scheduled to be chopped - The dead trees are a hazard to the people that often use the park and are expected to be removed in the next few weeks.
KEYE Austin, June 18, 2012.

Drinking water from garden hose could be deadly - Experts found that the hoses themselves and stagnant water have high levels of toxic compounds like lead. 
KIAH Houston, June 22, 2012.

Sea Scouts learn water safety - Kids were trained how to handle various water situations over a three-day period.
Herald Democrat, Future Brown, June 23, 2012.

Triple-digit heat hits DFW with 'unhealthy air' up next - Air pollution is a very real problem for major cities, especially in the summertime because ozone levels reach unhealthy statuses. 
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Eric Martello, June 24, 2012.

Doctors warn medicine could increase risk of heat-related illness - This warning does not just include the elderly, but people of all ages that take medications from prescription to over-the-counter. 
KYTX Tyler, Jeff Wright, June 24, 2012.

Don't sweat it; construction crews endure high heat for work - TxDOT works very hard to make sure its workers are taken care of during hot days.
Connect Amarillo, Emily Griffin, June 25, 2012.

Salvation Army opens doors for heat relief - This informational article provided the public with locations of cooling stations across San Antonio. The locations provide A/C and bottles of water. 
KENS San Antonio, June 25, 2012.

Heat causes car troubles - People are shelling out hundreds of dollars for car repairs like worn belts, busted radiators, and faulty tires, caused by the heat. 
KPRC Houston, June 28, 2012.

Better weather boosts attendance at Texas parks - Rain has filled the lakes and ponds and the weather is great for enjoying state parks.
Fort Worth Star Telegram, Steve Campbell, June 29, 2012.

Lubbock on alert for West Nile virus as mosquitoes thrive - While the rains have been welcome, they have created a home for deadly virus-carriers.
KCBD Lubbock, Emily Black, June 30, 2012.