Texas Perspective is a new collaboration of Texas PBS stations, Texas Tribune and public radio to provide in-depth stories on issues that affect our communities.

Texas Perspective: Water

Seven Texas PBS stations, the Texas Tribune, Newspaper Tree and public radio stations are collaborating to explore how communities are approaching water shortages.

Texas Perspective: Water The special news magazine program aired on all of the 12 Texas PBS stations.

This magazine news program focused on water issues across Texas. With water supply and usage under increased scrutiny all across Texas, communities big and small are looking at innovative solutions.

Viewpoints from Texans across the state on water use and its economic impact, water supply/acquisition and water conservation. Panhandle PBS partnered with PBS stations across the state to make this project happen.

Does growth in Houston have an impact on water strategy?

Houston Public Media

“I like to tell people you’re sitting in the fastest growing city in the fastest growing state,” said Steven Murdock, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology, Rice University. “Our metropolitan area has grown by almost 400,000 people from April 1, 2010 to July 1st of 2013.”

“I like to tell people you’re sitting in the fastest growing city in the fastest growing state,” said Steven Murdock, Ph.D. Professor of Sociology, Rice University. “Our metropolitan area has grown by almost 400,000 people from April 1, 2010 to July 1st of 2013.”

Murdock who served as Director of the Census under President George W. Bush says the Greater Houston Area will have added 1.2 million people by 2020. Which begs the question: What kind of stress will those numbers put on Houston’s water supply?

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Texas Panhandle: Drought is A Good Learning Experience for Communities

Panhandle PBS

For a short period in 2011, the Texas Panhandle was the driest spot in the nation with less rainfall than Death Valley. Temperatures here hit 114 degrees. And this spring, after three years of record-breaking drought, daylight often turned to dark when wind-swept dirt filled the air.

It was reminiscent of the Dust Bowl in the thirties and another devastating dry-spell two decades later that hung on for seven years and caused hundreds to give up and leave.

Remarkably, it was those earlier catastrophes that spurred folks to action back in the 50s and has helped the Panhandle and South Plains survive this latest drought by drawing groundwater from one of the world’s largest aquifers — the Ogallala.

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