According to a UC Davis study, it takes about 148 gallons of water to produce the beef in a one-third-pound hamburger. Agriculture is the most water-intensive business on the planet. Since 95 percent of U.S. fresh water is underground, a significant amount is used to produce food. The High Plains Aquifer (also known as the ?Ogallala?) has been depleted by a volume of water equal to the annual flow of 18 Colorado Rivers and may only last another 25 years. Since local sources of water are not sufficient to feed us, we will continue to import food from many places.
Conservation News
El Ni?o still growing, set to impact U.S. weather into 2016 (KVUE 12-31-15)
AUSTIN — The wild weather ride Texas and the rest of the United States has been on the past few months looks like it will continue into 2016.
LPGCD approves new permit for water withdrawl (Elgin Courier 12-30-15)
Approval of a new permit related to the withdrawal of water from the Simsboro Aquifer, which is pooled beneath Bastrop and Lee counties, left several members of the conservation community concerned Dec. 21.
Texas Ag Daily | Agriculture News | Texas Ag News Water conservation policy effectiveness depends on farmer economics
Texas Ag Daily is the daily agriculture news service of the Texas Farm Bureau and provides the latest Texas Ag news in the state and around the nation. When it comes to water conservation, actions by farmers will be driven by economics.
Water supplier sues water supplier over Vista Ridge pipeline payments
A water supplier whose leases would supply a significant portion of groundwater for the Vista Ridge pipeline project now wants to take those leases elsewhere, according to a lawsuit filed in Travis County District Court. The suit by W. Scott Carlson, president of Metropolitan Water Co. in Brenham, argues that Ross Cummings? Blue Water Systems of Austin, has ?failed to share one penny? of $5.5 million in fees received from a subsidiary of the Spanish conglomerate Abengoa that is building the pipeline. Besides constructing and operating the pipeline, Abengoa Vista Ridge, under its contract with the San Antonio Water System, must acquire rights to groundwater. Metropolitan?s and Blue Water?s relationship dates back to at least 2006, when they signed an agreement allowing Blue Water to help find a buyer for Metropolitan?s water. Soon after the San Antonio City Council approved its agreement with Abengoa Vista Ridge last year, that company then told Blue Water it needed to convey its groundwater leases so Abengoa Vista Ridge could secure financing for the project, the lawsuit alleges.
Source: Water supplier sues water supplier over Vista Ridge pipeline payments
Texas Farmers Ask High Court To Leave Water Ruling Intact – Law360
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality cannot exempt cities and power generators from drought-triggered water restrictions, the Texas Farm Bureau told the Texas Supreme Court Monday, saying the justices should uphold a lower appeals court ruling that the agency can’t circumvent senior rights holders.
Source: Texas Farmers Ask High Court To Leave Water Ruling Intact – Law360