In the Flow Vol: 2 Issue: 3, 29 January 2014

 In the Flow: A Water News Bulletin from the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and The Texas Tribune

Welcome to In the Flow, a water news wrap-up and analysis prepared every other week by The Texas Tribune and the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University. We bring you the latest news and events concerning the river systems of Texas and important water issues on a state and regional level.

In the Flow Vol: 2 Issue: 3: San Antonio Wants Full Ownership of Wastewater by Neena Satija A bid by San Antonio's water utility to declare ownership of the sewage it treats and releases has sparked a regional tug-of-war — one that could become more common as Texas' thirsty water users struggle to protect their supplies.       Talk of Tighter Flounder, Trout Rules Questioned by Neena Satija The suggestion of new restrictions on saltwater fishing has generated heated discussion along the coast — with some claiming that small-time fishermen will be pushed out to make way for richer anglers.   Edwards Aquifer Plan Receives High Honor at Turbulent Time by Neena Satija A plan meant to balance the needs of the Edwards Aquifer's 2 million water users with those of threatened species will receive a national award Thursday, but the state's severe drought could hinder the proposal's success.  Texas Water Development Board Member Resigns by Neena Satija Mary Ann Williamson, one of three members of the Texas Water Development Board appointed by Gov. Rick Perry last summer, has resigned. Her departure comes at a transitional time for the agency. California Grapples With Drought Emergency California's drought emergency appears as bleak as drought conditions in Texas, with record-low flows in rivers and streams, reservoirs drying up and a mountain snowpack far below normal. TCEQ Allows Water to Be Cut Off to Rice Farmers The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has signed off on an order granting emergency drought-period powers to the Lower Colorado River Authority that will excuse the agency from releasing water to lower-basin rice farmers. New Braunfels Loses Battle Over Can Ban A judge has ruled that New Braunfels' anti-trash ordinances that barred tubers from floating down its rivers with large coolers or disposable bottles and cans are unconstitutional. New Panel to Study Desalination The Texas Legislature has created a panel to study water desalination as a solution to the state's prolonged drought. Film Tells Stories of Cities Searching for Solutions to Water Crisis A new interactive documentary film project produced by Penn State Public Media explores how cities around the country, including San Antonio, are finding innovative solutions to water-related problems. Event: Southwest Stream Restoration Conference Abstracts for presentations at the Southwest Stream Restoration Conference are due Jan. 31. The conference takes place May 28-30 in San Antonio. Data App: Track Texas Reservoir Levels by Ryan Murphy Using data from the Texas Water Development Board's reservoir status tracker, our auto-updating map visualizes the current state of Texas reservoirs.