Current News

While water is one of the most basic necessities in our lives, people often take it for granted – until there are problems. When you have questions about water, the BRAs Water School has answers.

Temperatures in the Brazos River basin are usually not cold enough to damage the pipes of your home. But Texas weather changes quickly and when an arctic front hits, there may not be time to think about your pipes. Before it gets too cold, plan ahead to avoid very costly results of frozen pipes.

Cooler weather, reduced need for watering make this a great time of year to plant a tree or shrub.

Signaling cooler weather ahead, falling leaves can quickly fill up your yard. What you do with those leaves can help or hurt the environment – including our drinking water – and provide you with a financial benefit.

Thanksgiving feasts can be a burden to your plumbing, but there are things you can do to prevent post-holiday disasters.

With the amount of rain we’ve had this year, water conservation might seem a little silly. But the fact is, the next drought could start tomorrow. Why not continue to practice water conservation all the time? For more, click the photo.

Fertilizing in the fall allows the soil to absorb nutrients promoting a healthy lawn in the spring. However, with many options and complex terminology, anyone can easily be confused. Let’s break it down for you…

Elementary students can “saddle up” and gain a greater understanding about water in Texas with Major Rivers and his horse Aquifer through the Major Rivers educational program. The Brazos River Authority offers free packages to schools located in the Brazos River basin.

If you are part of a group that has questions about water-related issues, whether past present or future, the Brazos River Authority Speakers Bureau can help provide answers and information.

Fall is a great time of year for family and friends to gather for cookouts and tailgate parties. But before you fire up that grill for your next big social event, be aware of grilling safety that will keep everyone safe and prevent the possibility of spreading wildfires.

Thanks to a collaboration between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Brazos River Authority, fishing enthusiasts will have enhanced fishing opportunities while fish in three basin reservoir locations will enjoy a better environment.

Did you know that the Salt Fork of the Brazos River acquired its name because it flows across salt deposits from an ancient salt sea? Or, that a 50-year flood is one that has a two percent chance of occurring in any given year? If you’re interested in water related information, click the photo.

Being ready for potential trouble can help you survive and withstand those times when disaster strikes.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has approved a water right permit that will make additional water supply available for use in the Brazos River basin. For more, click the photo.

Hot and dry weather has created prime conditions for a rare but deadly disease that occurs in some cases where surface water is forced into the nasal passages. There are things you can do to help keep yourself and those you care about safe while still enjoying the water.

Getting enough water to drink can mean the difference between being healthy or not, and staying hydrated plays a crucial role in many areas of our lives. For more, click the photo.

Before you head out to the lake or river for a cool dip in the water, keep a few tips in mind that will increase your enjoyment and help keep you and those you care about safe. For more, click the photo.

If you are planning a visit to a lake, river or pond, you should know that there could be dangerous organisms lurking in the water. The good news is that you can take precautions to protect yourself and those you care about, while still enjoying the water.

Questions abound when flooding occurs in the Brazos basin. Water levels can be monitored via USGS Gaging Stations while projected flooding and crests can be viewed via the NOAA Hydrologic Prediction Service. To learn more about these tools and release protocol, click the picture.

The need for lawn watering is virtually non-existent during the winter months. However, with erratic weather, there is a potential problem that requires attention so that your lawn stays healthy well into the spring.

It’s the question most posed to the Brazos River Authority during periods of drought. With most reservoirs full, now is a good time to take a closer look at just what happened during the drought and at how reservoirs are designed to work.

The Brazos River basin is a beautiful and unique place to call home even during the fall and winter months. To view the photos submitted by Brazos basin residents, click the picture.

The Brazos River basin has some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in Texas, even after the leaves have fallen. From snowfall in the upper basin, to the change of color in Central Texas, to waters rushing toward the Gulf Coast, there is beauty in the off season.The Brazos River Authority invites you to share your fall and winter photos that portray the beauty of your corner of Texas with the rest of the Brazos River basin. We’ll post your landscape photos, including your name and location, on the BRA website and Facebook pages along with our BRA photos. Photos may be emailed electronically to information@brazos.org. Please include your name and the location of your photo in the Brazos River basin

Planning is a must for any holiday meal. But if you are planning to deep fry your Thanksgiving turkey this year, there are a few extra details to consider before the guests arrive. Here’s how to avoid the potential for cooking fires and why you should properly dispose of used cooking oil.

Preparing your home for winter weather can save you from expensive and irritating repairs. A few basic precautions can help you protect your home (whether at the lake or far away) from the extreme temperatures of winter, helping to prevent damage and the need for costly repairs.

The Brazos River Authority congratulates the City of Sugar Land on completion of a reclaimed water treatment facility. The new facility is a conservation partnership effort between the City of Sugar Land and the Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District 128 to help meet goals established for groundwater reduction requirements set by the Fort Bend Subsidence District.

Although winter is short in Texas, weather extremes can wreak havoc on your boat and dock. Taking precautions can prevent plenty of grief in the long run.

With the fall season comes not only cooler weather, but also those ever-present falling leaves. Rather than bagging them up, there are better ways of dealing with them that will conserve water and end up saving you money.

If you notice a peculiar odor on the lake this time of year, chances are it’s a process called turnover. Find out what causes it, what it means for the reservoirs and the fish population and what the prospects are for the near future.

A near decade-long program to replace non-encapsulated foam docks has improved water quality and improved fish and wildlife habitat at Possum Kingdom Lake.

The best time to think about how to deal with disasters such as wildfires and floods is well before they occur. September is National Emergency Preparedness Month: an opportunity to anticipate ways we can help make the best of the worst situations.

It may seem quick, easy and harmless to dump items such as grass clippings or leaves into the lake. But it’s not harmless and can cause a number of problems.

Seeing an unusual color in the waters of our rivers and lakes has been a recent cause of concern for many in the Brazos River basin. Discoloration of the water is caused by the suspension of particles, a process called turbidity. There can be many causes for turbidity in the Brazos basin.

You probably wouldn’t pick up a hitchhiker and bring them home to your neighborhood. Would you consider picking up hitchhikers at the lake that could create havoc on your drinking water and cost you a great deal of money? Probably not; but, most people don’t know they could be doing just that. You can help stop the spread of these invasive mollusks simply by cleaning your boat before venturing into a new area.

Being concerned about flooding might seem a little crazy after more than 4 years of drought conditions. But Texas weather has been known to change on Mother Nature’s whim and being prepared is never a poor idea. The U.S. Geological Survey has introduced an online tool that can provide updates on changes to streamflow by text or email for those who live near or just enjoy venturing out on Texas’ rivers and lakes. For more, click here.