A profit-driven water market has "triggered water wars in Texas. "Water ranches" threaten to pump the state's aquifers dry and cause water shortages.
"For decades the gold beneath the ground in Texas was oil. But if oil built modern Texas, water is now needed to sustain it....groundwater is considered private property, and any landowner can pump the water out even if it leaves neighbors high and dry." Distant cities could take away water from rural areas in a profit-driven market.
Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan
FULL STORY: For Texas Now, Water and Not Oil Is Liquid Gold

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

Poor Conditions in Mobile Home Parks Put Residents at Risk
Failing infrastructure, poor water and air quality, and predatory owners endanger the health of manufactured home residents, many of whom are elderly and low-income.

How Complete Streets Stands to Lose in the FY26 ‘Skinny Budget’
The President’s proposed budget could cut key resources for active transportation, public transit, and road safety programs.

Dairy Queen and Rural Third Places
Dozens of Dairy Queen restaurants across Texas are closing, taking a critical community space with them.
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