Austin, TX
Lawmakers split on solution for improved water infrastructure
AUSTIN, Texas — One of Gov. Greg Abbott’s emergency items for the current session of the Texas Legislature concerns upgrades to the state’s water infrastructure. He’s seeking to increase the state’s investment in water by allocating $1 billion a year for 10 years to tap into new water supplies and repair existing pipes to save billions of gallons of water each year.
“We need to Texas size that investment,” Abbott said during his State of the State address on Sunday.
The need is urgent according to Texas Agriculture Secretary Sid Miller. Miller says the state is running out of water for crops and livestock. And with more than a thousand people a day moving to Texas, the need for water will only grow — as will the search for solutions.
“Reservoirs will be a part of that answer. But I think what the Legislature is also looking at is how we can lean into innovation in technology. What we’re talking about here is desalination, water reuse, conservation, fixing leaking pipes,” said Jeremy Mazur, director of natural resources policy with Texas 2036.
Julie Nahrgang with the Water Environment Association of Texas says there needs to be support for sustained funding and flexible spending in water infrastructure.
“The Texas Water Development Board (is) essentially the lending entity that oversees the disbursement of a lot of water loans and grants. They need to have maximum flexibility of where to put that money so that it best serves Texans,” said Nahrgang.
But not everyone thinks reservoirs are the best answer.
The Marvin Nichols Reservoir is a nonexistent structure that looms over the constituents in Republican Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s northeast Texas district.
“That reservoir represents one of the largest, the largest land grab in Texas history,” said VanDeaver.
The reservoir has been part of the state’s water plan since the late 1960s as a solution to the growing need for water miles away in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. In January, the Texas Water Development Board reported that the reservoir could begin pumping water to DFW within the next 25 years. But the project has been stalled due to opposition from landowners and conservationists.
“The environmental destruction is incalculable. It’s just enormous because you’re flooding some of the richest wildlife lands possible,” said Janice Bezanson with the Texas Conservation Alliance.
This legislative session Rep. VanDeaver is trying to demolish the threat of the reservoir’s existence. He filed two bills. One prohibits an engineering firm from both planning and constructing the reservoir, and the other bill removes a proposed reservoir project from the state water plan if construction has not begun within 50 years of being included in the state plan. That includes the Marvin Nichols Reservoir.
“If something has been in the plan for 50 years and we haven’t had a need to build it, then probably it shouldn’t have been put in the plan 50 years ago,” said VanDeaver.
Because water planning for the state is divided into regions, a failure to build the reservoir won’t preclude statewide water sourcing.
“One regional planning group sees it as necessary and another regional planning group has a totally different vision on it because it does involve eminent domain and it does involve potential buying out of property and using that space,” said Nahrgang.
There is a legislative proposal to buy water from neighboring states, such as Arkansas, in order for Texas to meet its needs, but there is also a focus on cleaning and reusing the water the state already has.
Austin, TX
Texas’ Adorable City Outside Of Austin Is A Hill Country Gateway Full Of Wildlife And Small-Town Charm – Islands
The Texas Hill Country is downright easy on the eyes — and on the soul. The scenic terrain stretches across the heart of the Lone Star State, west of Austin, as far as the eye can see. The central region is known for its rustling rivers, freshwater springs, towering oaks, and, of course, its rolling stony hills. It’s also chock-full of historic communities, from Mason, the “Gem of the Hill Country,” to the German-infused town of Fredericksburg.
The roots run just as deep in Copperas Cove, a humble farming town founded in the late 1870s. The darling city has sprouted much since then. About 40,000 people now call this rural-suburban area home, making it the largest city in all of Coryell County. Despite its size, Copperas Cove is still beloved for its tight-knit, small-town atmosphere. As one resident shared on Niche, the city is full of “quaint neighborhoods with lots of trees and friendly faces.” Another local added: “If you’re looking for a great area to raise your kids or to even start a family, Copperas Cove is it.”
Straddling Highway 190 about 70 miles north of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), the city serves as a gateway to the seemingly boundless lands of the Texas Hill Country. Put simply, there’s no room for boredom in this nook of the state. Copperas Cove teems with a variety of parks, wildlife, and outdoor adventures, with sprawling lakes and recreation areas just a short drive away.
Experience the wilds of Copperas Cove
The rural flair of Copperas Cove is pretty hard to ignore. ‘Round these parts, it’s not uncommon to see speedy roadrunners, burly armadillos, wild turkeys, and various other wildlife roaming the lands. If you’re keen on seeing more critters, mosey on over to Topsey Exotic Ranch. Perched on the outskirts of the city, the safari excursion is one Copperas Cove’s top-rated attractions.
“Deer, cattle, emu, an ostrich, zebras and more will walk alongside your vehicle in hopes of getting tossed some food pellets to snack on,” reads one review on Tripadvisor. “You will also see rabbits, prairie dogs and squirrels. Some kangaroos and a camel can be seen behind a fence.” The animal-filled outing costs $16 per person, at the time of writing, with discounts available for seniors and children 12 and under. Buckets of animal feed can be purchased for an additional fee.
You can also find a few green spaces in town. Copperas Cove City Park is among the more popular outdoor haunts; it includes ponds and a seasonal pool. You can also make a splash at Belton Lake or Stillhouse Hollow Lake, both about a 30-minute drive away. The former spans more than 12,000 surface acres of water, while the latter covers just over 6,000. A bevy of sandy beaches and parks hug the waters. If you opt for Belton Lake, tackle trails at the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area or do more wildlife watching at the Miller Springs Nature Center, situated on the southern end of the reservoir.
Where to stay and eat
Wondering where to hunker down for the evening? If you’re up for braving the wilds, grab your best camping gear for a comfortable night outdoors and snag a spot at one of the many campgrounds along the lakes. Live Oak Ridge Park Campground sits right next to Miller Springs Nature Center on Belton Lake and receives strong reviews for its amenities and setting. If you find yourself at Stillhouse Hollow Lake, Union Grove Campground offers a few screened shelters for those without camping gear. The facility also has plenty of spots to park a rig or pop a tent. Both campgrounds offer showers, a dock, and a playground. A swimming beach can also be found at Union Grove.
Don’t want to rough it? If you’d prefer a more luxurious abode, there’s a decent selection of familiar hotel brands in Copperas Cove, too, including the Comfort Suites, Days Inn by Wyndham, and Best Western Inn & Suites, all of which are located in the same vicinity. You won’t go hungry in this part of Texas, either. Feast on fettuccine alfredo, cheesy ravioli, baked lasagna, and other pasta staples at Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria — rated the No. 1 restaurant in the city over on Tripadvisor. If you’re craving down-home country classics, grab a table at Lil-Tex Restaurant or Bobby B’s Southern Cooking & More. Just don’t skip dessert.
☕️👮♀️ Join us on Thursday, October 23rd at Starbucks from 9 to 11 a.m. for our Coffee with a Cop event! Let’s get together, share stories, and strengthen our neighborhood ties! This is your chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and enjoy some tasty coffee with our district representative officers 📆 Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025 ⏰ Time: 9 – 11 a.m. 📍 Location: 301 W 3rd St. Austin, TX 78701
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Capital Metro’s board of directors voted Monday to overhaul nearly every bus and rail line in the region as part of a decade-long blueprint known as Transit Plan 2035. It’s the biggest shuffling of the transit system since a controversial 2018 change known as “Cap Remap.” But it won’t happen overnight, and not everyone is on board.
Transit Plan 2035 is meant to deliver on delayed Project Connect promises and prepare the system for a light-rail line scheduled to open in 2033.
Over the next decade, CapMetro will shrink its bus network from 61 to 55 routes and run those remaining lines more frequently and later into the night while adding more east-west connections.
“What excites me the most and what quite frankly I’m most proud of is that we’ve found a way to improve our services without having more money,” CEO Dottie Watkins told the board before the vote. “This plan demonstrates fiscal responsibility while still expanding opportunity.”
The first five years focus on catching up with Project Connect, the largest transit expansion in Austin’s history. The voter-approved plan has faced multiple delays but so far has survived lawsuits and state legislation aimed at cutting off the property tax revenue that funds more bus service and the city’s first modern light-rail system.
CapMetro’s immediate priorities under Transit Plan 2035 include boosting frequency on the newest pair of Rapid lines to every 10 minutes, opening park-and-rides at Expo Center and Goodnight Ranch and finally adding a new Red Line stop near the Domain.
Construction on that new train station — now called North Burnet/Uptown — is expected to start in November and take about two years. The stop, previously known as Broadmoor, was supposed to open in 2024. Delays have pushed CapMetro’s share of the cost to $37.3 million, more than triple the original estimate.
The new transit map also doubles frequency on Airport Boulevard’s Route 350, cutting waits from 30 minutes to 15 and extending the line to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The plan will add new east-west lines on Rundberg Lane and Oltorf Street, connections Watkins said riders have asked for “loud and clear.”
But those gains come with tradeoffs. Several lower-ridership routes — including 5 Woodrow, 233 Decker/Daffan and 237 Northeast Feeder — will be discontinued or folded into on-demand Pickup service.
The same goes for several “flyer” routes that provide direct service between neighborhoods and downtown or the UT Austin campus. The 103 Manchaca Flyer, 105 South 5th Flyer, 111 South MoPac Flyer and 142 Metric Flyer are among the routes slated to be discontinued.
Michael Minasi
/
KUT News
CapMetro board member Paige Ellis, who’s also a city council member representing Southwest Austin, cast the lone vote against Transit Plan 2035.
Ellis said she supports the plan’s overall goals but worries eliminating flyer routes would make it harder for her constituents to reach downtown. She pointed to other Project Connect delays, like a planned rapid route into Oak Hill that hasn’t been designed yet.
“My concerns around Southwest Austin have put me in a position where I feel like I’m being asked to vote away the service that we currently have,” Ellis said. “But I know there’s many other things about this transit plan that are bringing a lot of great reliability and service into other parts of the region.”
The gradual rollout means the changes will appear in phases through the next decade, and big adjustments to routes would still need to be approved by the CapMetro board.
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