Divert water from industry & cities for environmental purposes?

Wildlife advocates are trying to solve a water problem that has been killing whooping cranes in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. They’ve tried to take a page from cattlemen to use drinking water wells, but have hit brackish water that the cranes can’t drink.  One successful solar powered well has been drilled.

Crane supports received $750,000 in grant money from the Texas Water Development Board to help their cause. An alternative source of funding is a pending lawsuit under the Endangerd Species Act.

The suit is pending a rehearing at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Crane supporters claim the state took too much water out of the San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers, which resulted in the death of whooping cranes. [Victoria Advocate]