Texas county, towns to share in drought relief

Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas county and three towns ravaged by wildfires and drought will share $1.4 million in federal recovery funds.

Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples on Wednesday announced the assistance for the towns of Florence, Llano, Seymour and for Bastrop County. Each will get a $350,000 grant.

Bastrop County will use the money to remove debris, replenish vegetation and improve drainage. Wildfires claimed about 95 percent of the trees at Bastrop State Park.

Florence plans to use the funds to improve the city's drinking water supplies, including four chlorination stations.

Llano will use its grant to develop three shallow wells to pump water to an upstream reservoir. Seymour officials plan to use the money to rework idle wells that have struggled with depleted groundwater levels.