78th Legislature Policy Orientation Texas Public Policy Foundation Conference

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78th Legislature Policy OrientationTexas Public
Policy Foundation Conference

• J. Kevin Ward
• Executive Administrator
• Texas Water Development Board
• February 4, 2003

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2002 State Water Plan
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Projected Population Growth
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Water User Groups with Needs During Drought
Conditions
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2006 Regional Water Plans- Round Two -
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2006 Regional Water Plan- Conservation
Requirements -

• Regional Water Planning Groups shall
• Include conservation practices for each user
  group that has developed a conservation plan due
  to water right permits.
• Consider conservation practices for each water
  user group with needs. If a conservation strategy
  is not adopted, the Planning Group shall document
  the reason.
• Include a conservation strategy if an interbasin
  transfer is proposed to meet a need, that would
  result in the highest practicable level of
  efficiency.

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2006 Regional Water Plan- New Environmental
Requirement -

• Quantitative reporting of . . .
• (ii) environmental factors including effects on
  environmental water needs, wildlife habitat,
  cultural resources, and effect of upstream
  development on bays, estuaries, and arms of the
  Gulf of Mexico.

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2006 Regional Water Plans - Timeline
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Texas Water Development BoardLegislative
Initiatives
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Legislative Issues

• Conservation Initiative
• Consolidate Agricultural Water Conservation
  Programs
• Develop and fund a demonstration initiative for
  agricultural irrigation conservation
• Enable linked-deposit for nonpoint source
  pollution loans

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Legislative Issues (continued)

• Educate Legislature on needs of disadvantaged
  communities throughout State
• Clean-up Rural Water Assistance Fund, Water
  Infrastructure Fund, and Colonia Self-Help
  Program
• Expand Rural Water Assistance Fund to include
  wastewater projects
• Pursue TWDB exceptional items

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TWDB - Conservation Initiative -

• Ensure conservation strategies and programs are
  implemented.
• Support water conservation in Texas through the
  creation of an Interim Water Conservation
  Advisory Council.

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Agricultural Water Conservation Program
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By 2014, 94.6 million in Financial Assistance
for Agricultural Conservation Projects
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Nonpoint Source Pollution Program Enhancements
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Issue / Solution
ISSUE The Board has not funded any nonpoint
source pollution loans to private individuals
since receiving legislative authorization in
2001. SOLUTION Establish linked-deposit to
provide additional loan outlets and allow local
banks to service loans.
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Statewide Disadvantaged Communities
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Issue / Solutions
ISSUE Inadequate water/wastewater systems exist
in 616 non-border colonias. Providing service
will cost approximately 3.77 billion.
SOLUTIONS Educate Legislative leadership on
needs of non-border colonias. Work with other
agencies to address issue.
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Rural Water Assistance Fund and Water
Infrastructure Fund Minor Revisions
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Issue / Solutions
ISSUE Board currently does not have specific
language in appropriations bill to spend money
from RWAF and WIF which limits management of
those funds. SOLUTIONS included specific
riders in Board Legislative Appropriations
Request to spend moneys deposited to these funds.
Staff will also pursue a legislative change to
move funds out of general revenue fund.
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Issue / Solution
ISSUE RWAF provides financial assistance for
water projects only. SOLUTION Staff will pursue
legislative change to enable Board to fund
wastewater projects through RWAF.
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Legislative Appropriations Request

• Exceptional Items

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State Participation

• Issue Need 4.2 million to pay debt service on
  a 50 million bond issue in FY04-05
• Current Recommendation Request 4.2 million
  assuming issuance of 25 million each year

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Clean Water State Revolving Fund FTEs

• Issue Need 4 FTEs authorized to administer a
  hardship program under the CWSRF
• Current Recommendation Request additional
  authorization of 4 FTEs no general revenue is
  needed

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EDAP

• Issue Need 20 million for FY04-05 to fund the
  currently identified viable projects
• Current Recommendation Use remaining resources
  from TWRFA and request balance in general revenue
  for FY04-05

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Special Initiatives
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TWDB - Instream Flow Studies -

• Priority studies to be completed by 2010
• MOA with the Texas Comission on Environmental
  Quality and the Texas Parks and Wildlife
  Department
• Peer Review document in preparation for National
  Academy of Sciences

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TWDB - Desalination Initiative -

• Governor Rick Perry tasked TWDB to develop a
  recommendation for a large-scale demonstration
  seawater desalination project.
• TWDB developed a process for identifying and
  screening potential demonstration desalination
  projects.
• On December 11, 2002, TWDB approved a report
  outlining recommendations to the Governor and
  Legislature for consideration during the 78th
  Texas Legislature.

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Groundwater Management Areas
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GAM Process
model scoping
technical advisory group
stakeholder advisory forums
model development
groundwater conservation districts regional water
planning groups coalitions
availability runs
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Texas Water Development Board Website

• http//www.twdb.state.tx.us