Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

_______________ N ATURAL
/Water
ATURAL RESOURCES/Water
77 th Texas Legislature
• add water conservation, drought management measures, and the long-term protection of state
water, agricultural, and natural resources to considerations in approving a regional water plan;
• assume responsibility from the TNRCC for the designation of groundwater management areas.
Creation and Ratification of Districts
Ratifies the following groundwater conservation districts created in 1999 by the 76 th Legislature:
• Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District
• Crossroads Groundwater Conservation District
• Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
• Lone Wolf Groundwater Conservation District
• Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District
• McMullen Groundwater Conservation District
• Kimble County Groundwater Conservation District
• Red Sands Groundwater Conservation District
• Refugio Groundwater Conservation District
• Southeast Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
• Texana Groundwater Conservation District
• Tri-County Groundwater Conservation District
• Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District
• Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District
• Mid-East Texas Groundwater Conservation District
• Northeast Travis County Utility District Groundwater Conservation District
Water Infrastructure Financing
Creates the water infrastructure fund as a special account in the general revenue fund, administered by
TWDB, to provide funding for the implementation of water projects recommended through the state and
regional water planning process.
Provides that the fund is comprised of appropriations from the legislature, repayment of loans made from
the fund, interest earned by the fund, and proceeds from the sale of any political subdivisions bonds or
other obligations held in the fund and not otherwise pledged.
Creates the rural water assistance fund as a special account in the general revenue fund, administered by
TWDB, to provide low-interest loans to rural communities for water or water-related projects, including the
purchase of well fields, purchase or lease of rights to produce groundwater, and interim financing of
construction projects.
Senate Research Center 232