HBA-SEP H.C.R. 270 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 270
By: Chisum
Natural Resources
5/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 75th Legislature passed legislation requiring regional water planning
groups throughout the state to prepare regional water plans addressing each
region's water needs for the next fifty years, with initial submissions due
in January 2001 and subsequent submissions to occur every five years
thereafter.  The Panhandle Regional Water Planning Group has proposed the
Sweetwater Creek Reservoir (reservoir), located in Wheeler County, as a
site that could potentially serve as a source of water for the Panhandle
region.  The reservoir may require further study to determine if and how
that potential can be achieved within the parameters of the Red River
Compact.  House Concurrent Resolution 270 directs the Panhandle Regional
Water Planning Group to examine the reservoir site as a potential water
management strategy to supply water demands in the region, and to determine
the appropriateness of including such reservoir in its regional water plan. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Concurrent Resolution 270 directs the Panhandle Regional Water
Planning Group (group)  to examine the Sweetwater Creek Reservoir
(reservoir) site in Wheeler County as a potential water management strategy
to supply water demands in the region, and to determine the appropriateness
of including such reservoir in its regional water plan to be submitted to
the Texas Water Development Board (board) in January 2006.  H.C.R. 270
encourages the board, through its funding of the regional water planning
process, to make money available to enable the group to study the reservoir
as a potential water management strategy.