BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 675
By: Averitt
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The demand for water in Texas is projected to increase by 27 percent, from 17 million acre-feet in 2000 to 22 million acre-feet in 2060. Existing (developed and legally available) water supplies are expected to decrease from about 18 million acre-feet in 2010 to about 15 million acre-feet in 2060. As a result, Texas will need about four million acre-feet of additional water supplies by 2010 and almost nine million acre-feet by 2060 during drought conditions.
According to the Texas Water Code, Section 16.051(g), "The legislature may designate a site of unique value for the construction of a reservoir." The 2007 State Water Plan includes designating reservoir sites as a legislative policy recommendation that resulted from five years of local and regional water planning, decision making, and extensive public participation including public comment regarding the 19 reservoirs recommended for designation.
As proposed, S.B. 675 designates certain sites across the state as uniquely situated for the building of a reservoir. This will protect limited priority reservoir sites for development of surface water supplies until they are needed. The land would remain private property without placing any restrictions on the landowners' use of their property with the exception of entering into an agreement with the state or a political subdivision that would violate Texas Water Code, Section 16.051(g). This bill also designates certain river and stream segments as having unique ecological value.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. Sets forth certain legislative findings relating to water and reservoirs.
SECTION 2. DESIGNATION OF UNIQUE RESERVOIR SITES. Designates the Lower Bois d'Arc reservoir, Lake Ralph Hall reservoir, Marvin Nichols reservoir, Lake Fastrill reservoir, Tehuacana Creek reservoir, Bedias reservoir, Brushy Creek reservoir, Little River reservoir, Little River off-channel reservoir, Texana Stage II reservoir, Goldthwaite channel dam reservoir, Wheeler Branch off-channel reservoir, Cedar Ridge reservoir, Lake 07 reservoir, Lake 08 reservoir, Nueces off-channel reservoir, Ringgold reservoir, Muenster reservoir, and Brownsville Weir and reservoir, as sites having unique value for the construction of a dam and reservoir and necessary to meet water supply needs.
SECTION 3. DESIGNATION OF UNIQUE RESERVOIR SITES. Provides that the legislature, as authorized by Section 16.051(f) (prohibiting the state from financing the construction of a reservoir on a site designated as being of unique ecological value by the legislature), Water Code, designates those river or stream segment sites recommended in the 2007 state water plan as being of unique ecological value.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.