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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Farmers operating over the Edwards Aquifer have |
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conserved more water than any other aquifer user group in the |
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Edwards region and stand ready to make this water available to help |
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meet current and projected water needs within their local |
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communities; and |
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WHEREAS, Farmers that use the Edwards Aquifer for irrigation |
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used less than 88,000 acre-feet per year on the average over a |
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seven-year period ending in 2005, and this represents more than a 60 |
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percent savings in water use compared to the maximum historical |
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use; and |
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WHEREAS, It should be noted that 127,000 acre-feet of |
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conserved irrigation water has been permitted and, by recognizing |
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the need to conserve for current and projected water supply needs, |
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is available through water transfers from farmers to municipalities |
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and industry; and |
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WHEREAS, One acre-foot of water is capable of supporting |
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three families of four for one year, and the water that the farmers |
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conserved would support 380,000 families over the Edwards Aquifer; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, These farmers have conserved this water without |
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reducing the number of acres under irrigation or decreasing levels |
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of agribusiness production, and this level of conservation is only |
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possible through the farmers' substantial investment of time and |
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money in efficient equipment and agricultural processes; and |
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WHEREAS, According to a recent Edwards Aquifer Authority |
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survey, farmers utilize more than 535 center pivot or linear |
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irrigation systems to irrigate more than 62,000 acres of farmland |
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over the Edwards Aquifer, and when you consider that the average |
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cost of a system is $600 per acre, it is estimated that farmers have |
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invested more than $37 million to conserve water; and |
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WHEREAS, The farmers of Medina and Uvalde Counties deserve |
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the utmost commendation and praise for their water conservation |
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efforts and their respect for this treasured water resource; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby express appreciation for the efforts of the farmers of |
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Medina and Uvalde Counties in the Edwards Aquifer region for their |
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tremendous efforts in water conservation to the benefit of the |
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citizens of this region and the state; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared in honor |
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of the farmers of Medina and Uvalde Counties. |
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Expressing appreciation to the farmers of Medina and Uvalde |
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Counties in the Edwards Aquifer region for their water conservation |
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efforts. |