The Legislative Budget Board, in cooperation with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), has determined that:
 
The bill creates the Northern Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (District) in Tarrant County with the powers and duties of Water Code, Chapter 36 related to general law for groundwater conservation districts (GCDs). The purpose of the District is to benefit property by providing for the conservation, preservation, protection, recharging, and prevention of waste of groundwater, and to control subsidence caused by the withdrawal of groundwater under powers conferred by Article XVI, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution.

 
 1)     Population - The total 2000 Census population of Tarrant County was 1,446,219.  The total population is projected to increase to 1,956,163 by 2020.
 
2)     Location - The boundaries of the district are coextensive with the boundaries of Tarrant County.
 
3)  Comments on Powers/Duties Different from Similar Types of Districts-    Unlike general law GCDs, the bill provides that four District directors are appointed by the Tarrant County Commissioners and one District director is appointed by the Tarrant County Judge. The District directors are not required to hold an election to confirm the District’s creation. The District may not exercise the power of eminent domain and may not impose a tax or issue bonds. Bill language relating to the initial District directors will expire on September 1, 2014.
 
4)  Overlapping Services-    There are no other GCDs in Tarrant County. GCD functions do not conflict with services provided by other types of water districts or utilities.
 
5)  TCEQ's Supervision-    As with general law GCDs, the TCEQ will have general supervisory authority, including bond review authority and authority as it is related to the District’s development and implementation of a management plan. The District would not have to comply with TCEQ financial auditing requirements.
 
6)  Water Use - According to TWDB 2004 Water Use estimates, 94 percent of Tarrant County water use was for municipal purposes, with 4 percent for manufacturing.   94 percent of the total and municipal water use comes from surface water sources.  More recent studies indicate a substantial increase in groundwater use for mining.