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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of a groundwater conservation district to |
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adopt different rules for the management of groundwater resources |
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located in different areas of the district. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 36.001(6) and (7), Water Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(6) "Aquifer" or "groundwater ["Groundwater] |
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reservoir" means a specific subsurface water-bearing reservoir |
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having ascertainable boundaries containing groundwater. |
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(7) "Subdivision of an aquifer" or "subdivision of a |
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groundwater reservoir" means a definable part of a groundwater |
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reservoir in which the groundwater supply will not be appreciably |
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affected by withdrawing water from any other part of the reservoir, |
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as indicated by known geological and hydrological conditions and |
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relationships and on foreseeable economic development at the time |
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the subdivision is designated or altered. |
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SECTION 2. Section 36.108(d), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) Not later than September 1, 2010, and every five years |
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thereafter, the districts shall consider groundwater availability |
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models and other data or information for the management area and |
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shall establish desired future conditions for the relevant aquifers |
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within the management area. [In establishing the desired future
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conditions of the aquifers under this section, the districts shall
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consider uses or conditions of an aquifer within the management
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area that differ substantially from one geographic area to
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another.] The districts may establish different desired future |
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conditions for[:
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[(1)] each aquifer, subdivision of an aquifer, or |
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geologic strata located in whole or in part within the boundaries of |
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the management area[; or
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[(2)
each geographic area overlying an aquifer in
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whole or in part or subdivision of an aquifer within the boundaries
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of the management area]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 36.116(d), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(d) For better management of the groundwater resources |
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located in a district [or if a district determines that conditions
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in or use of an aquifer differ substantially from one geographic
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area of the district to another], the district may adopt different |
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rules for[:
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[(1)] each aquifer, subdivision of an aquifer, or |
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geologic strata located in whole or in part within the boundaries of |
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the district[; or
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[(2)
each geographic area overlying an aquifer or
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subdivision of an aquifer located in whole or in part within the
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boundaries of the district]. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |