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 Lakeway Regional Medical Center Defined Area (defined area) in Travis County Water Control and Improvement District No. 17 (District).   

1)  Population – The very specific description of the proposed boundaries is in terminology which does not match Census geography, thus population can be estimated only for an area somewhat larger than the district will actually cover.  Population in this larger area, of which this district will only be a part, could be as high as 4,508 based on the 2000 Census.

Population growth in that specific area since the 2000 census is unknown; however a portion of the proposed district is within the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), and Travis County Water Control and Improvement District (WCID) No 17.  In the 2011 Region K Water Plan, the Travis County WCID No 17 to the northeast and southwest is projected to grow from 11,023 in 2000 to 26,130 in 2010 and 32,500 in 2020.  Travis County is projected to grow from 812,280 in 2000 to 1,003,253 in 2010 and 1,201,256 in 2020.

2)  Location – The proposed district’s initial boundaries are described in a combination of Original Texas Land Surveys and metes and bounds.  Due to the complexity of these boundaries for the various sub-areas of the district, staff is able to determine only the general location of the proposed district.

The district’s area is approximately 0.08 square miles, and will be located in western Travis County, within and to the southeast of the City of Lakeway and north of state highway 71 and south of the Colorado River.  The district overlaps portions of CCNs held by LCRA, and Travis County WCID No 17.

3)  Comments on Powers/Duties Different from Similar Types of Districts - The bill states that the Section 51.518-51.524 and 51.526-51.529 of the Water Code do not apply.  Further, the bill deletes the requirement for a conformation election and deletes the requirement for the District as a whole to have a bond election to authorize bonds for the defined area.  Also, the bill gives the defined area road powers; however, current statutes do not allow WCIDs to have road powers.

4)  Overlapping Services - The stated boundaries for the District form an acceptable closure.  However, an area map containing at least two reference points (major road names, road intersections) and the proposed district’s geographic location mapped within Travis County is needed to complete overlapping services check.     

The District may overlap the Lower Colorado River Authority (CCN No. 11670), Travis County WCID 17 (CCN Nos. 12010 & 20493), and LCRA. 

5)  TCEQ Supervision - As with general law districts, the TCEQ will have general supervisory authority, including bond review authority and review of financial reports.

6)  Water Use - HB 2942 specifies that “The defined area is created to accomplish the purposes of: a water control and improvement district as provided by general law and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution; and Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution…the district may design, acquire, construct, finance, issue bonds for, improve, operate, maintain, and convey to this state, a county, or a municipality for operation…roads, …including storm drainage…” Therefore, it appears as though Lakeway Regional Medical Center Defined Area would serve to accomplish the conservation and development of natural resources, including the control, storing, preservation and distribution of storm and flood waters, the waters of rivers and streams, for irrigation, power and all other useful purposes, among other duties specified in Section 59, Article XVI of the Texas Constitution. 

Within Travis County, 7.7 percent of the total water use was groundwater (Trinity, Edwards BFZ, and other aquifers) in 2008.  Ninety-three percent of the groundwater pumping was for municipal use.  The water source that the district might pursue is unknown.