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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to water management planning by the Lower Colorado River |
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Authority. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 8503, Special District Local Laws Code, |
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is amended by adding Sections 8503.032 and 8503.033 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 8503.032. WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN. (a) In this section |
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and Section 8503.033: |
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(1) "Firm water" means a supply of water for customers |
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of the authority that must be supplied 100 percent of the time |
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without shortage through a repeat of the drought of record. |
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(2) "Interruptible water" means a supply of water for |
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customers of the authority that does not have to be met 100 percent |
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of the time and must be interrupted or curtailed as provided by |
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Subsections (b) and (c). |
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(b) The authority shall interrupt or curtail the supply of |
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water under the authority's certificates of adjudication 14-5478 |
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and 14-5482, as amended, pursuant to commitments that are |
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specifically subject to interruption or curtailment, to the extent |
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necessary to allow the authority to satisfy all demands for water |
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under such permits pursuant to all firm, uninterruptible |
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commitments. |
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(c) Supply of interruptible water must be cut off entirely |
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before the authority curtails supplies of firm water or requests |
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that firm water customers institute voluntary drought contingency |
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measures. |
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(d) The authority's water management plan must: |
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(1) ensure that firm water supplies are available to |
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meet all existing and projected demands of firm water customers to |
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the extent provided by: |
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(A) the April 20, 1988, Final Judgment and Decree |
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adjudicating water rights in the Lower Colorado River Basin ("1988 |
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Final Judgment and Decree"); |
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(B) any orders issued by the commission or |
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predecessor agencies subsequent to the 1988 Final Judgment and |
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Decree approving the authority's water management plan for the |
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operation of Lakes Travis and Buchanan; |
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(C) water rights adjudicated by the 1988 Final |
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Judgment and Decree, and issued by the commission, as amended; and |
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(D) the provisions of the Water Code, rules of |
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the commission, or other law; and |
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(2) cease all water releases of interruptible water |
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when the combined storage of Lakes Travis and Buchanan is at or |
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below 850,000 acre-feet. |
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Sec. 8503.033. FIRM WATER PROTECTION. Section 8503.032 |
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does not, and the legislature does not intend to, diminish, |
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decrease, limit, impair, or modify, in any manner that is |
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detrimental to firm water customers, the authority's commitments or |
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contractual obligations to firm water customers or firm water |
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customers' rights, entitlements, protections, prioritization, or |
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status as either are set forth in: |
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(1) the April 20, 1988, Final Judgment and Decree |
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adjudicating water rights in the Lower Colorado River Basin ("1988 |
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Final Judgment and Decree"); |
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(2) any orders issued by the commission or predecessor |
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agencies subsequent to the 1988 Final Judgment and Decree approving |
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the authority's water management plan for operation of Lakes Travis |
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and Buchanan; |
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(3) any water management plan of the authority |
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approved by the commission; |
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(4) any permits or certificates of adjudication or |
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amendments of these issued by the commission subsequent to the 1988 |
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Final Judgment and Decree; |
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(5) any existing water supply agreements or other |
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agreements between the authority and firm water customers; |
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(6) any rules, policies, or similar guidance documents |
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of the authority; |
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(7) any rules, policies, or similar guidance documents |
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of the commission; |
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(8) the Water Code, this code, or any other law; or |
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(9) any other document. |
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SECTION 2. The Lower Colorado River Authority shall adopt |
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or amend its rules and its water management plan as required to |
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implement Sections 8503.032 and 8503.033, Special District Local |
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Laws Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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