LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 8, 2013

TO:	Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1631 by Fraser (Relating to water management planning by the Lower Colorado River Authority.), As Introduced

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Special District Local Laws Code to adds definitions of firm and interruptible water.  The bill would require the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to curtail interruptible water demands under certain conditions, as described.
 
The bill would set out requirements for LCRA's water management plan, as described.  The bill would require LCRA to cease all releases of interruptible water when the combined storage of Lakes Buchanan and Travis is at or below 850,000 acre-feet. The LCRA would be required to adopt or amend its rules and its water management plan as required to implement bill provisions.
 
The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013.

Local Government Impact

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) indicates bill provisions reducing interruptible water releases would equate to less hydro-generation revenues of approximately $1.5 million per year at a cutoff of 850,000 acre feet.  The LCRA indicates additional revenue losses would occur from not delivering interruptible water to Lakeside and Gulf Coast entities.  

Source Agencies:

580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 592 Soil and Water Conservation Board

LBB Staff:

UP, SZ, ZS, TB