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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the collection, analysis, and dissemination of |
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information regarding the availability and quality of the |
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groundwater resources in this state by the Geo-Technology Research |
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Institute. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 149.004, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 149.004. DUTIES IN GENERAL. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 149, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 149.0045 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 149.0045. COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND DISSEMINATION OF |
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INFORMATION REGARDING GROUNDWATER RESOURCES. (a) The institute |
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shall use data from the Texas Water Development Board, the Railroad |
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Commission of Texas, and the Bureau of Economic Geology of The |
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University of Texas at Austin to develop a three-dimensional model |
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of the availability and quality of the groundwater resources in |
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this state. The institute shall digitize data necessary to develop |
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the model, if necessary. Once developed, the institute shall run |
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the model and use the model run results to: |
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(1) develop a time-based representation of water level |
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and water yield declines in aquifers, including information on |
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production or injection well intervals in the aquifers studied; and |
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(2) identify favorable areas, including aquifers with |
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multiple zones, for aquifer storage and recovery projects and the |
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estimated storage capacity of those areas. |
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(b) The institute shall make the model run results described |
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by Subsection (a) available in software suitable for |
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three-dimensional visualization and volumetric analysis. |
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(c) Not later than September 1, 2019, the institute shall |
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develop and run a model described by Subsection (a) for the area |
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included in the following counties: |
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(1) Bastrop; |
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(2) Bell; |
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(3) Burnet; |
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(4) Coryell; |
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(5) Lampasas; |
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(6) McLennan; |
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(7) Travis; and |
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(8) Williamson. |
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(d) After developing and running the model for the area |
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described by Subsection (c), the institute shall develop and run |
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models for areas included in other counties in decreasing order of |
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importance, as determined by the institute from an analysis of |
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population projections and projected municipal water needs. |
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(e) For each area for which the institute completes the |
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development and running of a model, the institute shall conduct a |
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workshop in the area to provide information to groundwater |
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conservation districts located in the area, if applicable, on how |
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to use the model and the model run results to coordinate groundwater |
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management activities by those groundwater conservation districts. |
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(f) The institute shall create and maintain an online |
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geospatial information application to educate the public about the |
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effect of drought on groundwater quantity and quality. |
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(g) The institute shall assess trends in groundwater |
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quality during a known drought period selected by the institute to |
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determine how production affects groundwater quality and how those |
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effects vary geospatially. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |