85R5098 SLB-D
 
  By: Creighton S.B. No. 1529
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the collection, analysis, and dissemination of
  information regarding the availability and quality of the
  groundwater resources in this state by the Geo-Technology Research
  Institute.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 149.004, Education Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 149.004.  DUTIES IN GENERAL.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 149, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Section 149.0045 to read as follows:
         Sec. 149.0045.  COLLECTION, ANALYSIS, AND DISSEMINATION OF
  INFORMATION REGARDING GROUNDWATER RESOURCES.  (a)  The institute
  shall use data from the Texas Water Development Board, the Railroad
  Commission of Texas, and the Bureau of Economic Geology of The
  University of Texas at Austin to develop a three-dimensional model
  of the availability and quality of the groundwater resources in
  this state. The institute shall digitize data necessary to develop
  the model, if necessary. Once developed, the institute shall run
  the model and use the model run results to:
               (1)  develop a time-based representation of water level
  and water yield declines in aquifers, including information on
  production or injection well intervals in the aquifers studied; and
               (2)  identify favorable areas, including aquifers with
  multiple zones, for aquifer storage and recovery projects and the
  estimated storage capacity of those areas.
         (b)  The institute shall make the model run results described
  by Subsection (a) available in software suitable for
  three-dimensional visualization and volumetric analysis.
         (c)  Not later than September 1, 2019, the institute shall
  develop and run a model described by Subsection (a) for the area
  included in the following counties:
               (1)  Bastrop;
               (2)  Bell;
               (3)  Burnet;
               (4)  Coryell;
               (5)  Lampasas;
               (6)  McLennan;
               (7)  Travis; and
               (8)  Williamson.
         (d)  After developing and running the model for the area
  described by Subsection (c), the institute shall develop and run
  models for areas included in other counties in decreasing order of
  importance, as determined by the institute from an analysis of
  population projections and projected municipal water needs.
         (e)  For each area for which the institute completes the
  development and running of a model, the institute shall conduct a
  workshop in the area to provide information to groundwater
  conservation districts located in the area, if applicable, on how
  to use the model and the model run results to coordinate groundwater
  management activities by those groundwater conservation districts.
         (f)  The institute shall create and maintain an online
  geospatial information application to educate the public about the
  effect of drought on groundwater quantity and quality.
         (g)  The institute shall assess trends in groundwater
  quality during a known drought period selected by the institute to
  determine how production affects groundwater quality and how those
  effects vary geospatially.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.