87R9821 BRG-F
 
  By: Morales of Maverick, Cyrier H.B. No. 4636
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the Val Verde County Groundwater
  Conservation District; providing authority to issue bonds;
  providing authority to impose fees, surcharges, and taxes.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle H, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended by adding Chapter 8872 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 8872. VAL VERDE COUNTY GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8872.0101.  DEFINITIONS. (a) Except as provided by
  Subsection (b), the definitions in Section 36.001, Water Code,
  apply to this chapter.
         (b)  In this chapter:
               (1)  "Aquifer" means that part of the Edwards-Trinity
  (Plateau) Aquifer located in Val Verde County.
               (2)  "Board" means the board of directors of the
  district.
               (3)  "City" means the City of Del Rio.
               (4)  "City council" means the city council of the city.
               (5)  "Commissioners court" means the Val Verde County
  Commissioners Court.
               (6)  "Development board" means the Texas Water
  Development Board.
               (7)  "Director" means a member of the board.
               (8)  "District" means the Val Verde County Groundwater
  Conservation District.
               (9)  "Domestic use" means the use of groundwater in the
  district by a member of a well owner's household or by household
  employees, tenants, licensees, or guests for the following
  purposes:
                     (A)  drinking, washing, or culinary activities;
                     (B)  irrigation of:
                           (i)  lawns;
                           (ii)  family gardens; or
                           (iii)  orchards, if the produce of the
  orchard is used only for household consumption;
                     (C)  filling or maintaining swimming pools,
  decorative ponds, or fountains located on the well owner's
  property; and
                     (D)  drinking water for domestic animals not
  raised, maintained, or sold for commercial purposes.
               (10)  "Existing well" means a well that is completed to
  produce groundwater in Val Verde County on or before January 1,
  2021. The term includes a well that is reworked or repaired after
  January 1, 2021, to restore the well's historic production
  capacity, provided that the reworking or repair does not enlarge
  the diameter of the well bore as the well bore existed on January 1,
  2021.
               (11)  "Political subdivision" means a governmental
  entity of this state, including a county, municipality, state
  agency, or district or authority created under Section 52, Article
  III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution. The term also
  includes a nonprofit water supply corporation created under Chapter
  67, Water Code.
         Sec. 8872.0102.  NATURE OF DISTRICT; PURPOSE. (a) The
  district is a groundwater conservation district in Val Verde County
  created under and essential to accomplish the purposes of Section
  59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, including:
               (1)  the permitting, recharge, conservation,
  protection, and prevention of the waste of groundwater in Val Verde
  County;
               (2)  the control of subsidence caused by the
  unreasonable withdrawal of groundwater;
               (3)  the regulation of transporting groundwater
  outside the boundaries of the district;
               (4)  the regulation of groundwater production and the
  implementation of drought management and conservation plans for the
  reduction of drawdown when conditions warrant action to protect
  spring flow and base flow;
               (5)  the maintenance of sufficient river flows during
  periods of drought and water shortage to protect endangered species
  and the habitats of endangered species;
               (6)  the development, with the assistance of the
  development board, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Texas
  Commission on Environmental Quality, of empirical groundwater flow
  models to inform the district's groundwater management; and
               (7)  the management of the issuance of permits by
  requiring studies and groundwater availability model analyses of
  permit applications that include the use of conservation triggers
  to mitigate the impact on spring flow, base flow, and drawdown.
         (b)  The district is created to serve a public use and
  benefit.
         (c)  All of the land and other property included within the
  boundaries of the district will benefit from the works and projects
  that are to be accomplished by the district under powers conferred
  by Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, this chapter, and
  Chapter 36, Water Code.
         Sec. 8872.0103.  CONFIRMATION ELECTION AND ADOPTION OF
  GUIDELINES REQUIRED. If the creation of the district is not
  confirmed at a confirmation election held under Section 8872.0153
  before September 1, 2026, or the development board does not adopt
  water management guidelines required under Section 8872.0312
  before September 1, 2026:
               (1)  the district is dissolved September 1, 2026,
  except that:
                     (A)  any debts incurred shall be paid;
                     (B)  any assets that remain after the payment of
  debts shall be transferred to Val Verde County and the city in
  proportion to the amount each entity has contributed to the costs of
  the confirmation election and district operations; and
                     (C)  the organization of the district shall be
  maintained until all debts are paid and remaining assets are
  transferred; and
               (2)  this chapter expires September 1, 2028.
         Sec. 8872.0104.  INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY. The boundaries
  of the district are coextensive with the boundaries of Val Verde
  County.
  SUBCHAPTER A-1. TEMPORARY PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8872.0151.  APPOINTMENT OF TEMPORARY DIRECTORS;
  VACANCIES; TERMS. (a) Not later than 60 days after the effective
  date of the Act enacting this chapter, the city council and the
  commissioners court shall appoint five temporary directors. One
  director must represent each of the management zones created under
  Section 8872.0311 and one director must represent the district at
  large. The directors must be appointed as follows:
               (1)  one director appointed jointly by the city council
  and the commissioners court to represent the Devils River
  Management Zone;
               (2)  one director appointed by the city council to
  represent the San Felipe/Sycamore Management Zone;
               (3)  one director appointed by the city council to
  represent the Amistad Management Zone;
               (4)  one director appointed by the commissioners court
  to represent the Pecos River Management Zone; and
               (5)  one director appointed by the commissioners court
  to represent the district at large.
         (b)  Not later than 30 days after the effective date of the
  Act enacting this chapter, the city council and the commissioners
  court shall each nominate at least one individual to serve as
  temporary director for the Devils River Management Zone. 
         (c)  If one entity makes a timely nomination under Subsection
  (b) and the other entity does not make a timely nomination under
  that subsection, the entity that made the timely nomination may
  appoint the temporary director for the Devils River Management
  Zone. If neither entity makes a timely nomination under Subsection
  (b), the governor shall appoint the temporary director for the
  Devils River Management Zone.
         (d)  If the city council, commissioners court, or both do not
  make a timely appointment under Subsection (a), the governor shall
  appoint the temporary director to the applicable position.
         (e)  An individual appointed to serve as a temporary director
  must be at least 18 years of age.
         (f)  An individual appointed to serve as a temporary director
  representing a management zone must own taxable property in the
  management zone.
         (g)  An individual appointed to serve as a temporary director
  representing the district at large must:
               (1)  own taxable property in Val Verde County; or
               (2)  be a resident of Val Verde County.
         (h)  If there is a vacancy on the temporary board of
  directors of the district, the remaining temporary directors shall
  appoint to fill the vacancy an individual who meets the
  representational requirements of this section.
         (i)  Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
               (1)  the date the temporary directors become initial
  directors under Section 8872.0155; or
               (2)  the date this chapter expires under Section
  8872.0103.
         Sec. 8872.0152.  ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF TEMPORARY
  DIRECTORS. (a) As soon as practicable after all the temporary
  directors have qualified under Section 36.055, Water Code, a
  majority of the temporary directors shall convene the
  organizational meeting of the district at a location within the
  district agreeable to a majority of the directors. If an agreement
  on location cannot be reached, the organizational meeting shall be
  at the Val Verde County Courthouse.
         (b)  At the organizational meeting described by Subsection
  (a), the temporary directors shall:
               (1)  elect a president as presiding officer, vice
  president, secretary, and treasurer;
               (2)  schedule the confirmation election described by
  Section 8872.0153; and
               (3)  notify the applicable groundwater management area
  of the district's creation, subject to confirmation under Section
  8872.0153 and timely adoption of water management guidelines
  required under Section 8872.0312.
         Sec. 8872.0153.  CONFIRMATION ELECTION. (a) The temporary
  board shall order an election to be held on the uniform election
  date in November following January 1, 2022, to confirm the creation
  of the district and authorize the collection of taxes.
         (b)  The ballot for the election must be printed to permit
  voting for or against the following proposition: "The creation of
  the Val Verde County Groundwater Conservation District and the
  imposition of an ad valorem tax in the district at a rate not to
  exceed three cents for each $100 of assessed valuation."
         (c)  Except as provided by this section, a confirmation
  election must be conducted as provided by Sections 36.017(b)-(i),
  Water Code, and the Election Code.
         (d)  If the district's creation is not confirmed at an
  election held under this section, the temporary directors may order
  one or more subsequent elections to be held to confirm the creation
  of the district not earlier than the first anniversary of the
  preceding confirmation election. If the district's creation is not
  confirmed at an election held under this section before September
  1, 2026, the district is dissolved in accordance with Section
  8872.0103.
         (e)  The costs of an election held under this section shall
  be paid equally by Val Verde County and the city.
         Sec. 8872.0154.  LIMITED POWERS OF DISTRICT BEFORE
  CONFIRMATION. Before confirmation of the district and the adoption
  of water management guidelines by the development board under
  Section 8872.0312, the district's powers are limited to performance
  of the duties necessary to hold an election to confirm the creation
  of the district.
         Sec. 8872.0155.  INITIAL DIRECTORS. (a) If the creation of
  the district is confirmed at an election held under Section
  8872.0153, the temporary directors become the initial directors and
  serve until successor directors are appointed under Section
  8872.0202.
         (b)  The initial directors shall provide notice to the
  members of the groundwater management area in which the district is
  located that the creation of the district is confirmed.
         Sec. 8872.0156.  EXPIRATION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
  expires September 1, 2028.
  SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
         Sec. 8872.0201.  COMPOSITION OF BOARD. The district is
  governed by a board of five directors.
         Sec. 8872.0202.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; TERMS;
  QUALIFICATIONS.  (a)  Directors serve staggered four-year terms,
  with two or three terms expiring December 1 of every other year.  A
  director may serve consecutive terms.
         (b)  Directors are elected as follows:
               (1)  one director is elected from each of the four
  management zones created under Section 8872.0311 by voters of the
  applicable management zone; and
               (2)  one director is elected by the voters of the
  district at large.
         (c)  To be elected as a director, an individual must be at
  least 18 years of age.
         (d)  To be elected as a director from a management zone, an
  individual must own taxable property in the management zone.
         (e)  To be elected as a director from the district at large,
  an individual must:
               (1)  own taxable property in Val Verde County; or
               (2)  be a resident of Val Verde County.
         (f)  An election to elect directors must be held on the
  uniform election date in November of even-numbered years.
         Sec. 8872.0203.  VACANCIES. (a) If there is a vacancy on
  the board, a majority of the board shall appoint an individual to
  fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of the vacant
  director place. The individual appointed to fill the vacancy must
  meet the qualifications under Section 8872.0202 for the vacant
  place.
         (b)  If the board has not filled a vacancy before the 90th day
  after the date of the vacancy, the county judge of Val Verde County
  and the mayor of the city jointly shall appoint an individual who
  meets the qualifications under Section 8872.0202 for the vacant
  place to serve as director for the remainder of the term being
  filled.
         Sec. 8872.0204.  COMPENSATION. (a) A director is not
  entitled to receive compensation for performing the duties of a
  director.
         (b)  The board may authorize a director to receive
  reimbursement for the director's reasonable and actual expenses
  incurred while engaging in activities inside or outside the
  district on behalf of the board.
         Sec. 8872.0205.  BOARD OFFICERS. (a) At the first meeting
  of the board in each calendar year, the board shall elect directors
  to serve as the president, vice president, secretary, and
  treasurer.
         (b)  The president shall serve as the presiding officer of
  the board.
         (c)  The treasurer shall serve as the financial officer of
  the district.
  SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
         Sec. 8872.0301.  GENERAL POWERS. Except as otherwise
  provided by this chapter, the district has all of the rights,
  powers, privileges, functions, and duties provided by the general
  law of this state applicable to groundwater conservation districts
  created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution,
  including Chapter 36, Water Code.
         Sec. 8872.0302.  LIMITATION ON RULEMAKING POWER NOT
  APPLICABLE. Section 36.121, Water Code, does not apply to the
  district.
         Sec. 8872.0303.  PERMITS: RULES. (a) The district shall
  adopt rules to:
               (1)  require a person to obtain a permit from the
  district to drill and produce groundwater from a well, including an
  existing well, unless the well is exclusively for agricultural or
  domestic use or otherwise exempt from permitting under this chapter
  or Chapter 36, Water Code;
               (2)  regulate the terms of a transfer of groundwater
  out of the district;
               (3)  regulate the spacing of wells drilled after
  September 1, 2021, to prevent unreasonable adverse interference
  with other wells;
               (4)  provide for the uniform and nondiscriminatory
  reduction or curtailment of the production of groundwater by all
  permit holders in the district, if necessary, to protect spring
  flow and base flow and reduce aquifer drawdown;
               (5)  limit groundwater production:
                     (A)  by the spacing of wells;
                     (B)  by basing production on acreage or tract
  size; or
                     (C)  for a public water supplier, by basing
  production on the service area of the supplier;
               (6)  provide for permit provisions that allow the
  reduction or curtailment of the production of groundwater, if
  necessary, to protect spring flow and base flow and reduce aquifer
  drawdown;
               (7)  allow for the injection of a nontoxic tracer dye as
  part of a hydrological study; and
               (8)  require the owner of a well that is not exempt from
  the district requirement to obtain a permit under this chapter or
  Chapter 36, Water Code, to report to the district in January of each
  year the annual production of groundwater from the well based on
  metered production.
         (b)  The terms of a permit that authorizes the production of
  groundwater for transfer out of the district for beneficial use
  must be consistent with applicable law, including Section 36.122,
  Water Code, and may not be more restrictive than the terms of a
  permit authorizing the production of groundwater for beneficial use
  inside the district.
         (c)  The district may establish permit conditions and
  limitations as provided by Section 36.122, Water Code.
         (d)  The district may not require a permit or a permit
  amendment for the maintenance or repair of a well that is not exempt
  from permitting under this chapter or Chapter 36, Water Code, if the
  maintenance or repair does not make the well capable of producing an
  amount of groundwater that is greater than the production amounts
  provided by the well's permit.
         Sec. 8872.0304.  PERMITS: CITY. The district shall grant to
  the city permits in the city's name that authorize the city to pump
  from all wells operated or controlled by the city a cumulative
  volume of groundwater of 18,400 acre-feet per year.
         Sec. 8872.0305.  PERMITS: RETAIL PUBLIC UTILITY. (a) In
  this section, "retail public utility" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 13.002, Water Code.
         (b)  The district shall grant a permit to a retail public
  utility in the district or to a political subdivision other than the
  city that is providing water or sewer service on or before the
  effective date of the Act enacting this chapter.  The permit must
  authorize the production of a cumulative volume of groundwater from
  the wells owned by the entity in an amount equal to the amount of
  groundwater required to meet the entity's current and projected
  needs as determined under Section 13.250, Water Code.
         (c)  Unless the district has authorized otherwise in
  writing, a permitted entity may not resell groundwater produced
  under the permit to any person for use or resale outside the
  entity's service area, including the area covered by a certificate
  of convenience and necessity, and must put the produced water to
  beneficial use in the entity's service area.
         Sec. 8872.0306.  PERMITS: COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND
  TRANSPORT. (a) The district shall require a person to install a
  meter and obtain a permit from the district for commercial use,
  industrial use, or transport outside the district.
         (b)  The district shall grant a permit for commercial or
  industrial use that authorizes a person to drill one or more wells
  not to exceed 12 inches in diameter on land owned or controlled by
  the person through a lease or other legal right.
         (c)  The district shall grant a permit for the production of
  groundwater from an existing well that is beneficially used for
  commercial or industrial purposes outside the limits or the
  extraterritorial jurisdiction of the city.
         Sec. 8872.0307.  PERMIT RENEWAL. (a) Except as provided by
  Subsection (b), the district without a hearing shall renew or
  approve an application to renew an operating permit before the date
  on which the permit expires, provided that:
               (1)  the application, if required by the district, is
  submitted in a timely manner and accompanied by any required fees in
  accordance with district rules; and
               (2)  the permit holder is not requesting a change
  related to the renewal that would require a permit amendment under
  district rules.
         (b)  The district is not required to renew a permit under
  this section if the applicant:
               (1)  is delinquent in paying a fee required by the
  district;
               (2)  is subject to a pending enforcement action for a
  substantive violation of a district permit, order, or rule that has
  not been settled by agreement with the district or a final
  adjudication; or
               (3)  has not paid a civil penalty or has otherwise
  failed to comply with an order resulting from a final adjudication
  of a violation of a district permit, order, or rule.
         (c)  If the district is not required to renew a permit under
  Subsection (b)(2), the permit remains in effect until the final
  settlement or adjudication on the matter of the substantive
  violation.
         Sec. 8872.0308.  AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC USE. (a)  The
  district may not require a person to install a meter or obtain a
  permit from the district for a well that produces groundwater only
  for domestic or agricultural use in the district's territory.
         (b)  The district may not restrict the production of a well
  that produces groundwater only for domestic or agricultural use.
         (c)  An owner of a well that produces groundwater for
  domestic or agricultural use shall register the well with the
  district.
         (d)  Subsection (a) does not affect the applicability in the
  district of Section 36.113(a), Water Code.
         Sec. 8872.0309.  WELL REGISTRATION. A permit issued under
  this chapter authorizing the production of groundwater from the
  aquifer must also authorize the drilling and operation of a well or
  wells in the aquifer, and must require the permit holder to:
               (1)  register each well with the district at no cost;
  and
               (2)  file a copy of the well driller's log with the
  district on completion of each well.
         Sec. 8872.0310.  PROPERTY RIGHTS. (a) A permit issued by
  the district for the drilling, operation, or production of a well is
  appurtenant to the real property on which the well is located.
  Ownership of the groundwater, or the right to use and produce the
  groundwater authorized by the permit, may be sold, leased,
  assigned, or otherwise transferred by the owner, provided that the
  rights granted by the permit to drill a well and to produce
  groundwater are exercised on the real property described in the
  permit based on the actual production authorized by the permit.
         (b)  Except as provided by this chapter, groundwater
  produced as authorized by a permit, once captured at the wellhead,
  may be beneficially used for any lawful purpose at any location,
  whether on or off the real property to which the permit is attached,
  provided that any beneficial use outside the boundaries of the
  district is authorized by a transport permit issued by the
  district.
         Sec. 8872.0311.  MANAGEMENT ZONES. (a)  The district is
  divided into four management zones as follows:
               (1)  the San Felipe/Sycamore Management Zone, composed
  of the territory described by Section 2(a) of the Act enacting this
  chapter;
               (2)  the Devils River Management Zone, composed of the
  territory described by Section 2(b) of the Act enacting this
  chapter;
               (3)  the Pecos River Management Zone, composed of the
  territory described by Section 2(c) of the Act enacting this
  chapter; and
               (4)  the Amistad Management Zone, composed of the
  territory described by Section 2(d) of the Act enacting this
  chapter.
         (b)  The boundaries and field notes contained in Section 2 of
  the Act enacting this chapter form a closure. A mistake made in the
  field notes or in copying the field notes in the legislative process
  does not affect the management zone's:
               (1)  organization, existence, or validity; or
               (2)  legality or operation.
         (c)  The district may adopt different rules to regulate
  production from the management zones based on the acreage, tract
  size, or service area of the public water supplier.
         (d)  The district must regulate the production of
  groundwater in a management zone on a proportional, uniform, and
  nondiscriminatory basis, except as provided by Section
  8872.0303(a)(6).
         Sec. 8872.0312.  WATER MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES. The
  development board shall adopt guidelines for the development of
  standards, best management practices, and management objectives
  for surface water and groundwater resources in the district,
  including a plan for the monitoring of, collection of data on, and
  study of the groundwater conditions in the district and the
  relationship between groundwater conditions and flows in the Pecos
  River, the Devils River, and San Felipe Springs.
         Sec. 8872.0313.  REGIONAL GROUNDWATER PLANNING AND
  SUSTAINABILITY. (a) The district shall obtain or develop
  groundwater models for use in planning and management of the
  aquifer and to assist the district in the district's role as a
  member of the groundwater management area in which the district is
  located.
         (b)  The district, to the extent possible, shall diligently
  pursue the long-term health and sustainability of the aquifer.
         Sec. 8872.0314.  REDUCTION AND CURTAILMENT. (a) The board
  by rule may provide for the reduction and curtailment of the
  production of groundwater from a well permitted under this chapter
  to protect spring flow and base flow and reduce drawdown in
  accordance with Sections 8872.0303(a)(4) and (5).
         (b)  To implement a reduction or curtailment, the district
  may, to the extent not otherwise authorized by Section 36.101(a),
  Water Code, limit groundwater production as provided by district
  rules.
         (c)  Rules adopted by the board under Sections
  8872.0303(a)(4) and (5) requiring a reduction or curtailment of the
  production of groundwater must be applied on a proportional,
  uniform, and nondiscriminatory basis to all permitted production,
  unless the condition requiring reduction or curtailment is limited
  to a management zone created under Section 8872.0311.
         (d)  This section does not apply to a permit provision
  imposed under Section 8872.0303(a)(6).
         Sec. 8872.0315.  RIGHT TO ENTER LAND. Section 36.123, Water
  Code, which authorizes a district's employees or agents to go on and
  inspect the property of a landowner, applies to the district
  provided that:
               (1)  access is subject to written notice to the
  landowner; and
               (2)  the district's employees and agents are prohibited
  from carrying firearms on the landowner's property.
         Sec. 8872.0316.  WATER CONSERVATION INITIATIVE. The
  district may create a water conservation initiative as provided by
  Section 11.32, Tax Code.
         Sec. 8872.0317.  PROHIBITION ON DISTRICT PURCHASE, SALE,
  TRANSPORT, OR DISTRIBUTION OF WATER. The district may not
  purchase, sell, transport, or distribute surface water or
  groundwater for any purpose.
         Sec. 8872.0318.  NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
  not exercise the power of eminent domain.
  SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8872.0401.  LIMITATION ON TAXES. The district may not
  impose ad valorem taxes at a rate that exceeds three cents on each
  $100 valuation of taxable property in the district.
         Sec. 8872.0402.  APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN TAX PROVISIONS.
  (a) Sections 26.04, 26.05, 26.06, and 26.07, Tax Code, do not apply
  to a tax imposed by the district.
         (b)  Section 49.236, Water Code, applies to the district.
         Sec. 8872.0403. FEES. (a) The board by rule may impose
  uniform, reasonable, equitable, and nondiscriminatory annual
  production fees on the amount of permitted water actually produced
  from each well.
         (b)  A production fee must be consistent with Section 36.205,
  Water Code, and may be based on:
               (1)  the size of column pipe used by the well; or
               (2)  the amount of water actually withdrawn from the
  well, or the amount authorized or anticipated to be withdrawn.
         (c)  The district may assess a uniform and nondiscriminatory
  export fee consistent with Section 36.122, Water Code, on
  groundwater that is produced from a well inside the district and
  transferred outside the district.
         (d)  The district by rule or resolution may set fees relating
  to administrative acts of the district, including filing
  applications, reviewing and processing permits, conducting permit
  hearings, providing public notice, and paying costs of legal fees,
  expert fees, and hearing facility rental fees. The district may not
  assess a fee in an amount greater than $250 for processing permits.
         SECTION 2.  (a) The San Felipe/Sycamore Management Zone
  includes all the territory contained in the following area:
         BEGINNING: At the point at which the South right-of-way of
  U.S. Route 377 intersects with the Eastern boundary of Val Verde
  County;
         THENCE: Southwesterly following the South right-of-way of
  U.S. Route 377 to a point at its convergence with U.S. Route 277;
         THENCE: South following the East right-of-way of U.S. Route
  277 to a point at the intersection of U.S. Route 277 and Texas State
  Highway Loop 79;
         THENCE: West following the North right-of-way of Texas State
  Highway Loop 79 to a point at the intersection of Texas State
  Highway Loop 79 and U.S. Route 90;
         THENCE: Northwest following the North right-of-way of U.S
  Route 90 to a point at the intersection of U.S. Route 90 and Texas
  Highway 349;
         THENCE: Southwesterly following the North right-of-way of
  Texas Highway 349 to the Southwestern boundary of Val Verde County;
         THENCE: Southeasterly to the Southeastern boundary of Val
  Verde County, and then Northward following the East boundary of Val
  Verde County to the POINT OF BEGINNING.
         (b)  The Devils River Management Zone includes all the
  territory contained in the following area:
         BEGINNING: At the point at which the South right-of-way of
  U.S. Route 377 intersects with the East boundary of Val Verde
  County;
         THENCE: Southwesterly following the South right-of-way of
  U.S. Route 377 to a point at its convergence with U.S. Route 277;
         THENCE: North following the East right-of-way of U.S. Highway
  277 to a point that is perpendicular to the North right-of-way of
  Mier Ranch Road;
         THENCE: West to a point at the intersection of the North
  right-of-way of Mier Ranch Road and the West right-of-way of U.S.
  Highway 277;
         THENCE: West following the North right-of-way of Mier Ranch
  Road to a point at approximately -100.85623 longitude and 29.73765
  latitude;
         THENCE: In a Southwesterly direction about 1,200 feet to a
  point at approximately -100.859523 longitude and 29.737063
  latitude, said point being the approximate headwaters of Big Satan
  Creek;
         THENCE: Southwesterly following the centerline of Big Satan
  Creek along its meanders in the direction of stream flow to a point
  at the confluence of Big Satan Creek and the Devil's River;
         THENCE: East to a point on the centerline of the Devil's Rive
  at approximately -100.949873 longitude and 29.663459 latitude;
         THENCE: West and Northwesterly following the centerline of
  the Devil's River upstream along its meanders to a point at
  approximately -100.019808 longitude and 29.730672 latitude, said
  point being the confluence of the Devil's River and Dead Man's
  Creek;
         THENCE: Northwest following the centerline of Dead Man's
  Creek along its meanders upstream to the point where Dead Man's
  Creek intersects the Eastern right-of-way of County Road 163;
         THENCE: Southwest following the East right-of-way of County
  Road 163 to the intersection of County Road 163 and the North
  right-of-way of U.S. Route 90;
         THENCE: Westerly following the North right-of-way of U.S.
  Route 90 in a to the intersection of U.S. Route 90 and the East
  right-of-way of County Road 1024;
         THENCE: Northwest following the East right-of-way of County
  Road 1024 to the intersection of County Road 1024 and the East
  right-of-way of Texas Farm to Market 2083;
         THENCE: North following the East right-of-way of Texas Farm
  to Market 2083 to the North boundary of Val Verde County;
         THENCE: East following the North boundary of Val Verde
  County, and then South following the East boundary of Val Verde
  County to the South right-of-way of U.S. Route 377, the POINT OF
  BEGINNING.
         (c)  The Pecos River Management Zone includes all the
  territory contained in the following area:
         BEGINNING: At the point where the North right-of way of U.S.
  Route 90 intersects the West boundary of Val Verde County;
         THENCE: East following the North right-of-way of U.S. Route
  90 to a point at the intersection of U.S Route 90 and the East
  right-of-way of County Road 1024;
         THENCE: North following the East right-of-way of County Road
  1024, being a common boundary with the Western boundary of the
  Devil's River Management Zone;
         THENCE: North following the East right-of-way of County Road
  1024 to a point at the intersection of County Road 1024 and the East
  right-of-way of Texas Farm to Market 2083;
         THENCE: North following the East right-of-way of Texas Farm
  to Market 2083 to the North boundary of Val Verde County;
         THENCE: West following the North boundary of Val Verde
  County, and then South following the West boundary of Val Verde
  County to the intersection of the West boundary of Val Verde County
  and the North right-of-way of U.S. Route 90, the POINT OF BEGINNING.
         (d)  The Amistad Management Zone includes all the territory
  contained in the following area:
         BEGINNING: At the point where the North right-of way of U.S.
  Route 90 intersects the West boundary of Val Verde County;
         THENCE: South following the West boundary of Val Verde County
  to a point at the Southwest Corner of Val Verde County, being a
  common boundary with the United States of America;
         THENCE: East and Southeasterly following the South boundary
  of Val Verde County to a point at the intersection of the North
  right-of-way of Texas Highway 349;
         THENCE: East following the North right-of-way of Texas
  Highway 349 to a point at the intersection with the North
  right-of-way of U.S. Route 90;
         THENCE: Southeast following the North right-of-way of U.S.
  Route 90 to a point at the intersection of the North right-of-way of
  U.S. Route 90 and the North right-of-way of Texas State Highway Loop
  79;
         THENCE: East following the North right-of-way of Texas State
  Highway Loop 79 to a point at the intersection with the East
  right-of-way of U.S. Highway 277;
         THENCE: North following the East right-of-way of U.S. Highway
  277 to a point that is perpendicular to the North right-of-way of
  Mier Ranch Road;
         THENCE: West to a point at the intersection of the North
  right-of-way of Mier Ranch Road and the West right-of-way of U.S.
  Highway 277;
         THENCE: West following the North right-of-way of Mier Ranch
  Road to a point at approximately -100.85623 longitude and 29.73765
  latitude;
         THENCE: Southwesterly about 1,200 feet to a point at
  approximately -100.859523 longitude and 29.737063 latitude, said
  point being the headwaters of Big Satan Creek;
         THENCE: Southwest following the centerline of Big Satan Creek
  along its meanders in the direction of stream flow to a point at the
  confluence of Big Satan Creek and the Devil's River;
         THENCE: East to a point on the centerline of the Devil's River
  at approximately -100.949873 longitude and 29.663459 latitude;
         THENCE: Northwest following the centerline of the Devil's
  River along its meanders upstream to a point at approximately
  -100.019808 longitude and 29.730672 latitude, said point being the
  confluence of the Devil's River and Dead Man's Creek;
         THENCE: Northwesterly following the centerline of Dead Man's
  Creek along its meanders upstream to the point where Dead Man's
  Creek intersects the Eastern right-of-way of County Road 163;
         THENCE: Southeast following the Eastern right-of-way of
  County Road 163 to the point at the intersection of County Road 163
  and the North right-of-way of U.S. Route 90;
         THENCE: West and Northwesterly following the North
  right-of-way of U.S. Route 90 to the West boundary of Val Verde
  County, the POINT OF BEGINNING.
         SECTION 3.  At the first meeting of the board of directors of
  the Val Verde County Groundwater Conservation District that follows
  the election held under Section 8872.0153, Special District Local
  Laws Code, as added by this Act, the directors shall draw lots to
  determine which three directors serve a term expiring December 1 of
  the year two years after the date of the election and which two
  directors serve a term expiring December 1 of the year four years
  after the date of the election.
         SECTION 4.  (a) The legal notice of the intention to
  introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this
  Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
  copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
  officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
  under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
  Government Code.
         (b)  The governor, one of the required recipients, has
  submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality.
         (c)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
  its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
  representatives within the required time.
         (d)  All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
  state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
  to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled
  and accomplished.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.