MINUTES Joint Interim Committee on Water Resources Development and Management Wednesday, September 17, 1997 2:00 pm Capitol Extension, Room E1.028 ***** Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.11, a public hearing of the Joint Interim Committee on Water Resources Development and Management was held on Wednesday, September 17, 1997 in the Capitol Extension, Room E1.028, at Austin, Texas. ***** MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: Senator J.E. Brown Senator Ken Armbrister Representative Ron Lewis Senator Eddie Lucio Senator Carlos Truan Representative David Counts Senator Jeff Wentworth Representative Robert Cook Representative Robert Puente Representative Gary Walker ***** The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:10 pm. The following business was transacted. Representative Lewis moved the adoption of the Committee Rules. There being no objection, it was so ordered. Senator Brown made opening remarks. Representative Lewis made opening remarks, including requesting that all River Authorities have a representative at each and every hearing of the committee. Senator Wentworth, Representative Walker, Representative Puente and Representative Cook all made opening remarks. Dan Pearson, Executive Director of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) made a presentation on the agency's implementation of Senate Bill 1, including the following: The TNRCC, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) signed a Memorandum of Agreement, which addresses the following areas: water planning process; data collection and dissemination master plan; state water bank; and groundwater. The TNRCC has four major rulemaking projects underway as part of Senate Bill 1 implementation: water rights management tools; field citations; development of business plan by new water systems; and water and sewer rate flexibility. Work is underway to develop water availability modeling for each of the state's 22 river basins. Craig Pedersen, Executive Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board made a presentation on the agency's implementation of Senate Bill 1, including the following: The TWDB anticipates having the state's front end decisions addressed by February, 1998 - 6 months ahead of the schedule set by Senate Bill 1. Discussion of the Memorandum of Agreement between the three agencies. The TWDB is working in a cooperative manner with local and regional entities regarding the development of rules and guidelines. Planning on having draft regions and guidelines out by October 1st. Working on draft guidelines for: guidance principles for State Water Plan; establishing criteria for eligibility for financial assistance from the Research and Planning Fund; procedures for adoption of plans by Regional Planning Groups; and guidelines for format of information. Work is ongoing with data collection and dissemination, as well as drought monitoring and response. TWDB will be the lead on monitoring and drought response in working with the Division of Emergency Management. Presentation on the Safe Drinking Water Program, Disadvantaged Communities Program; and Investor Owned Communities Program. Larry McKinney with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department gave a presentation on that agency's implementation efforts for Senate Bill 1, highlighting the Memorandum of Agreement. After brief closing remarks, Representative Lewis moved that the committee stand in recess. _______________________________ _________________________________ Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown Representative Ron Lewis _______________________________ Carol McGarah, Clerk