Texas Water Code

§ 35.007 — IDENTIFYING, DESIGNATING, AND DELINEATING PRIORITY GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT AREAS

WA § 35.007Title 2. WATER ADMINISTRATION · Part E. GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT · Ch. 35. GROUNDWATER STUDIES

Statute text

(a)The executive director and the executive administrator shall meet periodically to identify, based on information gathered by the commission and the Texas Water Development Board, those areas of the state that are experiencing or that are expected to experience, within the immediately following 50-year period, critical groundwater problems, including shortages of surface water or groundwater, land subsidence resulting from groundwater withdrawal, and contamination of groundwater supplies. Not later than September 1, 2005, the commission, with assistance and cooperation from the Texas Water Development Board, shall complete the initial designation of priority groundwater management areas across all major and minor aquifers of the state for all areas that meet the criteria for that designation. The studies may be prioritized considering information from the regional planning process, information from the Texas Water Development Board groundwater management areas and from groundwater conservation districts, and any other information available. After the initial designation of priority groundwater management areas, the commission and the Texas Water Development Board shall annually review the need for additional designations as provided by this subsection.

(b)If the executive director concludes that an area of the state should be considered for designation as a priority groundwater management area, the executive director shall prepare a report to the commission.

(c)Before the executive director requests a study from the executive administrator under Subsection (d), the executive director shall provide notice to the persons listed in Section 35.009(c) of areas being considered for identification as experiencing or expected to experience critical groundwater problems and shall consider any information or studies submitted under this subsection. Not later than the 45th day after the date of the notice, a person required to receive notice under this subsection may submit to the executive director information or studies that address the potential effects on an area of being identified as experiencing or expected to experience critical groundwater problems.

(d)The executive director shall begin preparation of a priority groundwater management area report by requesting a study from the executive administrator. The study must:

(1)include an appraisal of the hydrogeology of the area and matters within the Texas Water Development Board's planning expertise relevant to the area;

(2)assess the area's immediate, short-term, and long-term water supply and needs; and

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Legislative history

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 886 (S.B. 313), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.