State Water Plan for Texas
The Texas State Water Plan projects long-term water demands for all regions of the state and proposes water supply solutions to meet those demands. It affects all Texans.
Texas’ current water planning process was initiated by Senate Bill 1 in 1997. It charges 16 regional water planning groups with the development, on an ongoing five-year cycle, of long-term regional water plans that are assembled into an overall State Water Plan.
As we move forward in the 21st century, Texas clearly needs a more comprehensive and fiscally-responsible approach to providing water to sustain the people and the environment of Texas. We can accomplish that goal by refining the State Water Plan to better define our true water needs and by implementing a State funding mechanism that provides for more efficient use of already-developed water resources and for protection of our natural heritage.
Who is involved in the planning process?
The regional water planning groups are each composed of at least 11 members, each representing a different interest or kind of water user. These interests include: public, counties, cities, industry, agriculture, environmental, small business, electric generating utilities, river authorities, water districts, water utilities, groundwater management areas, and any other interest that the group feels would be necessary to ensure fair representation.
Membership information for each group is located on the Texas Water Development Board’s Regional Water Planning web pages.
Why does it matter to the environment?
The water supply decisions of the regional water planning groups will have far-reaching consequences for Texas’ natural environment. As regional groups and the Texas Water Development Board plan to meet human water demands, they can protect the state’s abundant wildlife resources and cherished landscapes. Poor planning, however, could set the stage for the over-exploitation of Texas rivers and the collapse of vibrant river and coastal ecosystems.
