June 28, 2002 -- The Texas Legislature has changed the state's water code to require the Texas Water Development Board to lay out groundwater management areas.
Cooperative planning to more efficiently manage Texas' groundwater will be essential to ensure adequate future water supplies for Texas.
The 77th Texas Legislature's Senate Bill 2 amended the Texas Water Code 35.004 to direct the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), with assistance and cooperation of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, to designate Groundwater Management Areas (GMAs) covering all major and minor aquifers in Texas.
According to statute, individual GMAs shall be designated in order to provide the most suitable area for the management of groundwater resources. To the extent feasible, GMA boundaries shall coincide with the aquifer boundaries. The TWDB may also consider other factors, including the boundaries of political subdivisions.
TWDB staff will present a GMA map and proposed rules to the Board on August 21 and request authorization to publish. The TWDB plans to hold up to six public meetings throughout the state to present the information to the public and solicit additional input. A final recommendation will be presented to the Board for approval consideration in November.
For information about the designation of Groundwater Management Areas, contact Jorge Arroyo at 512-475-3003 or by email at [email protected].
