LEGISLATORS MEET IN HOUSTON TO DISCUSS STATE'S WATER ISSUES

HOUSTON - The Interim Committee on Water Resources Development and Management met Thursday, January 15, in the Houston City Council Chambers to hear public testimony on the implementation of Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Brown-Lewis Water Management Plan. SB 1 is a comprehensive water plan providing Texas with its first statewide drought management plan. The plan addresses Texas water in the areas of drought response management, water management, marketing and transfers, surface water and groundwater supplies, financial assistance to local governments, small communities assistance and water data dissemination. The committee will also be hearing testimony on the projections of Texas' future water and wastewater needs and possible means of providing financial assistance to communities with limited resources to pay for those needs.

Members of the committee include Senator J.E."Buster" Brown of Lake Jackson and Representative Ron Lewis of Mauriceville serving as co-chairs. Also serving on the committee are Senators Ken Armbrister of Victoria, Eddie Lucio Jr. of Brownsville, Carlos F. Truan of Corpus Christi, Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio, and Representatives Robert Cook of Eagle Lake, David Counts of Knox City, Robert Puente of San Antonio, and Gary Walker of Plains.

The next hearing will be held February 26 in El Paso.

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