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<br />` ~ • ' .... . -, Background ~ ~ -
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<br />For years, Texans have been repeatedly warned about the seriousness of the '
<br />state's water problems. Now, because of the state's rapid economic expansion "~~= .
<br />and population growth, the day of reckoning is approaching. Scores•of local.'
<br />water problems now.are threatening to snowball 'into one enormous statewide
<br />crisis. .' ~ _ ,. ~ ,
<br />. Texas, of course, does not have a single statewide water problem. Rather, it ;. . '. ,
<br />has a variety of related, but distinct, problems that are as diverse as the ,
<br />,._, state's geography, economy"and culture--including frequent water shortages, "- ,'.
<br />'flooding, pollution and subsidence. No°area of the state is immune from one or ~'~
<br />more of these .problems. - ~ _ ~ - _ '.
<br />.Demands on Texas''limited water resource capabilities have grown geometrically--•,.•
<br />to the point -that meeting just• the current and mid-term needs of the state will
<br />require the -construction of at 'least 144 new -reservoirs, 200 major wastewater, •~ ,. :
<br />- .systems and scores~of large-scale flood control projects. The cumulative cost.`'. - - ..
<br />of these projects could approach $100 billion, a sum that exceeds the financial ,
<br />capabilities of the cities and other localities -that will 'bear the lion's share ~~-
<br />of the cost of-these facilities. ~ ~ ~ -. - '
<br />A .,
<br />In order to cope with~the huge task at hand, what is needed is an orderly plan-= ~-'.~'....
<br />a new Texas Water Plan that establishes a sound methodology for addressing the'..•„ ` ~,
<br />.' ~ • state's .diverse water ;problems, and one that creates a major new role for state ~`-: ,
<br />government in helping finance the solutions to these problems. ~ ~.,~.
<br />', "Fortunately,- such a plan "exists. •. It~ will appear on the November 5, 1985 state-"~
<br />.' 'wide election ballot .as Amendments 1 and 2. In combination with enabling ..
<br />legislation that will.take'effect when theVtwo constitutional amendments are ., ~~
<br />• ~ approved, ':adoption ` of ~' these measures 'will' provide the framework for a coor-~ -: ',. >
<br />dinated approach to, :the state's multifaceted water resource challenge. - ~ ~'
<br />. _ '~ Components' of the Plan-
<br />• The .proposed new • water ,;plan: °consists . of five separate;"`though interrelated, ~ •
<br />measures : , (1) .Amendment No. ` 1~ - a - "FOR 'or~ AGAINST",proposition on the November 5` _ ._
<br />' ,- ballot -that, -' if approved,, :would amend . the_ Texas ~- Constitution to authorize the,; " , ' '
<br />establishment ~of~ a"~ local loan;-guaranty., program and, •the issuance of state; bonds' :, '
<br />„ , to, help fund' ~.eservoirs "'and 'other: facilities; - (2)Amendment, No. 2. - ,a, second '~ . "
<br />proposition,. .: .whose;adoption would "amend the Constitution to authoraze•'`the'' ,
<br />. -establishment ~•of ~ agricultural water conservation programs; ' (3) two proposed,'
<br />constitutional' amendments, approved. by the,1985 Texas Legislature, setting out •.
<br />.the specific, •language .that would be added. ~.to `the ,Constitution if Amendments 1
<br />and 2 are approved; :and .(4) House Bill 2, also approved by the 1985 Legislature,• ~'~~, .
<br />that will, uponadoption ofAmendment 1, amend the Texas Water Code to Ympose ~ •
<br />- new responsibilities on the Texas .Water Commission with respect to water..
<br />conservation .programs, bays and, estuaries, and other water-related matters. ,, ~. '
<br />In combination, these•components form the 1985 Texas Water Plan. Highlights of •"
<br />the plan are summarized -below.. ` ~ ; •' ~ ~ ~ - ~ . • ° `
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