creating the water supplies of the future in time of financial drought
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Creating the Water Supplies of the Future in Time of Financial Drought. Lewis McMahan Texas Water Development Board. Budget deficit. Austin American Statesman – January 10, 2011 Revenue estimate puts shortfall at $27 billion - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Creating the Water Supplies of the Future in Time of Financial Drought
Lewis McMahanTexas Water Development Board
Budget deficitAustin American Statesman – January 10, 2011
Revenue estimate puts shortfall at $27 billion
“Texas is expected to collect $72.2 billion in taxes, fees and other general revenue during the 2012-13 budget, down from the $87 billion used in the current two-year budget, Comptroller Susan Combs announced Monday.
That puts the shortfall at $27 billion given that maintaining services would run $99 billion for biennium.”
Growth continues“Between 2004 and 2006 state-
to-state migrants to Texas increased fourfold”
“Between 2006 and 2008, an average of 80,471 Californians moved to Texas. That was nearly twice the number of Texans moving to California, giving Texas a net gain of 37,166 Californians a year”
Dallas Morning NewsDecember 21, 2010
Population in Texas is expected to more than double between the years 2000 and 2060, growing from about 21 million to about 46 million.
Water for Texas - 2007
Funding the State Water Plan Additional supplies needed by 2060: 8.3 million acre-feet Plans: 9.0 million acre-feet per year by 2060 Capital costs to design, construct, or implement the
recommended water management strategies ~$53 billion.
(Preliminary data for 2012 State Water Plan)
Legislative Appropriations Request FY 12-13
Additional Bonding Authority Economically Distressed Areas Program -$100 million State Water Plan Debt Service -$200 million
Texas Seawater Desalination Demonstration Project [$9.5 million grant]
Sunset Advisory Commission
Authorize the Board to issue Development Fund general obligation bonds, at its discretion, on a continuing basis, in amounts such that the aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time does not exceed $6 billion.
The Crow and the Pitcher *
A CROW perishing with thirst saw a pitcher, and hoping to find water, flew to it with delight. When he reached it, he discovered to his grief that it contained so little water that
he could not possibly get at it. He tried everything he could think of to reach the water, but all his efforts were in vain. At last he collected as many stones as he could
carry and dropped them one by one with his beak into the pitcher, until he brought the water within his reach and
thus saved his life.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
* Aesop’s Fables
Effective steps to advance the water infrastructure agenda
1. Water planning2. Improve regulatory
environment3. Support water
research4. Education and
outreach recognition5. Effective
partnerships
Effective Long-term Water PlanningExample: Regional & state water planning in Texas
Effective plans are easier to fund and implement
Improve regulatory framework Implementing
innovative water technologies Education Demonstration projects
Desalination concentrate management (Hazardous Waste)
Classification Underground injection
Professional organizations
Support water research programs
Agricultural Water Conservation
Reuse Research Agenda
GIS Tools for Water Reuse
Desalination Guidelines
Education and outreach Water conservation Alternative sources
Water reuse Water desalination Aquifer storage and
recovery Water planning
Innovative Water Technologieshelping to extend texas' water resources
Education and outreach: Recognizing excellence
Examples of desirable and replicable practices
Partnering around technology development Water Technology Innovation
Cluster [US EPA Press Release January 18, 2011] partnerships among: universities,
large corporations, emerging companies, federal government, state government, local government, and economic development associations
develop and commercialize innovative technologies to solve environmental and public health challenges, encourage sustainable economic development, and create jobs
http://www.epa.gov/wtic
Tarrant Co. Dallas Co.
Effective Regional PartnershipsExample: Tarrant Regional Water District Wetland Reuse Project*
Existing Supply:
Richland-Chambers
Cedar CreekBridgeportEagle Mtn.BenbrookArlington
Richland-Chambers
Trinity River
Cedar Creek
Current Wetland
Phase II Wetland
* Modified from APA’s McDonaldIntroduction and overview of potable reuse projects already implemented- Texas Innovative Water 2010
Our stones1.Planning2.Improving
regulations3.Research4.Education5.Partnering
Water Science and Conservation Innovative Water Technologies
Innovative Water Technologies
To research, develop, and disseminate information to advance the development of innovative water management strategies in Texas
[email protected] 512-475-3003