texas water development board and the state water implementation fund for texas (swift) doug shaw...
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Texas Water Development Boardand the
State Water Implementation Fund for Texas(SWIFT)
Doug ShawAgriculture and Rural Texas
Ombudsman
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• Outreach in the Rural parts of the State
• Ensuring that the concerns of the Ag industry and Rural Texas reach our Board members
• Point of Contact• Help to engage Rural entities in the
Planning process.
My role as the new Agriculture and Rural Texas Ombudsman
OUTLINE
• History of TWDB• SWIFT• What’s in the Legislation• How the TWDB is supporting SWIFT• What Will SWIFT fund• Regional Water Planning Process• Project Prioritization
• Groundwater in Texas• What the TWDB can do now
History of TWDB: Legislative Response
to Drought
Early 1950s: Drought of Record– 1957: Creation of TWDB– $200 million Water Development Fund– 6 State Water Plans, 1961-1997
Late 1990s: Potential New Drought of Record– ~$6 billion economic losses in ‘96 (mostly
agriculture)– ~300 entities with threat to water
supplies– 1997 & 2001: Implementation of SB 1 & 2
which created & refined regional water planning
– 3 State Water Plans, 2002-2012 2013: Current Drought
– SWIFT
The SWIFT was createdand funded byHouse Bill 4
Senate Joint Resolution 1House Bill 1025
House Bill 4–Provided TWDB governance
changes–Created Advisory Committee–Created SWIFT and SWIRFT–Defined how funds can be used –Defined prioritization processes–Outlined technical aspects of
legislation
House Bill 1025Appropriated $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to SWIFT upon SJR 1 approval
Senate Joint Resolution 1• Provided for constitutional amendment
submitted to voters on November 5, 2013
• Discusses SWIFT, SWIRFT and funding for the state water plan
• Provided basic framework• Passage of proposition allowed
$2 billion to be transferred from the Rainy Day Fund to SWIFT
Undertake to use: At least 20 percent of SWIFTto support water conservation
and reuse projects.
At least 10 percent of SWIFTto support projects serving
rural communities and Texas farmers.10
Agency Changes• Reorganized into six planning and
development teams– Organized by geographic areas– Provides for better customer service
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Agency Changes• Reorganized into six planning and
development teams– Organized by geographic areas– Provides for better customer service
• Provide more emphasis on outreach, including a new Agriculture and Rural Texas Ombudsman
• Create a public rulemaking process14
Timeline
www.twdb.texas.gov/swift/
Submit Written Comments
Work Sessions:February 11 – Conroe, TXFebruary 24 – Lubbock, TXMarch 24 – Harlingen, TXMay 29 – El Paso, TX
Stakeholder meetings:Austin, TXJanuary 31February 19March 6
Summer 2014 – TWDB to Propose Draft RulesDecember 2014 – TWDB to adopt Final Rules
The SWIFT was exclusively created
to support projects inthe state water plan.
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CONSERVATION
AND REUSE 34% of volume
12% of total capital costs
OTHER SURFACE WATER
STRATEGIES34% of volume
45% of total capital costs
NEW SUPPLYDEVELOPME
NT32% of volume
43% of total capital costs
SWIFT and SWIRFT will fund projects in the 2012 State Water Plan.
State Water Planning
Regional Water Planning
Regional Water PlanningStatutory
Representation:
Public Counties Municipalities Industries Agriculture Environment Small businesses Electric-
generating utilities
River authorities Water districts Water utilities Groundwater
management
areas
Regional Water Planning
Project future population and water demand Quantify existing and future water supplies Identify surpluses and needs Evaluate and recommend water
management strategies Make policy recommendations
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Water Management Strategies
• WMS are the projects or actions recommended to meet water needs
• Examples: conservation; wastewater reuse; desalination of surface or ground water
• New infrastructure to access existing supplies (Example: new pipeline to a distant reservoir)
• New surface water diversions or impoundments in reservoirs (on/off-channel)
• New groundwater
How will future water Needs, identified through the Planning, Process be met?
Impact Analysis
Strategies are analyzed for potential effects on:− Water quality− Existing water rights− In-stream flows− Bay and estuary freshwater inflows− Sustainable aquifer yield− Agricultural water resources− Threatened and endangered species− Wildlife habitat− Public lands− Recreation
Why do we Plan?
• Water right permits from TCEQ for a new project must be consistent with regional & state water plans
• Financial assistance from TWDB for a project only if it is consistent with regional & state water plans. For some loan programs project must be recommended in plan to meet needs
• Waiver of this requirement by agency governing body can be granted
Benefits of Regional Planning
Public and planning group member education
Development of regional partnerships
Better data on water supplies
Adaptive process
Regional Water Planning
Public Counties Municipalities Industries Agriculture Environment Small businesses Electric-
generating utilities
River authorities Water districts Water utilities Groundwater
management
areas
Statutory Representation
Region G
Requests for Input• 1st Survey – Spring 2013• Draft Population, water demands, sources,
contracts• 235 entities surveyed• 74 reviewed data• 31 agreed with data• 27 requested changes• Also surveyed counties and COGs
• 2nd Survey – Fall 2013• Draft shortages based on supplies/demand• Identify potential water management strategies• Other info needed for Plan.
Next Steps• Summer 2014– Evaluate Strategies
– Do you have alternative ideas?– Does your project need to be in the plan?
• Fall/Winter 2014 – Develop Draft 2016 Plan• Spring/Summer 2015 – Public comment• November 2015 – Final Plan to TWDB• January 2016 – TWDB to adopt RWPs• 2016 – TWDB to develop 2017 State Water Plan
Region G
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Minimum criteria considered by the stakeholders committee
Decade in which project is needed
Feasibility of project
Viability of project
Sustainability
Cost effectiveness
Prioritization by regional water planning groups
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Serve a large population
Assist a diverse urban and rural population
Provide regionalization
Meet high percentage of water users’ needs
Highest consideration
Prioritization by TWDB
Groundwater and Texas
• 60 percent of the 16.6 million acre-feet of water used in 1999
• 81 percent of groundwater is used for irrigation
• Groundwater provides 39 percent of water to cities
Major aquifers
Groundwater Management Areas
Made up of Representatives from Groundwater Conservation Districts within each GMA
Charged with adopting DesiredFuture Conditions (DFCs)
…were created “in order to provide for the conservation, preservation, protection, recharging, and prevention of waste of the groundwater” in Texas.
Which are used to developModeled Available Groundwater (MAGs)
Trinity Aquifer is a major aquifer
Trinity Aquifer gets thicker and deeper toward the east
Gatesville
Financial Assistance
• What can the TWDB do now?– Provide financial assistance for the
state’s water and wastewater infrastructure through a variety of loan and grant programs.
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Financial Assistance
• Historically, the TWDB has committed over $15 billion to date for water and wastewater projects in Texas.
• In the past two fiscal years, the TWDB committed over $1 billion for water and wastewater projects in Texas.
Financial Assistance
Funding Programs• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
(DWSRF)• Clean Water State Revolving Fund
(CWSRF)• Texas Water Development Fund (DFund)• Rural Water Assistance Program (RWAF)• Economically Distressed Areas Program
(EDAP)43
