SAWDF Update
5/13/2023
Legislative News
** CALL TO ACTION **
SAWDF needs YOU to at the Capitol on Monday, May 15! Message to Legislators from those who understand it's your water, Texans!
The LPGCD Mitigation Bill, SB 1080 is up for a vote in the House tomorrow, Tuesday, May 16.
Recharge Water, LP is threatening to stall the bill with an amendment. We need to deliver a “one-pager” (attached to this update) to the office of all 150 representatives’ offices on Monday to garner their support.
Will you join us?
It's Your Water, Texans!
The more volunteers the faster we can deliver our message. If you want to carpool with Andy, [up to 3 persons] contact him at 512-426-5002. He can meet you in Giddings at 8:30 am.
Favorable legislation awaiting a public hearing in the Senate committee
Review the bills below. If you believe a bill(s) should move forward,
SAWDF urges you to contact the committee Chairman, Senator Charles Perry's office, and politely ask that the Chairman schedule the bill(s) for a public hearing by May 19.
Charles.Perry@senate.texas.gov or (512) 463-0128
HB 5052 – Gerdes ** awaiting a public hearing in WARA committee **
Relating to the criteria considered by groundwater conservation districts before granting or denying a permit.
This bill allows GCDs to consider unreasonable effects on exempt [domestic & livestock] wells when making permitting decisions. Despite the Texas Farm Bureau and Texas Corn Producers Association registering against the bill, it passed the Texas House 141-3. Senator Zaffirini is sponsoring HB 5052 in the Senate, awaiting a public hearing in the Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs [WARA] committee. Unfortunately, the committee chairman, Senator Perry, has yet to decide to schedule the bill for a public hearing.
HB 4532– Kacal ** awaiting a public hearing in WARA committee **
Relating to the consideration of modeled sustained groundwater pumping in the adoption of desired future conditions.
HB 4532 is sensible legislation requiring that Desired Future Conditions be based on "modeled sustained groundwater pumping." Sustainable pumping is one of the recommendations from the report by Dr. Robert Mace, Five Gallons in a Ten Gallon Hat: Groundwater Sustainability in Texas. Senator Blanco filed a companion bill. Senator Blanco is a Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs committee member. SAWDF supports this bill.
Senator Zaffirini is sponsoring HB 4532 in the Senate, awaiting a public hearing in the Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs committee. The committee chairman, Senator Perry, has not decided to schedule the bill for a public hearing.
HB 3990 – Kacal – ** awaiting public hearing in WARA committee **
Relating to a study of existing surface water and groundwater interaction.
Senator Blanco is sponsoring HB 3990 in the Senate, awaiting a public hearing in the Water, Agriculture, & Rural Affairs committee. However, the committee chairman, Senator Perry, has yet to decide to schedule the bill for a public hearing.
HB 3278– Price ** awaiting a public hearing in WARA committee **
Relating to the joint planning of desired future conditions in groundwater management areas.
HB 2735 – King ** awaiting a public hearing in WARA committee **
Relating to security required before filing suit against a groundwater conservation district.
Favorable legislation awaiting a vote in the Senate
HB 3059 – King ** Reported favorably to the full Senate as substituted **
This bill allows GCDs to raise export fees to 20 cents per thousand gallons. In addition, it gives GCDs mitigation authority to accommodate future drawdowns from groundwater production. SAWDF supports this legislation.
HB 2443– Harris ** Reported favorably to the full Senate without amendment **
Relating to the authority of certain persons to petition a groundwater conservation district to change certain rules.
Lost Pines GCD
Lost Pines GCD will hold a Public Hearing on a proposed updated Management Plan before the regular Board Meeting. The Management Plan includes some changes received in public comments in October 2022 and new Modelled Available Groundwater [MAGs] for each aquifer formation.
LPGCD
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Giddings City Council Chambers
6PM – Public Hearing on proposed LPGCD Management Plan
7PM – LPGCD Regular Board Meeting [agenda to be posted here]
Post Oak Savannah GCD
The Post Oak Savannah GCD held a DFC Committee meeting and regular Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 9. The DFC Committee reviewed proposed production limits in the various formations of the aquifer, similar to those recently proposed by LPGCD. You can view a recording of the meetings and download documents on the POSGCD website.