Issue Position: Water

Issue Position

Addressing current and future water needs requires regional efforts that take into account the multiple demands placed upon this finite natural resource. In the event of severe drought conditions, the state would face an immediate need for additional water supplies of 3.6 million acre-feet per year - 86% for irrigation and 9% for municipal water users.

The first statewide water plan was approved in 1997 and most recently updated in 2012. As part of the update, regional planning groups recommended 562 unique water supply projects, costing a total of $53 billion, to address needs during a drought. Municipal water providers are expected to need nearly $27 billion in state financial assistance to implement these strategies. Yet, the 2012-2013 budget includes only enough money to finance $100 million worth of selected projects through General Obligation bonds.

Economic losses resulting from a failure to meet water supply needs could cost approximately $11.9 billion per year if current conditions approach the drought of record. The question of how to reliably fund water infrastructure must be addressed to ensure implementation of our state water plan.

Decisions regarding energy production must be made collaboratively between state agencies to ensure water impacts are taken into consideraton.
The governance structure of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) must be changed to provide local accountability. I have introduced legislation to reduce the number of LCRA board members appointed by the Governor from 15 to 5 with the remaining 10 appointed by the County Commissioner Court of each of the 10 counties within the LCRA service area. This would provide increased local input when decisions must be made that impact differing needs along the Colorado River corridor.

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