The Winter 2019 Confluence is Here!

CONFLUENCE

WINTER 2019

Texas Water Conservation Association | twca.org

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Water Leaders Meet in Houston • TWDB Rulemaking Update • Overcoming Impacts of Imelda • Reliving the TWCA Fall Conference • And More!

Water Laws Chair Update: TWDB Implementation of 86th Regular Session Flood Legislation

By Howard Slobodin, Water Laws Chair

Over a century of legislative history provides many examples of drought driving water policymaking in Texas, and prompting “water sessions” of the Texas Legislature. By that measure, the 86th Regular Session would not properly be called a water session. However, given its focus on flood mitigation, the 86th was a water session of entirely another kind.

On the early morning of August 26, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made its first landfall in Texas. In the coming hours and days, it inflicted tremendous damage from Port Aransas to Beaumont. Interim charges addressing hurricane and flood preparedness were shortly forthcoming, and the 86th Regular Session was significantly focused on flood mitigation. Months before the session convened, TWCA created its Flood Response Committee, which provided input positively reflected in interim reports.

As always, Texas House and Senate flooding legislative proposals had to be reconciled. Ultimately, two pieces of legislation on flood mitigation were signed by the Governor that will have long-lasting impacts on TWCA members. Those same bills, Texas Senate Bills 7 and 8 (SBs 7 and 8), may also affect water supply and water planning in Texas.

SB 7 is concerned with flood mitigation financing. SB 8 creates a state flood planning process in parallel to, and in many respects identical to, the state water planning process created by 1997’s Senate Bill 1. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is charged to administer both SBs 7 and 8, and is well underway in its rulemaking process to implement those bills. TWCA, through a Flood Response Rulemaking Subcommittee, has already provided input to TWDB in response to a pre-rulemaking solicitation issued in July 2019. Read the full article on pages 9 - 11.

Overcoming The Impacts of Imelda and Planning for Future Flood Events

by David Montagne, Sabine River Authority with contributions by Scott Hall, Lower Neches Valley Authority and Kelley Holcomb, Angelina-Neches River Authority

On the morning of September 19th, many folks in Southeast Texas woke to rising waters and flooded streets as a result of Tropical Storm Imelda which made landfall near Freeport, Texas the night of September 17th. Although Imelda weakened after landfall, it retained the status as a tropical depression for the next two days and poured 43.31 inches of rainfall in Jefferson County, Texas. Rainfall from Imelda pushed Southeast Texas into the national records once again by ranking No. 5 in the top 10 of the National Weather Service’s list of wettest rainfall events from tropical systems. Texas now has six events on the top 10 list with Harvey holding the No. 1 record with 60.58 inches in Nederland, Texas. Throughout the morning of September 19th, Imelda caused widespread flooding across Southeast Texas causing many of the local bayous to overtop their banks and flood residential areas with nearly 30 inches of rain falling in just 12 hours and over five inches per hour in several places.

Based in Beaumont, Lower Neches Valley Authority General Manger Scott Hall credits the community for coming together in a time of crisis.

“The key to a successful response is our ability to work together as a community. With the immediate crisis of Imelda past us, our communities need to continue working the flood problem to mitigate the potential impact of future storms.”

Read the full article on pages 12-13.

2019 TWCA Fall Conference Recap

The 2019 TWCA Fall Conference was certainly one to remember. With the weather being much warmer than last year, about 40 golfers played in the 11th Annual Fall Classic Golf Tournament at The Quarry Golf Club. The TWCA Risk Management Fund held a seminar covering several professional development subjects. The Membership and Services Committee hosted a tour of San Antonio River Authority’s San Pedro Creek project.

The official conference kicked off Thursday, October 17. The day was filled with panel meetings, committee meetings and the board meeting. Highlights from the board meeting included: adoption of the strategic plan and discussion of the produced water policy brought to the board by the Industrial panel.

Key highlights include:

Panel News: Ty Embrey fil led a vacant seat on the Industrial panel.

The strategic plan was officially adopted. It can be found on our website.

TWCA Risk Management Fund presented safety awards to several entities.

Read the full article on pages 16 - 17.