Water- Our most precious resource
Each year the Texas Lyceum hosts four to five conferences to discuss emerging issues in Texas. The first conference of
2024 was in Texarkana and was titled; Water: A Deep Dive on Texas’ Most Precious Resource.
Texas is leading the nation in population growth with more than 1400 new residents moving to Texas each day. This hypergrowth challenges Texas’ ability to stay at the top of the rankings in economic development, job creation, and a high quality of life for all Texans. From rural Texas to the largest metropolitan areas, water is a resource that all Texans depend on each day. I had the opportunity to serve as a panelist for the Lyceum conference’s opening discussion. It is important for state policymakers to understand the rural perspective and that is precisely why I was happy to be a panelist in this important discussion. I have been actively involved in the fight against the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir for many years. This discussion was broader than just one proposed reservoir project. However, this discussion brought to light many policy considerations as our state balances the needs of a growing state with the shrinking natural resources available. The information below is a good primer on how to stay informed on all things water in Texas.
Regional Water Planning
Texas is split into 16 regions for regional water planning. Cass County is within Region D which encompasses all or parts of 19 counties. Largely rural and characterized by numerous, small communities and some medium-sized municipalities, the region includes the cities of Atlanta, Longview, Texarkana, and Greenville. The planning area overlaps large portions of the Red, Sulphur, Cypress, and Sabine River basins and smaller parts of the Trinity and Neches river basins. Region D’s main economic base is agribusiness, including a variety of crops, as well as cattle and poultry production. Timber, oil and gas, and mining are significant industries in the region.
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is comprised of three members appointed by the Governor. The mission of the TWDB is to lead the state’s efforts in ensuring a secure water future for Texas.
The TWDB’s main responsibilities are threefold: collecting and disseminating water-related data; assisting with regional water supply and flood planning that contributes to preparing the state water plan and state flood plan; and administering cost-effective financial programs for constructing water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects. TWDB collects and aggregates the regional water plans into the state water plan every five years.