Thread by @txwater

Good morning folks! Welcome to a day where Texans from across the state call for meaningful action on our growing water challenges.

We'll be live-tweeting today's public hearing on the Texas Water Development Board.

What does the Board do & why does it matter?

#txwater #txlege

Glad you asked! TWDB is the agency charged with "securing Texas' water future."

It leads the regional water & flood planning processes, it provides data collection & dissemination, financial assistance, & technical assistance to communities across the state.

In short, if surface or groundwater flows through your taps, if floods threaten your community, or if creeks & rivers you love are drying up, then you should care about how TWDB shapes Texas’ water future.

There are signs that future is increasingly threatened:

Unchecked development, booming population growth, and a harshening water cycle all threaten Texas' limited & fragile water resources.

Despite recent rainfall, over 90% of Texas is experiencing drought: droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/Sta…

More than a million Texans do not have access to clean, safe drinking water: texaswatertrade.org/our-solutions/…

In short, TWDB needs support, guidance, & action from the Legislature in order to meet these growing challenges.

Today could be part of that process.

Today's hearing is part of TWDB's once-in-12-years Sunset review process.

Read more about it here: texaslivingwaters.org/texas-needs-yo…

Things are just getting started now.

Members of the Sunset Advisory Committee are introducing themselves...

Vice Chair Holland notes “It’s a daunting task to take on the efficiency of state government”

Jennifer Jones, Exec Director of the Sunset Staff, is now introducing the Sunset staff & the overall sunset process.

Helpful to see the people behind this critical public service!

Jones: Sunset asks do we still need the agency? How can it be improved?

Jones: after the initial review phase, there's a 2nd phase that starts when the initial report is published.

Jones says today is the start of the "real meat" of second phase. This is where the commission formally presents the report & opens it up to public testimony.

Jones: this phase will end with a decision meeting where the advisory commission be voting on recommendations that are statutory and management.

Moving now to Sunset's report on the 1st agency for the day: the Soil & Water Conservation Board

Lauren Ames, project manager for this review is summarizing the sunset report on the agency

You can read more on the Sunset report on the Soil & Water Conservation Board here: sunset.texas.gov/reviews-and-re…

Senator Schwertner is asking Ames some clarifying questions on the report.

We're focused on the Water Development Board review, so we're not diving into the Soil & Water Conservation Board review BUT it's worth noting, as Senator Schwertner just did, that there's significant disagreement b/n the agency and the Sunset Commission over the Sunset report

Rex Isom, Executive Director of the Soil & Water Conservation Board is now speaking. He clarifies the disagreements over their Sunset report are "respectful."

While we're waiting for the Texas Water Development Board's turn, you can read their Sunset report here: sunset.texas.gov/reviews-and-re…

Isom is still answering questions from senators on the Soil & Water report.

While we're waiting on TWDB, here are the 5 priorities we think legislators need to focus on when it comes to action coming out of TWDB's sunset review: texaslivingwaters.org/texas-needs-yo…

Senators are still discussing details of the Sunset report with executives from the Soil & Water Conservation Board.

The Water Development Board is up next.

Btw, you can tune into the live stream of the hearing at senate.texas.gov/av-live.php

Interesting to note the Soil & Water Conservation Board was born from the Dust Bowl crisis of the 1930s.

Some concern from public witnesses that the panhandle could be heading back to dust bowl-like conditions.

Cyrus Reed of @TexasSierraClub now speaking. Supporting Sunset recommendations on Soil & Water Conservation Board. They're "about transparency and good governance"

A follow-up question for Reed on invasive species. Reed says situation on invasive species is "getting worse". Agencies need to coordinate. Soil & Conservation Board could play a key role.

First agency of the day is done.

NEXT UP IS THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

Darren McDevitt, the project manager for the Sunset review of TWDB is introducing the commission's report on TWDB

"The amount of money now flowing through agency is notable"

"The agency could better collect data" to inform its programs...

Senators are now asking questions of the Sunset commission.

1st question on rural customers lack of applying for funds.

Sunset response: TWDB needs to do a better job of surveying customers. Need to understand why they aren't submitting full applications for funding

Senator Perry: we keep asking the agency to do more, but have funded limited LTEs. "They are getting it done" but they can't be as efficient as possible bc of being asked to do more and more

Perry: "they do drop the ball on project management". They urgently need to use technology better for project management.

Perry: on the problem of rural engagement, it's "no fault to the TWDB," the rural communities do not have the capacity to access the large SWIFT funds

Perry: "we've got to become their back office"

Perry: as a state "I'd give us a high B" in terms of getting funds to rural communities.

Rep. Bell asks what constitutes a rural community

Sunset staff: started w/ 10,000 or less population, but some flexibility/changes in definition over time with SWIFT.

Bell: "oversight of the committee" is important to ensure $$ gets to rural communities

Brook Paup, Chair of TWDB, is now speaking

Paup: "like to commend Sunset staff," the review was a chance to collaborate and improve. Agree with all recommendations.

Paup: "There is no Texas miracle without water."

Paup: "57% of our commitments have been to rural communities"

Jeff Walker, Executive Administrator of TWDB is now speaking: "We’ve been entrusted with a lot of responsibility and we appreciate that trust in us. To keep taps flowing it takes a lot of work and we take that very seriously every day."

Walker emphasizing TWDB's increased responsibilities and the need not only for tools, but human capital to make the most of the tools.

TWDB taking questions now.

Senator Johnson notes the need for FTEs and technology, but asks about how benefits to rural communities can be better measured

Paup: we are serving rural communities through larger regional projects, commitments are being met.

Paup: "we're dealing with aging infrastructure" SRFs are a great program to deal with that problem

Perry: very seldom is there not an option for rural communities, but we can always do better

Chairwoman Paup notes repeatedly that both rural and disadvantaged communities "are a priority" for the TWDB.

Jeff Austin III now asking how state can get rural communities through permitting process for reservoirs such as Lake Columbia

Austin also asking about TWDB's plan for hiring engineers and handling turnover.

Jeff Walker notes 10% turnover (fairly standard) and difficulty with attracting FTEs.

Chairwoman notes Austin's cost of living is affecting attracting FTEs. Will consider some positions working from Houston, Dallas, elsewhere in TX. "We've got to get bodies in desks"

Highlights need for targeted salary raises.

Rep. Clardy notes none of the 1000s of folks moving to Texas every day are bringing water with them.

But also notes east Texas has some water to share. Suggests the rural/urban divide is not black and white.

Rep. Holland asks about flood projects funded by FIF. Is the agency prepared to take on these additional projects?

Paup notes "flood is a very different animal" than water supply. Required a lot of extra work/re-orientation. But TWDB accomplished it.

Public testimony is now open.

First up is...

Alex Ortiz, Water Resources Specialist @TexasSierraClub: "We encourage the Sunset Advisory Commission to consider a management action that includes a substantial external review of the Economically Distressed Areas Program [EDAP]."

Ortiz: "we urge the Commission to adopt management actions directing the TWDB to include climate science in the state water planning process, in consultation with the State Climatologist, as well as providing guidance to Regional Water Planning Groups."

[Better incorporation of climate science is a MAJOR theme in comments so far...]

Ortiz: "The consensus of scientists across the United States and the globe is that climate change is occurring, it is occurring now, and we know it will have far-reaching impacts on Texans through both agriculture and water access."

Ortiz: "Assuring the future of Texas water is one of the most important functions that the state can perform for its people, and doing so will require the most complete picture possible of both our water needs and supplies for the future."

Andrew Sansom of Texas State University: in the past we've managed water as if it is "infinite." If we continue to do so, cities will be "plagued with uncertainty"

Sansom: Need to look at 2007 SB3 env flows process for stakeholder input

Carlos Rubinstein: TWDB should be funded to update groundwater models

Vanessa Puig-Williams, director of @EnvDefenseFund's Texas Water program, is now speaking: "groundwater is the most imp supply in Texas"

Puig-Williams: "groundwater planning should be informed by copious data, but in many cases it is not"

Sarah Kirkle, of TWCA, now speaking: significant growth in TWDB's responsibilities has not come with growth in resources.

Larry N Patterson, Exec Dir of @UTRWD: the state water plan is a great eg of the benefits of TWDB. Support more people and money for the board.

Amanda Fuller, director of @NWF's Texas Coast & Water Program is now speaking: "nearly $3 billion dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is coming to Texas over the next 5 years"

Fuller:"Lack of technical assistance is a barrier for many communities in accessing [these new funds]. We ask that you direct the Board to evaluate its use of technical assistance set-asides in light of increased federal funds."

Fuller: "The Infrastructure Law mandates 49% of the SRF funds be used as grants and forgivable loans, and while the Board does distribute grant money, it is not in the practice of providing grants to cover 100% of the costs of a project...

"...we ask you to direct the Board to use some SRF dollars to provide total-project grants for communities that cannot take on loans."

Fuller: "We ask that you direct the Board to do more to facilitate nonpoint source, nature-based, and green infrastructure projects. Changes in project scoring coupled with more direct messaging from the Board during outreach could help."

Jennifer Walker, Dep. Director of @NWF's Texas Coast & Program is now speaking: "The State Water Planning process is a flagship program for the state. The Board administers the Regional Water Planning process effectively in many ways, yet...

...it has limited oversight and does not provide clear guidance on some important aspects of the planning process."

Walker: "This can lead to inconsistent planning across regions and a lack of a clear approach on important issues such as... climate change driven impacts to water supply...long-term consistency with protection of the state’s natural resources...how to approach water conservation

Walker: "We recommend requiring the Board to provide guidance to Planning Groups on how to incorporate climate-driven uncertainty into the planning process.

We recommend requiring the board to provide the conservation, drought, and water loss data that it collects...

Walker: "...to planning groups along with clear guidance, and assistance if necessary, on how to utilize the data to develop resilient water management strategies."

Walker: "...plans that are not consistent with long-term protection for both surface water and groundwater resources are not realistic roadmaps for action or for meeting the state’s water needs."

Walker: "Our water plans must include environmental flows and natural resource protection as water use categories. Without proactively planning to meet these needs now and in the future we will come up short."

Danielle Goshen, Policy Specialist/Counsel @NWF is now speaking: "As was outlined in the Staff Report, it has been challenging for TWDB to meet its conservation goals under SWIFT.

Goshen: "While we agree with the Staff Report recommendation that analysis is needed by the Board, smart planning can also help Texas mitigate water losses and expand water conservation efforts across the state."

Goshen: "The Water Conservation Advisory Council should be required to provide updated guidance on conservation targets in gallons/capita/day for use by Regional Water Planning Groups. These should be updated every 10 years in order to keep up with new technologies...

"...Second, the Board should prioritize adoption of water conservation BMPs and provide them to the Regional Water Planning Groups with guidance on how to incorporate them into water management strategies."

Goshen: "We also recommend that the TWDB update how it keeps track of and mitigates water losses, in order to ensure prudent use of state resources."

Katherine Romans, Exec Dir of @NewsHCA, is now speaking: "I'm here to share the experience of some of the rural communities that we work with across Central Texas."

Romans: "We are very grateful for the partnership of the Texas Water Development Board. Our region, and our state, would be in a much more dire place without the leadership of the Board and Staff of this agency."

Romans: "We could not agree more with the assessment from Sunset Staff that there is more to do regarding providing outreach, capacity support, and technical assistance to rural communities through the process of accessing TWDB funds."

Romans: "With limited tax bases, aging or failing infrastructure, and the crisis approach of managing infrastructure reactively, as opposed to proactively, the slightest hurdle—a loan vs a grant, for eg—can be all that it takes to keep a community from tapping those funds..."

Romans: "The small towns of the Hill Country face incredible challenges. Some examples...communities with no maps of their existing infrastructure, who are forced to drive around town drilling holes through the streets at random, searching for water main leaks...

Romans: "Please think creatively about the solutions for some of these challenges, and lean on groups like @NewsHCA and @NWF to meet the moment for water infrastructure in the state."

David Kelly, from @NTMWD, is now speaking: NTMWD is a major user of SWIFT funds. We agree with Sunset report. TWDB issues are a result of their exponential growth.

Jeremy Mazur, Senior Policy Advisor @Texas2036, is now speaking: we need to plan for worse droughts than the drought of record.

Ayanna Jolivet Mccloud, Exec Dir of @@BayouCityWK is now speaking, calls the sunset process "an opportunity to rethink how we center diverse community stakeholders and needs in water infrastructure funds."

Mccloud: "We encourage TWDB to evaluate its definition of Disadvantaged Community and Affordability Criteria in the DWSRF and CWSRF, use the guidance provided by the EPA & other states and stakeholders, & amend as necessary to ensure these funds are reaching communities most...

...in need. While the current definitions may identify more need for disadvantaged communities than available funds, this does not necessarily mean that they are identifying the right communities that are most in need."

Mccloud: "In Houston, we have communities who have significant need for these funds as seen in open drainage ditches, sewage and flood infrastructure."

Mccloud: "We recommend TWDB revisit its proportionality of grants to loans being disbursed and consider full loan forgiveness to remove barriers for disadvantaged communities to access these funds."

Mccloud: "Additionally, we encourage the TWDB to evaluate its use of technical assistance set-asides in the CWSRF and DWSRF programs, and to increase funds for technical assistance."

Mccloud: "We ask that significant socioeconomic factors be considered in the prioritization for projects across the board... particularly for watershed flood protection planning in counties where Annual Median Household Income is less than or equal to 85% of the state-wide AMHI."

Phew...that's it. Testimony is now closed on TWDB. And that's a wrap on TWDB's portion of the Sunset hearing.

Some quick takeaways:

- overall, lots of deserved plaudits for TWDB's work over the past decade.

- there are continued concerns over how rural communities can access funds for water development

- many noted the need for increased funding & technical resources for an agency whose responsibilities...

...are growing exponentially.

- a number of witnesses emphasized the need to better integrate climate science & data in planning processes

- a number of speakers also emphasized the need to prioritize disadvantaged communities beyond rural

- TWDB will also need to prioritize..

...water loss and conservation, groundwater management and planning, and better incentivize use of natural infrastructure in flood planning.

As evident from this morning's long list of concerns, Texas is facing mounting challenges with its fragile, finite water resources..

...as Chairwoman Paup said this morning, "there is no Texas miracle without water."

The legislature will need to take decisive action if we want to keep that miracle going.

That's it from us today. Thanks for joining!

Read more here: texaslivingwaters.org/texas-needs-yo…

#txwater #txlege