The Texas Water Development Board met to consider approval of funding for multiple projects through the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas.
 
Consider approving by resolution a request from Fort Bend County Fresh Water Supply District No.1 (Fort Bend County) for an $8,000,000 loan from the Texas Water Development Fund to finance design and construction costs for new water lines and a water plant expansion.

  • Water access to public water distribution system
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Hudson (Angelina County) for a $410,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance planning and design costs for the replacement of an existing wastewater treatment plant.

  • Kathleen Jackson: Last time city came to the board was 1983, this project currently a result of financial assistance instruction
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Tahoka (Lynn County) for $6,314,000 in financial assistance consisting of a $4,443,000 grant and a $1,871,000 loan from the Economically Distressed Areas Program to finance the construction of water distribution system improvements.

  • 60,000 feet of water lines associated with appurtenances and water infrastructure
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Greater Texoma Utility Authority on behalf of the City of Whitewright (Grayson and Fannin counties) for a $640,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of wastewater system improvements.

  • Improvements to lift system
  • Approved

 
Consider affirming by resolution the commitment to provide financial assistance from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to the Town of Anthony (El Paso County), made in TWDB Resolution No. 14-25, and concurring in the Executive Administrator's environmental finding.

  • Affirmation of previous commitment
  • Approved

 
Consider affirming by resolution the commitment to provide financial assistance from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to the City of Castroville (Medina County), made in TWDB Resolutions Nos. 12-110 and 15-032, and concurring in the Executive Administrator's environmental finding.

  • Affirmation of previous commitment
  • Approved

 
Consider affirming by resolution the commitment to provide financial assistance from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to the Greater Texoma Utility Authority, on behalf of the City of Sherman (Grayson County), made in TWDB Resolution No. 14-105, and concurring in the Executive Administrator's environmental finding.

  • Affirmation of previous commitment
  • Approved

 
Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to negotiate and execute grant contracts on or before August 31, 2015, in a total amount not to exceed $379,600 from the Agricultural Water Conservation Fund for the recommended Fiscal Year 2015 agricultural water conservation projects.

  • No real restrictions or rules for eligibility
  • Approved
  • Jackson: Can you share what might be available moving forward?
    • Rider 25 was limited to current biennium, grant programs allow up to $600,000 in funding to eligible projects, including metering projects. However, broad category of eligibility so metering projects are not typically funded
  • Bruun: Are we keeping track of the funding and demand?
    • Yes, all districts are required to submit reports
  • Carlos Rubinstein: Commends conservation efforts
  • Heath Thompson, LVNA: Started metering water fields in 2004, usage statistics have drastically improved thanks to metering
  • Jackson: Metering and conservation programs have been greatly effective

 
Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to execute a contract amendment for continuation of a biological study of San Antonio Bay for a total amount not to exceed $300,000.

  • Looking at Salinity and circulation patterns
  • Approved
  • Jackson: What is TWDB’s contribution to this study
    • Hydrology information and hydrodynamic modeling
  • Bruun: Asks after interest in data from the 1950s
    • Looking to incorporate this information in relation to the re-opening of the bay

 
Consider approving by resolution: (a) the issuance of Texas Water Development Board State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas Revenue Bonds, Series 2015 A and B, (b) the execution of the Master Trust Indenture and Bond Indentures, (c) the execution of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas Funds Transfer Agreement, (d) the Preliminary Official Statement, (e) the underwriting syndicate, and (f) the authorization of the Executive Administrator, the Development Fund Manager, and the Chief Financial Officer to act on behalf of the Texas Water Development Board in the sale and delivery of multiple series of the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas Revenue Bonds issuances.

  • LBB has approved this bond issuance and funds transference, after approval staff will make an application to the bond review board. Final amount determined by demand by borrowers. Maximum par amount of $1,025,000,000
  • Approved
  • Jackson: Would like a summary of the selection process for underwriting firms
    • Pool larger than in past, but appropriate given size of proposal
  • Bruun: Comments original proposal was for $800 mil, wonders how proposal came to be for $1.025 billion
    • Figure based on applications received and market demand

 
Overview of the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas financial assistance program.

  • Financial assistance program is now in full operation, designed to facilitate SWIFT funding efforts for water projects.

 
Items 12-17 are SWIFT projects that were considered together.

  • Item 12 Coastal Water Authorities, 5 regional participants in plan expansion, infrastructure to spread between water authorities, population served will greatly expand.
  • Includes treatment and transportation of water. $1.3 billion for the treatment facility
  • Rubinstein: Commends conservation efforts and great collaborative effort
  • Bruun: $2.9 billion over next biennium

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Coastal Water Authority (Harris County) for $300,000,000 in financial assistance consisting of $276,740,000 in multi-year Board Participation commitments and a $23,260,000 low interest loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the construction of the Luce Bayou Inter-basin Transfer Project.

  • Donald Rickley, Coastal Water Authority: Appreciate the project and Authority efforts
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Houston (Harris County) for a $296,125,000 multi-year, low interest loan commitment from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, design, and construction of the Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion and the Second Source Phase I water transmission line.

  • Susan Bandy, City of Houston: Great to have every interested party come together
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the North Harris County Regional Water Authority (Harris County) for a $953,405,000 multi-year, low interest loan commitment from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, acquisition, design and construction of the Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion, the Second Source Phases I and II water transmission lines, and internal distribution lines.

  • Mark Evans, NHCRWA: Swift implementation is extremely impressive
  • Approved

Consider approving by resolution a request from the Central Harris County Regional Water Authority (Harris County) for a $41,630,000 multi-year, low interest loan commitment from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, acquisition, design and construction of the Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion and the Second Source Phases I and II water transmission lines.

  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the West Harris County Regional Water Authority (Harris County) for a $812,140,000 multi-year, low interest loan commitment from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of the Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion, the Second Source transmission line, and internal distribution lines.

  • Maliya Vinson, WHCRWA: All of these projects are important to the region and in stopping future land subsidence
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the North Fort Bend Water Authority (Fort Bend County) for a $555,845,000 multi-year, low interest loan commitment from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of the Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion and the Second Source transmission line.

  • Bruce Faye, NFBWA: Thanks TWDB for the consideration and efforts in implementing the plan
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution, a request from the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board (El Paso County) for a $50,000,000 low interest loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance Bone Spring-Victorio Peak land and water rights acquisitions.

  • EPWU is requesting $50 mil in SWIFT funding for land acquisition
  • Approved
  • Jackson: Acquisition is part of a larger plan

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Marfa (Presidio County) for a $705,000 low interest loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, design, and construction of a water well.

  • Two water wells for supply of entire city.
  • Approved
  • Jackson: Good example of the diversity of the SWIFT program, serves rural counties as well as urban
  • Bruun: Happy to support SWIFT programs

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Greater Texoma Utility Authority on behalf of the City of Tom Bean (Grayson County) for a $1,210,000 low interest loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a new water well and related appurtenances.

  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Lone Star Regional Water Authority (Bell and Williamson counties) for $27,640,000 in financial assistance consisting of $5,530,000 in low interest loans and a $22,110,000 Board Participation commitment from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a water transmission pipeline, pump stations, storage tanks, and related appurtenances.

  • Connects Lake Granger area to I-35 corridor
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District #1 (Erath, Hood, Palo Pinto and Parker counties) for a $17,100,000 low interest loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the acquisition, design, and utility relocation for the Turkey Peak Reservoir.

  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Bedford (Tarrant County) for a $90,000,000 multi-year, low interest loan commitment from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the construction of water distribution piping and water meters with new Automatic Meter Readers.

  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the North Texas Municipal Water District (Collin, Hunt, Rockwall, Dallas, Kaufman, Ellis, Rains, Fannin, and Denton counties) for a $82,105,000 low interest loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the acquisition and construction work ancillary to the Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir.

  • Jackson: Amazing to see effort put forth with projects like this.
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Tarrant Regional Water District (Jack, Wise, Parker, Tarrant, Johnson, Ellis, Navarro, Henderson, Kaufman, Freestone, Denton, Dallas, Collin, Ellis, and Rockwall counties) for $440,000,000 in low interest loans from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the acquisition, design, and construction of an integrated pipeline project.

  • 150 miles of pipeline, 3 new lake pump stations connecting reservoirs and lake resources to service greater area
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Upper Trinity Regional Water District (Fannin, Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Grayson, and Wise counties) for $44,680,000 in financial assistance consisting of a $15,565,000 Board Participation commitment and a $29,115,000 deferred loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, acquisition, and design for the proposed Lake Ralph Hall Reservoir.

  • Funds will be used to purchase land, finalize planning, and finalize permitting for the project
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Canyon Regional Water Authority (Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, and Wilson counties) for a $55,000,000 loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, design, and construction of the expansion of the Wells Ranch Supply Project.

  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Fort Worth (Tarrant, Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise counties) for a $76,000,000 multi-year, low interest loan commitment from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance planning and construction costs for an advanced metering infrastructure system.

  • Citywide AMI system and leak detection system
  • Jackson: Always good to see large cities working towards conservation
  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (DeWitt, Victoria, Calhoun, Refugio, Gonzales, Caldwell, Hays, Comal, Guadalupe, and Kendall counties) for an $8,000,000 deferred loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance planning of the Integrated Water and Power Plant Project.

  • Seawater desalination plant working in tandem with a power plant
  • Jackson: Good example of how multiple funding sources can work together for good projects

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency (Hays, Caldwell, Comal, and Guadalupe counties) for a $12,500,000 low interest loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of an interconnection between the cities of Kyle and Buda.
Jackson: Interconnection is very important

  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Brazosport Water Authority (Brazoria County) for a $28,300,000 multi-year, low interest loan commitment from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, design and construction of a brackish groundwater reverse osmosis water treatment plant and water wells.

  • Approved

 
Consider approving by resolution a request from the Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 1 (Hidalgo County) for a $7,100,000 low interest loan from the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas to finance the planning, design, and construction of improvements to an agricultural irrigation conveyance system.

  • Lining irrigation channels in the valley region would conserve large amounts of water
  • Jackson: Project is very important to conservation efforts

 
The Board will receive comments from the public.

  • Jackson: Honor to be part of this first set of swift projects
  • Rubinstein: Likewise appreciates the first round of SWIFT projects
  • Bruun: Item 10 is a good example of the swift program, transfer documents etc. designed to accommodate SWIFT projects