A presentation was given on drought conditions in Texas during the November 19, 2009 Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) meeting. The US Drought Monitor shows that Texas “is still feeling the pain for the rest of the nation.” However, instead of 50% of the state being affected by the drought, information at that time showed it is only 25% of the state that is affected.
As of November 16, 2009, 27 counties have outdoor burn bans which is the lowest number Texas has seen all year.
As of November 1, 2009 there are 342 Public Water Systems that are affected by the drought and that is still the peak number of systems affected by the drought. There has not yet been a decrease in those numbers but it is hoped those numbers will soon be reached and then begin to decrease.
For the month of November there is 1.8 million acre-feet in reservoir storage. Many reservoirs tracked are showing a double digit gain in reserves.
For 2008-2009 Conservation Storage, the South Central area saw a dramatic increase over the last month but the Edwards Plateau and Southern Region are still flat and have yet to see any improvement.
The U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook has forecasted continued improved conditions for the state of Texas.
For more information please visit the US Drought Monitor website: http://drought.unl.edu/DM/MONITOR.html
For more information on stream flow conditions, please visit: Water Watch of Current Stream Flow Conditions in Texas: http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/
During this meeting the TWDB also approved financial assistance totaling $493,308,000 as follows:
· $2,745,000 to the Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements, utilizing the pre-design funding option;
· $5,285,000 to the Fort Bend County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements, utilizing the pre-design funding option;
· $2,750,000 to the Jefferson County Water Control and Improvement District No. 10 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements, utilizing the pre-design funding option;
· $371,865,000 to the Trinity River Authority-Central Regional Wastewater Treatment System from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements, utilizing the pre-design funding option;
· $23,765,000 to the Trinity River Authority-Denton Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment System from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements, utilizing the pre-design funding option;
· $7,945,000 to the Trinity River Authority-Mountain Creek Regional Wastewater System from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements, utilizing the pre-design funding option;
· $51,100,000 to the Trinity River Authority-Ten Mile Creek Regional Wastewater System from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements, utilizing the pre-design funding option;
· $19,990,000 to the Trinity River Authority-Red Oak Creek Regional Wastewater System from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements, utilizing the pre-design funding option;
· $600,000 to the City of Blossom from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund – Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements, utilizing the pre-design commitment option;
· $2,710,000 to the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 148 from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund – Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements, utilizing the pre-design commitment option;
· $2,198,000 to the Nueces River Authority-City of Leakey from the Economically Distressed Areas Program for the acquisition of land for a wastewater treatment plant to provide first time wastewater service, utilizing the pre-design funding option;
· $2,355,000 to the Bois D’Arc Municipal Utility District from the Texas Water Development Fund to finance water system improvements, utilizing the pre-design funding option.
TWDB approved projects for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds as follows:
· $31,815,000 to the City of Austin under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
· $6,425,000 to the City of El Paso under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements;
· $2,220,000 to the City of Bonham under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance wastewater system improvements;
· $1,835,000 to the City of Galveston under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance wastewater system improvements;
· $6,125,000 to the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 148 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance wastewater system improvements;
· $12,255,000 to the City of Presidio under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance wastewater system improvements;
· $2,500,000 to the City of Valentine under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance wastewater system improvements;
· $16,265,000 to the City of Fort Worth under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to finance water system improvements;
· $1,070,000 to the City of Burnet under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements;
· $1,875,000 to the City of Comanche under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements;
· $5,565,000 to the City of Dimmitt under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements;
· $5,100,000 to the City of Elsa under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund -Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements;
· $17,160,000 to the City of Galveston under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements;
· $7,150,000 to the Harris County Water Control and Improvement District No. 36 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund -Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements;
· $970,000 to the Lohn Water Supply Corporation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund¬-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements;
· $2,255,000 to the City of Mount Vernon under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements.
TWDB also approved financial assistance for projects listed as “provisional” to be funded either under ARRA or an alternative funding source. These projects will be funded through ARRA if funds are available. If ARRA funds are not available, these projects will be funded through the standard Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds under the same terms and conditions as those projects financed under ARRA. The projects that fall into this category are as follows:
· $23,200,000 to the Central Texas Water Supply Corporation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, or an alternative source of funding, to finance water system improvements;
· $965,000 to the City of Honey Grove as a provisional project under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund-Disadvantaged Community Program to finance water system improvements;
· $25,380,000 to the City of Amarillo as a provisional project under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to finance water system improvements;
· $1,060,000 to the Altoga Water Supply Corporation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, or an alternative source of funding, to finance water system improvements.