The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) released its preliminary recommendation for resolving the interregional conflict between the 2011 Region C and Region D regional water plans. Because mediation was unsuccessful, TWDB's governing board is required to resolve the conflict, which involved the Region D planning group's objection to including Marvin Nichols Reservoir in the 2011 Region C Regional Water Plan.
TWDB's Executive Administrator Kevin Patteson proposes that Region C readopt its current regional water plan with Marvin Nichols Reservoir as a recommended water management strategy and proposes that Region D amend its plan to reflect that the conflict has been resolved.
TWDB's proposed resolution initiates the public involvement process, during which public hearings will be held and written and oral comments will be accepted. The timeline for resolving the conflict is as follows:
- March and April 2014, date and time TBD: TWDB will hold public hearings in both regions. The public comment period will close April 15. Public comments should be submitted to RegionCandD@twdb.texas.gov.
- May 2014: The executive administrator will consider all comments and make a final recommendation to the Board.
- Summer 2014: The Board will consider and take action on the executive administrator's recommendation.
Because the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) requires that a project be in the state water plan, no water supply projects in Regions C and D will be eligible for SWIFT funding until the conflict is resolved and the regional water plans and the state water plan are revised.
TWDB is recommending the two regions implement additional actions to resolve the conflict, including completing the ongoing Sulphur River Basin Study; considering alternative strategies, such as additional conservation measures and additional water supplies; and sharing mitigation measures.
