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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Population growth in the arid and semiarid regions |
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of the United States is expanding at a rate that far exceeds the |
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growth rate in other parts of the nation, yet it is this same region |
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where water sources have become limited in their capacity to |
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sustain future population growth; and |
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WHEREAS, Traditional approaches to meeting growing water |
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demand in urban areas require exploitation of surface and |
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subsurface resources to the maximum extent possible, but these |
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approaches are becoming increasingly costly; and |
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WHEREAS, Future growth and development in our state will |
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require cost-effective solutions to provide sustainable water |
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supplies, and this effort will require collaboration among all of |
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the communities, organizations, and institutions that have a stake |
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in the region's well-being; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby request the speaker to direct the House |
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Committee on Natural Resources to conduct an interim study on the |
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interconnectivity of Texas water resources; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the study specifically identify: |
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(1) which legal issues obstruct localities from |
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entering into agreements to transfer water; |
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(2) the financial barriers that restrict local water |
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suppliers from completing water transfer projects without state |
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assistance; |
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(3) any organizational problems that inhibit |
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cooperation between local water providers or regional water |
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planners in moving water; and |
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(4) potential partners among bordering states and the |
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potential challenges to water transfers between Texas suppliers and |
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suppliers in those states; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including |
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its findings and recommendations, to the House of Representatives |
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of the 85th Texas Legislature before it convenes in January 2017. |