02/07/2003: "Water Resources Vital to Economic Advantage"
Texas history is replete with examples of squabbles over water rights. Such situations probably led to the old adage that “Whiskey is for drinkin’; water is for fightin’.” The validity of that statement may be questionable, but the fact that water scarcity and quality are among the major issues facing all Texans cannot be ignored.
Within the Lone Star State, there are 3,879 square miles of Gulf water with a 6,214-mile coastline. Furthermore, Texas has 1.7 million acres of coastal wetlands and more than six million acres of inland wetlands. In addition, there are an estimated 191,228 miles of streams and rivers.
Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state. However, there are about 6,700 lakes constructed as reservoirs totaling some three million acres of water across Texas. The most important function of the reservoirs is to provide the majority of surface water used in Texas. Many of the larger reservoirs also serve as catalysts for substantial recreational and tourism activity, which naturally benefits nearby local economies.
Additionally, groundwater is found in the nine primary aquifers and 20 minor aquifers scattered throughout the state. Estimates indicate that reliance on groundwater has dropped in recent years—from 70% of water consumed in 1974 to 56% in 1996.
The Texas Water Development Board is responsible for planning and allocating funds to ensure that Texas maintains adequate water supplies to meet its demands. Managing water resources involves the river authorities that administer the major watersheds in the state, and local governments are actively engaged in the process.
The Board has divided Texas into 16 regional water planning areas. There is much disparity in the availability of water among the various regions of the state. These differences reflect both geological and climatological factors and the level of resource management that has occurred in the past. Moreover, the development of new water resources typically has some level of conflict with environmental interests, as it almost invariably involves a restructuring of land use and habitats.
It is currently projected that there will be sufficient water supply to meet future municipal and industrial demands assuming that Texas continues to take steps to improve water development and conservation. However, if present trends continue, the Texas water supply will fall short of irrigation demands. Thus, creative and innovative approaches must be explored and implemented on an ongoing basis.
Water quality is, of course, a parallel concern, and it’s difficult to determine the quality of water across the state. The Texas Department of Environmental Quality administers the Safe Drinking Water Act by monitoring our drinking water quality. The agency also determines the water quality of all rivers, lakes, reservoirs, bays, and other bodies of water in Texas. Recently, some water that Texans formerly relied on from reservoirs failed to meet federal standards for use, leading to a decline in the quantity of water available.
A clean and adequate water supply is necessary for economic development and maintaining quality of life standards in Texas. Effective planning and achieving a reasonable and fair balance of interests are critical in enabling water to be a vital element of economic advantage. Failure to adhere to proper guidelines or to meet basic quality standards can have both disastrous economic and human health consequences.