Nicole Campbell

The Saratoga Underground Water Conservation District's Groundwater Management Plan outlines strategies to protect and maintain the quantity and quality of usable groundwater in Lampasas County. Effective for a five-year period, the plan focuses on promoting efficient groundwater use, preventing waste, addressing conjunctive surface water management, mitigating natural resource impacts, managing drought conditions, and encouraging conservation through brush control and rainwater harvesting, all in pursuit of desired future groundwater conditions.

Key discussions and actions during the meeting included authorizing an amendment to extend the expiration date and increase the funding for the grant contract with the Texas Water Foundation for a statewide water public awareness campaign. The Board approved the selection and contract authorization for a new financial advisor. Authorization was granted to negotiate and execute contracts, not to exceed $12,000,000 per contract, with seven engineering firms for statewide flood science, community assistance, and grant management programs. The Board also authorized the publication of proposed new 31 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 378. Discussions occurred regarding the development and adoption processes for the 2026 Regional Water Plans, followed by the approval of the 2026 Regional Water Plans for Regions A through P. Furthermore, the Board approved extending the Grantwoods Water Supply Corporation's Water Loan Assistance Fund commitment and approved a project-specific exemption for Wellborn Special Utility District's Water Supply and Distribution System Improvements. Several grant agreements were authorized, including one for $54,000,000 to the City of Bellaire, five separate grants totaling $55,000,000 to the Harris County Flood Control District, a grant to the Brownsville Public Utilities Board, and two grants totaling $46,000,000 to the City of Corpus Christi, and a grant to the Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1. Resolutions were adopted approving financial assistance requests from the City of Port Arthur and the City of San Marcos for water and wastewater system improvements, respectively. The agenda concluded with public comment opportunities and consideration for an executive session.

This document is an agenda item memo concerning the approval of the 2026 Regional Water Plans for Regions A through P by the Texas Water Development Board. These plans are developed every five years to ensure a secure water future for Texas and incorporate regional water planning, water conservation practices, and drought management measures. The review confirmed the plans' compliance with statutory requirements, resolution of interregional conflicts, and consistency with long-term protection of the state's water, agricultural, and natural resources. The plans outline water management strategies and needs for the period 2030-2080.

The primary subject for consideration is the authorization for the Executive Administrator to negotiate and execute contracts with seven selected engineering firms to support statewide flood science, community assistance, and grant management services, with a not-to-exceed amount of $12,000,000 per contract. This action stems from appropriations made by the 86th Texas Legislature to develop and update flood risk data for the state flood plan. The proposed contracts aim to initiate a new round of work to complete additional updates to flood risk modeling and mapping, as well as support for the agency's state and federal grant programs. Twenty applications were received in response to Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 580-25-RFQ-0017, resulting in the selection of AECOM Technical Services, CDM Smith, Dewberry, Freese and Nichols, Halff Associates, LJA Engineering, and Michael Baker International.

The agenda for the meeting included several key considerations. These involve authorizing amendments to extend contract expiration dates and increase funding for the statewide water public awareness campaign, selecting and approving a financial advisor, and negotiating contracts with engineering firms for statewide flood science and grant management programs. Other items included authorizing the publication of proposed new TAC Chapter 378, discussion and approval of the 2026 Regional Water Plans, amending a resolution to extend a loan commitment for Grantwoods Water Supply Corporation, approving a project-specific exemption for Wellborn Special Utility District, and considering several large grant agreements with the City of Bellaire, Harris County Flood Control District, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, City of Corpus Christi, and Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1. The board also considered financial assistance requests from the City of Port Arthur and the City of San Marcos for water and wastewater system improvements, respectively. The meeting concluded with a period for public comments.