Texas Water Day 2005

Close to 100 Texans joined together on April 13, 2005, to carry a single unified message to Washington, DC: the future of Texas water depends on strengthening partnerships among local and state entities and federal agencies.

The first-ever Texas Water Day was organized by the Texas Water Conservation Association and the Texas Water Development Board with the goal of increasing awareness in Washington of the serious water issues facing the state and enlisting support for increased technical and financial assistance. All areas of the state were represented by regional entities. Support was provided by 32 sponsors .

Click here for photos of the events.

The SB 1 regional water planning process has identified $18 billion in needed projects over the next 50 years. By 2050:

• Almost 900 cities (with 38% of the state's projected population) will need to reduce demand and develop additional water supplies.
• Current water supplies will fall short of annual demand by 7.5 million acre-feet.
• Some 43% of municipal water demand could not be satisfied by current sources under drought conditions

Teams of participants visited the office of each member of the Texas Congressional delegation, key agencies, and staff of water committees. Leave-behind packets included a summary of statewide water issues and needed action and more detailed white papers on each issue. Participants included Texas Water Development Board Chairman Rod Pittman, Vice Chairman Jack Hunt, and Member D.V. Guerra, Jr., and Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioner Joseph Fitzsimmons.

The day's events concluded with a reception to which members and staff of the Texas delegation and federal water agencies were invited. Special guests included Sen. John Cornyn, Congressmen Chet Edwards and Ken Marchant, Congresswoman Kay Granger, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys, and US Army Corps of Engineers Maj. General Riley.