86R13957 SLB-D
By: Raymond H.B. No. 3770
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a pilot project conducted by the Texas Water
Development Board regarding the real-time monitoring of the
inundation and water quality of certain portions of the Rio Grande.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 2, Water Code, is amended by adding
Subtitle G to read as follows:
SUBTITLE G. PILOT PROJECT
CHAPTER 39. RIO GRANDE MONITORING PILOT PROJECT
Sec. 39.0101. PURPOSE. It is the policy of this state and
the purpose of this chapter to:
(1) implement a pilot project on the Rio Grande to
better provide for the public's interests and needs regarding that
river;
(2) demonstrate new tools in water quality monitoring
and early flood warning that will be transferable to other areas of
this state; and
(3) provide more efficient and effective
administration of the conservation of this state's natural
resources and protection of the public and the environment.
Sec. 39.0102. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board.
(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(3) "Pilot project" means the Rio Grande monitoring
pilot project.
Sec. 39.0103. RIO GRANDE MONITORING PILOT PROJECT. (a) The
board and the commission jointly shall conduct a river monitoring
pilot project on the Rio Grande between Columbia and Falcon Lake as
described by this section.
(b) The pilot project must include improvements to or
installation of monitoring sites at the following locations:
(1) Colombia Solidarity Bridge;
(2) World Trade International Bridge;
(3) Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge;
(4) US Geological Survey Site 084592000; and
(5) a site in San Ygnacio upstream from Falcon Lake.
(c) The board shall:
(1) enhance the stream gaging network that monitors
stream flow in the Rio Grande; and
(2) develop a flood inundation modeling system for the
Rio Grande.
(d) The commission shall establish a continuous, real-time
water quality observation network for the segment of the Rio Grande
described by Subsection (b), including a program of periodic water
sampling to determine the levels of:
(1) turbidity;
(2) acidity;
(3) temperature;
(4) dissolved oxygen;
(5) nitrates; and
(6) total dissolved solids.
(e) The commission and the board may post information
obtained in the pilot project on the commission's or board's
Internet website.
(f) The board may contract or cooperate with any person
necessary to complete the pilot project, including the United
States Geological Survey Texas Water Science Center.
Sec. 39.0104. PILOT PROJECT REPORT. Not later than
September 1, 2024, the board shall deliver a report to the governor,
lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
standing committees of the senate and house of representatives
having jurisdiction over matters related to water development. The
report must include a summary of the methods used and the results
obtained for each element of the pilot project.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.