31 Tex. Admin. Code § 357.43 - Regulatory, Administrative, or Legislative Recommendations

(a) The RWPs shall contain any regulatory, administrative, or legislative recommendations developed by the RWPGs.

(b) Ecologically Unique River and Stream Segments. RWPGs may include in adopted RWPs recommendations for all or parts of river and stream segments of unique ecological value located within the RWPA by preparing a recommendation package consisting of a physical description giving the location of the stream segment, maps, and photographs of the stream segment and a site characterization of the stream segment documented by supporting literature and data. The recommendation package shall address each of the criteria for designation of river and stream segments of ecological value found in this subsection. The RWPG shall forward the recommendation package to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and allow the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 30 days for its written evaluation of the recommendation. The adopted RWP shall include, if available, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's written evaluation of each river and stream segment recommended as a river or stream segment of unique ecological value.

(1) An RWPG may recommend a river or stream segment as being of unique ecological value based upon the criteria set forth in § 358.2 of this title (relating to Definitions).

(2) For every river and stream segment that has been designated as a unique river or stream segment by the legislature, including during a session that ends not less than one year before the required date of submittal of an adopted RWP to the Board, or recommended as a unique river or stream segment in the RWP, the RWPG shall assess the impact of the RWP on these segments. The assessment shall be a quantitative analysis of the impact of the plan on the flows important to the river or stream segment, as determined by the RWPG, comparing current conditions to conditions with implementation of all recommended WMSs. The assessment shall also describe the impact of the plan on the unique features cited in the region's recommendation of that segment.

(c) Unique Sites for Reservoir Construction. An RWPG may recommend sites of unique value for construction of reservoirs by including descriptions of the sites, reasons for the unique designation and expected beneficiaries of the water supply to be developed at the site. The criteria at § 358.2 of this title shall be used to determine if a site is unique for reservoir construction.

(d) Any other recommendations that the RWPG believes are needed and desirable to achieve the stated goals of state and regional water planning including to facilitate the orderly development, management, and conservation of water resources and prepare for and respond to drought conditions. This may include recommendations that the RWPG believes would improve the state and regional water planning process.

(e) RWPGs may develop information as to the potential impacts of any proposed changes in law prior to or after changes are enacted.

(f) RWPGs should consider making legislative recommendations to facilitate more voluntary water transfers in the region.

Notes

31 Tex. Admin. Code § 357.43

The provisions of this §357.43 adopted to be effective August 12, 2012, 37 TexReg 5797; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 41, Number 49, December 2, 2016, TexReg 9625, eff. 12/8/2016; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 45, Number 25, June 19, 2020, TexReg 4217, eff. 6/28/2020