Advocacy

CTWC advocates for legislation and water management policies that will resolve the problems and disparities with today’s water management.

Hydrologists are telling us that unless changes are made to how we manage our water supply, our health, our safety, and our quality of life are at risk and our economic stability is threatened. We need legislative and regulatory policies that reflect today’s hydrologic data, encourage conservation by all users, and achieve pricing that is fair and equitable to all.

WHY you should support CTWC

Past droughts, changing weather patterns, a rapidly growing population, and shifting demographics have made it imperative that we modify state law and regulations to protect our citizens and safeguard the economic well-being of our state.

The lack of a reliable water supply impacts businesses. Simply put, if we do not change our water management policies to reflect today’s hydrologic information and population growth, we will not have adequate water to drink or to sustain life and business.

It’s time to make strategic, common-sense adjustments to our water laws and regulations to fairly balance the needs of all citizens and the environment and to protect and preserve our state’s most critical and irreplaceable natural resource: water.

See CTWC’s comments which address legislative and regulatory issues in water management submitted to LCRA, TCEQ, Texas Water Development Board and Region K.

HOW does CTWC propose to affect change?

Support legislative and regulatory actions that:

  • Promotes fair and equitable water pricing, which will promote conservation
  • Focuses on incentivizing conservation rather than using all of the water
  • Makes changes to the Water Code that take into account today’s changing needs and current hydrologic data

WHAT can you do to help?

  • Sign up for Updates from CTWC
  • Take action when needed to affect change
  • Support CTWC’s work to advocate for responsible water management policies, equitable pricing and greater conservation by all.

If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact us at info@centraltexaswatercoalition.org.

About Central Texas Water Coalition

The Highland Lake interests formed the Central Texas Water Coalition (CTWC) in 2011 to provide a unified voice to protect and represent the Highland Lakes. Today, CTWC has a membership base of more than 3,000, including municipalities, counties, water supply corporations, businesses, and citizens. CTWC is working at various levels including the Texas Legislature, Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), Region K, county and local public officials. CTWC works to promote water policies that eliminate the threat to health, safety and the environment, and that provide drinking water and economic stability.

CTWC will continue promoting fair and equitable management of the Highland Lakes by the Lower Colorado River Authority and supporting the use of up-to-date research and data. We will continue to address this by using legislative and regulatory strategies to bring appropriate management and fair practices from a statewide perspective.

CTWC wants to ensure sustainability of water availability while supporting environmental flows for the entire basin. We must all rethink the way surface water is utilized.

CTWC supported the SUNSET REVIEW OF LCRA

Information about the Sunset Review process that CTWC participated in:

In 1977, responding to scandals in federal and state institutions, the Texas Legislature passed the Texas Sunset Act to restore public confidence in state government. This law establishes a review process for state agencies to ensure that state government is transparent and responsive to the people of Texas. Reviews conducted by the Sunset Advisory Commission (Sunset) create a unique opportunity and powerful incentive for the Legislature and stakeholders to look closely at each agency and make improvements, which can result in changes to relevant laws or different ways of managing an agency.

In 2015, the Texas Legislature expanded the list to include the 18 river authorities. The river authorities will be scrutinized regarding their governance, management, operating structure, and compliance with legislative requirements.

CTWC met multiple times with the Sunset Commission staff about our concerns.