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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a pilot project conducted by the Texas Water |
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Development Board regarding the real-time monitoring of the |
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inundation and water quality of certain portions of the Rio Grande. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 2, Water Code, is amended by adding |
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Subtitle G to read as follows: |
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SUBTITLE G. PILOT PROJECT |
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CHAPTER 39. RIO GRANDE MONITORING PILOT PROJECT |
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Sec. 39.0101. PURPOSE. It is the policy of this state and |
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the purpose of this chapter to: |
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(1) implement a pilot project on the Rio Grande to |
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better provide for the public's interests and needs regarding that |
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river; |
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(2) demonstrate new tools in water quality monitoring |
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and early flood warning that will be transferable to other areas of |
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this state; and |
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(3) provide more efficient and effective |
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administration of the conservation of this state's natural |
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resources and protection of the public and the environment. |
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Sec. 39.0102. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board. |
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(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality. |
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(3) "Pilot project" means the Rio Grande monitoring |
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pilot project. |
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Sec. 39.0103. RIO GRANDE MONITORING PILOT PROJECT. (a) The |
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board and the commission jointly shall conduct a river monitoring |
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pilot project on the Rio Grande between Columbia and Falcon Lake as |
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described by this section. |
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(b) The pilot project must include improvements to or |
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installation of monitoring sites at the following locations: |
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(1) Colombia Solidarity Bridge; |
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(2) World Trade International Bridge; |
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(3) Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge; |
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(4) US Geological Survey Site 084592000; and |
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(5) a site in San Ygnacio upstream from Falcon Lake. |
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(c) The board shall: |
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(1) enhance the stream gaging network that monitors |
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stream flow in the Rio Grande; and |
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(2) develop a flood inundation modeling system for the |
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Rio Grande. |
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(d) The commission shall establish a continuous, real-time |
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water quality observation network for the segment of the Rio Grande |
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described by Subsection (b), including a program of periodic water |
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sampling to determine the levels of: |
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(1) turbidity; |
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(2) acidity; |
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(3) temperature; |
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(4) dissolved oxygen; |
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(5) nitrates; and |
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(6) total dissolved solids. |
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(e) The commission and the board may post information |
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obtained in the pilot project on the commission's or board's |
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Internet website. |
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(f) The board may contract or cooperate with any person |
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necessary to complete the pilot project, including the United |
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States Geological Survey Texas Water Science Center. |
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Sec. 39.0104. PILOT PROJECT REPORT. Not later than |
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September 1, 2024, the board shall deliver a report to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and |
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standing committees of the senate and house of representatives |
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having jurisdiction over matters related to water development. The |
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report must include a summary of the methods used and the results |
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obtained for each element of the pilot project. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |