Featured District
 This month we explore the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District and their participation in the Texas Soil Observation Network (TxSon) project. The district also partners with other Groundwater Conservation Districts in their data collection practices. Read more about their collaborative efforts in these areas here. |
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Case Study
Collaborative effort between Panola County GCD, INTERA, and Bill Hutchison finds way to improve Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer model during DFC process. Read more here.
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USGS- Assessing groundwater over time
A new report about how groundwater quality and quantity has changed in and around Gaines, Terry, and Yoakum counties is now available from the U.S. Geological Survey. Read it here.
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Recent AG Opinion
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On Monday, June 27 Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion on requirements for a municipality’s posting of notice regarding the carrying of handguns.
The opinion states that subsection 46.035(c) of the Penal Code makes it an offense to carry a handgun "in the room or rooms where a meeting of a governmental entity is held if the meeting is an open meeting subject to Chapter 551, Government Code" and the entity provided the requisite notice. Governmental entities should place these notices at the entrance to the room(s) where an open meeting is held. A governmental entity may not provide notice that excludes the carrying of handguns when the room or rooms are used for purposes other than an open meeting.
By specifically limiting the offense to carrying a handgun in "the room or rooms," the Legislature made it clear that it did not intend to prohibit the carrying of handguns throughout an entire building, but only in the room or rooms where an open meeting of a governmental entity is being held. Read the request for the opinion here. Read the full opinion here.
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TWDB updates
TWDB held a Board meeting on June 14 to consider financial assistance for water and wastewater system improvement projects, as well as receive a briefing on groundwater management in Texas relating to DFCs, MAGs, and DFC petitions. Watch Larry French brief the Board under Agenda Item 9 here.
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Interim report
Upcoming Senate Ag, Water, & Rural Affairs Commitee summer hearings
Past hearings
- May 23, 2016 Senate Ag, Water, & Rural Affairs Committee Video
- June 1, 2016 House Natural Resources Committee Video
- June 20, 2016 Senate Ag, Water, & Rural Affairs Committee Video
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Texas Groundwater Summit
August 23-25, 2016 in San Marcos, Texas. This year, our program will include a glance into the 85th Legislative Session, as well as sessions on water markets in Texas, groundwater and media, Aquifer Storage Recovery, well drilling and enforcement, and more. The Summit will also feature a field trip to see SAWS' ASR and brackish desalination facility. Register now.
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News
- Texas Tribune Q&A with Tim Loftus from the Meadows Center. Read more here.
- Straus Appoints Rep. Larson and Rep. Phelan to the SWIFT Advisory Committee. Read more here.
- AWWA Texas H20 New Publication available here.
- June 1, 2016 TWDB adopted amendments to 31 Texas Administrative Code Section 356 relating to Groundwater Management. View live streaming of Agenda Item 9 here.
- TWCA June 2016 Edition of Confluence now available here.
- Lonestar Groundwater Conservation District holds minecraft challenge for students. Read more here.
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Events
- August 23-25, 2016 Texas Groundwater Summit. Register here.
- September 29-30, 2016: Texas Desal Conference. Find more details here.
- September 29-30, 2016: Texas Water Law Conference. Find more details here.
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