May 2, 2005

Texas Legislature

Three conservation organizations have praised the passage of Senate Bill 3 for provisions designed to establish a new process for ensuring sufficient water for fish and wildlife.

“Senate Bill 3 incorporates an historic compromise in efforts to move the state forward in protecting critically important river flows and freshwater inflows,” said Myron Hess, manager of the Texas water programs for the National Wildlife Federation. “Both water supply interests and the environmental community joined together to recommend the environmental flow provisions in SB 3 in a joint recognition of the need to maintain
the fish and wildlife heritage of Texas while also meeting essential human water needs.”

“We urge the Texas House to act favorably on these proposed environmental flow provisions,” added Ken Kramer, state director of the Sierra Club.  “If enacted, SB 3 will put into place
a process that could ensure the continued health and productivity of such major coastal resources as Galveston Bay and Matagorda Bay as well as the vitality of river systems throughout Texas.” 

SB 3, sponsored by Senator Ken Armbrister, also contains provisions addressing water conservation and groundwater management.  Provisions for financing for water resources projects and activities were dropped from the bill during the Senate committee process. 

“We are disappointed by the demise of the fee provisions,” said Mary Kelly, senior attorney for Environmental Defense.  “A modest portion of those fees could have been used by the state water trust to lease or buy water rights for environmental needs in rivers where the surface water is fully allocated...we urge the Legislature to appropriate adequate funds from other sources to begin implementing the environmental flows provisions in SB 3.”

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