MINUTES

REGION H WATER PLANNING GROUP MEETING

10:00 A.M.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY OFFICE

LAKE CONROE DAM

1577 DAM SITE ROAD

CONROE, TEXAS

MEMBERS PRESENT: James Adams, Chairman, Roosevelt Alexander, John R. Bartos, Robert Bruner, Mark Evans, Mary Alice Gonzalez, Jack Harris, Robert Istre, David Jenkins, Carolyn Johnson, Marvin Marcell, Susan Morgan, Ron Neighbors, Bill Roberts, Jack Searcy, Jr., Jeff Taylor, William Teer, Danny Vance, and C. Harold Wallace.

DESIGNATED ALTERNATES: Jace Houston alternate for Michael S. Sullivan, John Blount for Gary Stobb, and Jason Fluharty for Kerry Whelan.

MEMBERS ABSENT: James Morrison, James Murray, Michael S. Sullivan, Steve Tyler, Gary Stobb, and Kerry Whelan.

PRESIDING: James Adams, Chairman

INTRODUCTIONS

Mr. Adams stated that Jace Houston is the alternate for Michael Sullivan, John Blount for Gary Stobb, and Jason Fluharty for Kerry Whelan.

APPROVE MINUTES OF JUNE 1, 2004

Motion by Mr. Vance to approve the minutes of the June 1, 2004, meeting as presented.

Second by Mr. Searcy. Motion carried unanimously.

RESIGNATION OF GARY STOBB

Mr. Adams stated that a letter had been received submitting the resignation of Gary Stobb and supporting the appointment of John Blount as the representative for counties. The letter also requested that Gary Stobb be the designated alternate for John Blount.

Motion by Mr. Searcy to accept the resignation of Gary Stobb and appoint John Blount to serve as the replacement for Gary Stobb representing counties and to serve out the remainder of his five-year term. Second by Mr. Bartos. Motion carried unanimously.

 

 

RESIGNATION OF KERRY WHELAN

Mr. Adams stated that a letter of resignation had been received from Kerry Whelan as the representative for electric generating utilities along with a recommendation that Jason Fluharty be selected as the representative for electric generating utilities.

Motion by Mr. Searcy to accept the resignation of Kerry Whelan and appoint Jason Fluharty to serve as the replacement for Kerry Whelan representing electric generating utilities and to serve out the remainder of his five-year term. Second by Mr. Harris. Motion carried unanimously.

UPDATE ON THE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE WORK

Mr. Taylor gave a report on the progress of the Water Conservation Implementation Task Force. The committee is continuing to hold meetings to receive public input and recommendations. They are also working on gallons per capita target goals. These recommendations would be statewide goals and not mandatory targets. The committee has also adopted a guide for best management practices. The committee has also had some discussion on the issue of direct and indirect reuse and how those numbers would apply to the gallons per capita per day goals.

PRESENTATION FROM BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY

John Hoffman, representing the Brazos River Authority (BRA), gave a presentation of the system management and drought protection permit application and request to amend the 2001 Region H Water Plan. The new application seeks an amount of 421,000 acre/feet per year. The BRA has held public and stakeholders forums concerning the application. Some of the benefits include creation of additional water; use of state of the art water availability models; delays in construction of new reservoirs; and maintenance of instream flows, which will allow water for environmental needs.

DISCUSS AND CONSIDER CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE 2001 REGION H WATER PLAN

Andy Sterbenz of KBR presented the proposed amendments to the 2001 Region H Water Plan for the purpose of reviewing the list of possible amendments for a public notice.

The following amendments were presented:

  1. Funding and drilling a new well (Porter WSC) and changing the water supply from another source (Fort Bend FWSD #1).
  2. Motion by Mr. Searcy to approve this item to be included in the notice of public hearing for an amendment to the 2001 Region H Water Plan. Second by Mr. Jenkins. Motion carried.

  3. Water right redesignation for the Chambers-Liberty Counties Navigation District.
  4. Motion by Mr. Jenkins to approve this item to be included in the notice of the public hearing for an amendment to the 2001 Region H Water Plan. Second by Ms. Johnson. Motion carried.

  5. Permit applications to supplement surface water needs (SJRA and City of Houston).
  6. Motion by Mr. Neighbors to approve this item to be included in the notice of the public hearing for an amendment to the 2001 Region H Water Plan. Second by Mr. Jenkins. Motion carried.

  7. Permit application for indirect reuse of groundwater generated return flows (NHCRWA).
  8. Motion by Mr. Neighbors to approve this item to be included in the notice of the public hearing for an amendment to the 2001 Region H Water Plan. Second by Mr. Harris. Motion carried. Mr. Jenkins abstained.

  9. Permit application for system management and drought protection (BRA).
  10. Motion by Mr. Neighbors to approve this item to be included in the notice of the public hearing for an amendment to the 2001 Region H Water Plan. Second by Mr. Jenkins. Motion carried.

  11. Permit to supplement surface water needs with storage as required to increase reliability.

Robert Istre (GCWA) presented this item and discussed a GCWA proposal for storage of water in the aquifer.

Motion by Mr. Istre to approve this item to be included in the notice of the public hearing for an amendment to the 2001 Region H Water Plan. Second by Mr. Taylor. Motion failed.

 

Motion by Mr. Searcy to approve posting of the public notice for the public hearing with the above approved amendments. Second by Ms. Morgan. Motion carried.

DISCUSS UPDATE OF POLICY ISSUE SURVEY

This action was delayed to a future meeting.

CONSULTANTS REPORTS

The consultant team discussed corrections that were made for the Brazoria County manufacturing demand numbers.

Corrections have also been made to the groundwater supply demand as follows:

Fort Bend County: 80 mgd

Harris/Galveston County: 204 mgd

The consultant team also discussed possible changes for Leon and Madison counties, which would be reported on in the next meeting.

AGENCY COMMUNICATIONS

Parks & Wildlife: Galveston Bay Stakeholders Meeting - September 10, 2004.

Bob Stokes was introduced as the new President of the Galveston Bay Foundation.

September 18th is Bay Day.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

None.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Ken Kramer and Brandt Mansion, both representing the Sierra Club, remarked on how they would like to be able to speak before the members voted on issues concerning the amendments or issues when they come up in the future. Both also stated that they believe all of the amendments should wait to be included in the next plan which is to come in about 18 months.

NEXT MEETING

Wednesday, October 6, 2004

San Jacinto River Authority

Lake Conroe Dam

1577 Dam Site Road

Conroe, Texas

ADJOURNED