The following words and acronyms, used in this chapter, have the following meanings.
  (1) Board--The Texas Water Development Board.
  (2) Commission--The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
  (3) Regional water plan (RWP)--The plan adopted or amended by a regional water planning group pursuant to Texas Water Code §16.053 (relating to Regional Water Plans) and Chapter 357 of this title (relating to Regional Water Planning).
  (4) Regional water planning area--Area designated pursuant to Texas Water Code §16.053 and Chapter 357 of this title.
  (5) Regional water planning group (RWPG)--Group designated pursuant to Texas Water Code §16.053 and Chapter 357 of this title.
  (6) River and stream segments of unique ecological value--Those river or stream segments that may be identified by the Board in coordination with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Commission or identified in an approved regional water plan based on the following criteria:
    (A) Biological function--stream segments which display significant overall habitat value including both quantity and quality considering the degree of biodiversity, age, and uniqueness observed and including terrestrial, wetland, aquatic, or estuarine habitats;
    (B) Hydrologic function--stream segments which are fringed by habitats that perform valuable hydrologic functions relating to water quality, flood attenuation, flow stabilization, or groundwater recharge and discharge;
    (C) Riparian conservation areas--stream segments which are fringed by significant areas in public ownership including state and federal refuges, wildlife management areas, preserves, parks, mitigation areas, or other areas held by governmental organizations for conservation purposes, or stream segments which are fringed by other areas managed for conservation purposes under a governmentally approved conservation plan;
    (D) High water quality/exceptional aquatic life/high aesthetic value--stream segments and spring resources that are significant due to unique or critical habitats and exceptional aquatic life uses dependent on or associated with high water quality; or
    (E) Threatened or endangered species/unique communities--sites along stream where water development projects would have significant detrimental effects on state or federally listed threatened and endangered species; and sites along streams significant due to the presence of unique, exemplary, or unusually extensive natural communities.
  (7) Site of unique value for construction of reservoirs--Those sites identified by the Board in coordination with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Commission or identified in an approved regional water plan where:
    (A) Site-specific reservoir development is recommended as a specific water management strategy or as a unique reservoir site in an adopted regional water plan; or
    (B) The location, hydrologic, geologic, topographic, water availability, water quality, environmental, cultural, and current development characteristics, or other pertinent factors make the site uniquely suited for reservoir development to provide water supply for:
      (i) The current planning period; or
      (ii) Where it might reasonably be needed to meet needs beyond the 50-year planning period.
  (8) State drought preparedness plan--A plan, separate from the state water plan, that is developed by the Drought Preparedness Council for the purpose of mitigating the effects of drought pursuant to Texas Water Code §16.0551 (relating to State Drought Preparedness Plan).
  (9) State drought response plan--A plan prepared and directed by the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management for the purpose of managing and coordinating the drought response component of the state water plan and the state drought preparedness plan pursuant to Texas Water Code §16.055 (relating to Drought Response Plan).
  (10) State water plan--The most recent comprehensive statewide water plan adopted by the Board under Texas Water Code §16.051 (relating to State Water Plan).
  (11) Water management strategy--A plan or specific project to meet a need for additional water by a discrete user group, which can mean increasing the total water supply or maximizing an existing supply.

Source Note: The provisions of this §358.2 adopted to be effective August 12, 2012, 37 TexReg 5812