(a) The State Board shall prepare and adopt a state water supply enhancement plan. The State Board shall review and may amend the plan at least every two years to take into consideration changed conditions.
(b) The state water supply enhancement plan shall include a comprehensive strategy for managing brush in all areas of the state where brush is contributing to a substantial water conservation problem.
(c) The plan adopted under this section must list goals the State Board establishes under §201.029, Agriculture Code, for the water supply enhancement program. These goals must include:
(1) a goal describing the intended use of any water supply enhanced or conserved by the program, such as agricultural purposes or drinking water purposes; and
(2) a goal describing the populations that the water supply enhancement program will target.
(d) Before the State Board adopts the plan, the State Board shall call and hold a public hearing to consider the proposed plan.
(1) In addition to providing notice in the Texas Register, the State Board shall mail written notice of the hearing to each SWCD in the state not less than 30 days before the date the hearing is to be held. The notice must include the date and place for holding the hearing, state the purpose for holding the hearing, and include instructions for each SWCD to submit written comments on the proposed plan.
(2) At the hearing, representatives of a SWCD and any other person may appear and present testimony including information and suggestions for any changes in the proposed plan. The State Board shall enter into the record any written comments received on the proposed plan and shall consider all written comments and testimony before taking final action on the plan.
(3) After the conclusion of the hearing, the State Board shall consider the testimony, including the information and suggestions made at the hearing and in written comments, and after making any changes in the proposed plan that it finds necessary, the State Board shall adopt the plan.
Source Note: The provisions of this §517.24 adopted to be effective February 13, 2003, 28 TexReg 1209; amended to be effective March 21, 2004, 29 TexReg 2651; amended to be effective April 16, 2012, 37 TexReg 2679; amended to be effective September 8, 2014, 39 TexReg 7173