WEBVTT 00:00:04.700 --> 00:00:12.929 This meeting of the Texas Water Development Board is hereby called to order. The time is 9:29? 00:00:12.929 --> 00:00:19.650 9:30. For the record, my name is Peter Lake, and with me today at the dais 00:00:19.650 --> 00:00:25.400 are Kathleen Jackson and Brooke Paup. Todd, first item, please. - Discussion regarding outreach 00:00:25.400 --> 00:00:30.480 efforts and activities by the board. - Director Jackson? - Thank you, Mr Chairman. Since our 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:37.020 last meeting, I've been continuing my recruiting of engineers outreach efforts. I traveled 00:00:37.020 --> 00:00:41.670 to Kingsville to Texas A & M University Kingsville and met with their dean of the 00:00:41.670 --> 00:00:46.900 College of Engineering. Great to see what they're doing in Kingsville to promote new 00:00:46.900 --> 00:00:52.690 engineers and opportunities to work with the board, maybe on internships, and letting students 00:00:52.690 --> 00:00:58.950 know about thie opportunities for working here as an ongoing career. Also traveled to 00:00:58.950 --> 00:01:03.910 Corpus Christi to meet with Texas A & M University Corpus Christi and their dean of 00:01:03.910 --> 00:01:10.700 the College of Engineering and their staff as well. So similar type of of conversation 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:15.530 with them and, you know, great to see the work that they're doing there to prepare 00:01:15.530 --> 00:01:20.069 students for the engineering world and also talk with them about opportunities here at 00:01:20.069 --> 00:01:25.909 the board. Went on to Rockport to meet with Mayor Pat Rios. He will be serving on the 00:01:25.909 --> 00:01:31.259 panel that I'm moderating at our Water for Texas Conference on Friday, Standing Tall 00:01:31.259 --> 00:01:35.850 in Our Rain Boots, Building a Resilient Texas. So he has some great insight that he'll be 00:01:35.850 --> 00:01:40.920 sharing with the conference attendees. So I know you look forward to hearing from 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:46.709 them. Just a great leader and working really hard in Rockport, which, of course, 00:01:46.709 --> 00:01:53.450 was hit by the eye of the storm Hurricane Harvey. So it'll be good to hear from him and from 00:01:53.450 --> 00:01:59.439 the other, the panel members who will be, you know, serving on our panel and talking 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:04.509 about resiliency. I also went on to Lubbock to attend and speak at the Texas Alliance 00:02:04.509 --> 00:02:08.780 for Water Conservation Fifth Annual Water College. They're doing great work up there 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:15.400 to promote water conservation for Ag. Enjoyed Meeting the president of Texas Tech. He gave 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:21.909 the keynote address, is a great supporter of, of course, the students there, and also for 00:02:21.909 --> 00:02:27.329 looking forward for water needs in Texas and supporting that Alliance for Water Conservation 00:02:27.329 --> 00:02:34.640 program that has been so successful. And then, last Friday, I spoke in Bastrop at the TWCA River 00:02:34.640 --> 00:02:40.250 Authority general managers. It was good to see the folks there and see lots of old friends 00:02:40.250 --> 00:02:46.730 from my time at LMBA. -I'm very excited about your recruiting efforts for the engineers. 00:02:46.730 --> 00:02:52.689 That is something that will be a tremendous help for the agency. I know Jeff talks 00:02:52.689 --> 00:02:57.819 a lot about pride in public service. It was great that you're out there spreading that message. 00:02:57.819 --> 00:03:07.180 - Director Paup? - Happy, belated birthday, Kathleen. Mr. Chairman. Since the 00:03:07.180 --> 00:03:13.290 last board meeting, I attended the TWCA's Water Loss CLE, the Texas Public Policy Foundation's 00:03:13.290 --> 00:03:18.579 policy orientation with capitol staff over potential water legislation and spoke to the 00:03:18.579 --> 00:03:25.791 U. T. Jackson School of Geo-Science graduate students about the agency's mission. Lots 00:03:25.791 --> 00:03:31.510 of science students that really were looking forward to seeing our engineer on the board. 00:03:31.510 --> 00:03:36.810 But instead they got to be bored by the lawyer on the board. Apologize to the 00:03:36.810 --> 00:03:49.129 nice graduate students of UT. - Did build them out hourly? - Absolutely. 00:03:49.129 --> 00:03:54.690 Since our last meeting, I spoke of the Texas Rural Water Association and Texas Water Conservation Association Law Conference. 00:03:54.690 --> 00:03:59.200 was kind of the inverse. They were hoping to have a attorney and they got stuck with 00:03:59.200 --> 00:04:06.020 me. I met with Russ Pop with from the Harris County Flood Control District, and also 00:04:06.020 --> 00:04:09.590 had a great chat with Charlene Larue and Carl Simstein about ways to utilize that sort 00:04:09.590 --> 00:04:14.159 of programs for water conservation and water quality. Had a great conversation Greg Ellis 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:19.020 about ground water districts around the state, and, of course, enjoyed celebrating Director 00:04:19.020 --> 00:04:24.220 Jackson's birthday. Happy 39th. There's no formal action required 00:04:24.220 --> 00:04:29.750 on this item. Next item, please. - Consider approving a request from the City of Nome for financing 00:04:29.750 --> 00:04:34.220 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for Planning, Design and Construction of a 00:04:34.220 --> 00:04:39.720 Hurricane Harvey Disaster recovery project. We have Nancy Richards here to present. 00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:44.140 Good morning, Chairman Lake, Director Jackson, Director Paup. For the record, my name is Nancy Richards 00:04:44.140 --> 00:04:49.470 of the Executive Administrator's staff. The city of Nome is located in Jefferson County, 00:04:49.470 --> 00:04:54.000 approximately twenty miles west of the city of Beaumont. The city provides water and wastewater 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:59.960 services to six hundred residents. On August 23, 2017, the governor 00:04:59.960 --> 00:05:05.970 issued a disaster proclamation for Jefferson County in anticipation of Hurricane Harvey. 00:05:05.970 --> 00:05:11.380 The city received almost forty eight inches of rain during the storm. The excessive rainfall 00:05:11.380 --> 00:05:17.200 caused damage to the city's infrastructure, including its constructed wetlands, wastewater 00:05:17.200 --> 00:05:22.030 treatment plant. The treatment plan experienced slope failure on the levees due to excessive 00:05:22.030 --> 00:05:29.210 water run off. Destruction of wetlands vegetation used as part of the 00:05:29.210 --> 00:05:34.720 treatment process, and the floodwaters emerged the plant's control building, which damaged 00:05:34.720 --> 00:05:39.620 pump control panels and electrical equipment. The city is requesting five hundred thousand 00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:44.840 dollars through emergency relief funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to stabilize 00:05:44.840 --> 00:05:49.100 the levees around the facilitative lagoon and constructive wetlands, replaced wetlands 00:05:49.100 --> 00:05:53.750 vegetation, rehabilitate the plant's control building, and replaced pumps and generators 00:05:53.750 --> 00:05:58.960 to bring the system back to pre storm conditions. Executive Administrator recommends 00:05:58.960 --> 00:06:03.710 approval I'm available for any questions. - Questions, comments? Director Jackson? 00:06:03.710 --> 00:06:09.710 Well, it is a great example of the board being able to help communities that have faced a 00:06:09.710 --> 00:06:16.020 disastrous situation. And I know in this particular case, the city of Nome had reached out to 00:06:16.020 --> 00:06:21.910 the county judge and the Director of Emergency Management, I mean, literally right after 00:06:21.910 --> 00:06:27.000 the storm. And, I think, a tribute to the great outreach work that you and your staff have 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:31.300 done in the area. They immediately tell them that they needed to get in touch with the Water 00:06:31.300 --> 00:06:35.640 Development Board. So I think it's it's great that we're able to help, you know, a small 00:06:35.640 --> 00:06:40.270 community, a service population of about six hundred people and kind of helped them get 00:06:40.270 --> 00:06:45.780 back on their feet, you know, after the storm and you know, and I know that their intent 00:06:45.780 --> 00:06:52.630 is to build it back better than it was before. So, glad that we're able to do that. - Director Paup? 00:06:52.630 --> 00:06:58.900 Our last commitment with Nome was in 1974, so it's really great 00:06:58.900 --> 00:07:03.310 to get them back in the door and make sure that we can help them rebuild after 00:07:03.310 --> 00:07:11.570 such a huge storm. Thank you. - Great project. Appreciate it. Is their a motion? Chairman. I move 00:07:11.570 --> 00:07:15.610 we adopt the proposed resolution providing the city of Nome with financing from the 00:07:15.610 --> 00:07:19.830 Clean Water State Revolving Fund for Planning, Design, and Construction of a Hurricane Harvey 00:07:19.830 --> 00:07:24.120 Disaster Recovery Project has recommended by our Executive Administrator. - Is there a second? 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:30.460 - I second. - All in favor, say aye. Motion passes. Next item, please. Consider approving 00:07:30.460 --> 00:07:35.340 a request from the Orange County Water Control Improvement District Number One for financing 00:07:35.340 --> 00:07:40.050 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for Planning, Designing, and Construction of a Hurricane 00:07:40.050 --> 00:07:46.940 Harvey Emergency Relief project. Nancy Richards is again here to present again. - Nancy Richards 00:07:46.940 --> 00:07:52.650 of the Executive Administrator staff. Orange County Water Control and Improvement District 00:07:52.650 --> 00:07:57.880 Number One is located in Vidor, Texas, about six miles east of Beaumont. The district provides 00:07:57.880 --> 00:08:03.000 water and wastewater services to approximately fourteen thousand three hundred people. On 00:08:03.000 --> 00:08:08.530 on August 30, 2017. Governor Abbott added Orange County to the to the list 00:08:08.530 --> 00:08:13.440 of counties declared a state of disaster in response to Hurricane Harvey. Harvey made 00:08:13.440 --> 00:08:18.950 landfall as a Category Four hurricane on August 25. Between August 27 and the 31st, 00:08:18.950 --> 00:08:23.500 Vidor received around thirty six inches of rain as a result 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:30.620 of Harvey. The district's lower lift station, incurred severe damage due to flood water 00:08:30.620 --> 00:08:35.110 that completely submerged it. The district is requesting five hundred thousand dollars 00:08:35.110 --> 00:08:38.860 through emergency relief funding and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to replace the 00:08:38.860 --> 00:08:44.440 electrical controls, pumps and motors at the lift station. The standby 00:08:44.440 --> 00:08:48.030 generator and switch gear will be installed on a steel platform that will elevate the 00:08:48.030 --> 00:08:53.620 equipment above flood elevation. The executive administrator recommends approval of the project. 00:08:53.620 --> 00:08:59.580 I'm available for any questions. - Thank you. Questions, comments? - Again, it's good to 00:08:59.580 --> 00:09:05.160 see a community coming in impacted by Hurricane Harvey. And in this particular case, and kind 00:09:05.160 --> 00:09:10.410 of similar to what director Pop talked about earlier, this is a community that had worked 00:09:10.410 --> 00:09:17.080 with the board in the past. Norman Blackman is the, I guess, the general manager. He is kind 00:09:17.080 --> 00:09:21.140 of a unique situation in that he was also the engineer for this facility. They worked 00:09:21.140 --> 00:09:26.090 with the board. It's unique and that it has no moving parts. So it's kind of like this 00:09:26.090 --> 00:09:34.020 operators dream. Then Norman came in, and one of, I think, Chairman Lake's initiatives 00:09:34.020 --> 00:09:40.260 to do innovative technology Symposium. He came in and talked about this technology, 00:09:40.260 --> 00:09:45.100 so it's good to be able to go in and help someone who's been so much, kind of a member 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:50.420 of the family has worked so closely with the board, and I know that they'll they'll use 00:09:50.420 --> 00:09:56.550 the financing, and again, kind of bring it back better than it was before. So thank you for this. 00:09:56.550 --> 00:10:04.500 Director Paup? Is there a motion? - Mr Chairman, I move we adopt the proposed resolution providing 00:10:04.500 --> 00:10:09.220 the Orange County Water Control and Improvement District Number One, with a financing from 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:14.850 the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for Planning, Design, and Construction of a Hurricane Harvey 00:10:14.850 --> 00:10:19.580 Emergency Relief Project, as recommended by the Executive Administrator. - Is there a second? 00:10:19.580 --> 00:10:27.300 All in favor, say aye. Motion passes. Thank you, Nancy. Next item, please. - Consider approving a request 00:10:27.300 --> 00:10:32.400 from the Comanche County Water Supply Corporation for financing from the Drinking Water State 00:10:32.400 --> 00:10:37.361 Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of a water system improvement project. We 00:10:37.361 --> 00:10:42.260 have Caaren Skrobarczyk here to present. - Good Morning, Chairman Lake, Director Jackson, 00:10:42.260 --> 00:10:48.200 Director Paup. For the record, I am Caaren Skrobarczyk of the Executive Administrator's staff. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:52.860 Comanche County Water Supply Corporation provides water service to approximately two hundred 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:58.910 fifty residents located in Eastland and Comanche counties. The corporation is currently in 00:10:58.910 --> 00:11:06.020 violation of capacity requirements with TCEQ. The proposed project will replace 00:11:06.020 --> 00:11:13.430 an inline pump station located on State Highway 36 with a forty thousand gallon ground 00:11:13.430 --> 00:11:20.890 storage tank, new pump station and disinfection system. Approximately forty 00:11:20.890 --> 00:11:26.860 meters will be transferred over or taken off of the site's spring system, and this transitioning 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:33.340 of these meters to the new pump station will allow it to be in compliance with TCEQ. 00:11:33.340 --> 00:11:38.870 The corporation qualifies for three hundred thousand and principal forgiveness as a very small 00:11:38.870 --> 00:11:44.960 system. The EA recommends approval of the financial assistance request and this concludes my presentation. 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:51.540 I'm happy to answer any questions. - Thank you, Caaren. Questions, comments? Director Jackson? 00:11:51.540 --> 00:11:57.320 Again. addressing capacity requirements and, you know, wonderful to see a water supply corporation 00:11:57.320 --> 00:12:01.610 serving a small rural community be able to get assistance from the board and continue to operate. 00:12:01.610 --> 00:12:09.980 Director Paup? - First time applicants, I think that three hundred thousand for everything 00:12:09.980 --> 00:12:13.910 they're getting is a lot of bang for their buck. I know it'll make a huge difference 00:12:13.910 --> 00:12:19.020 in this small community. Thank you. - Absolutely. Is there a motion? 00:12:19.020 --> 00:12:21.597 Chairman, I move we adopt the proposed resolution 00:12:21.622 --> 00:12:24.380 providing the Comanche County Water Supply Corporation 00:12:24.380 --> 00:12:29.220 with financing from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:33.529 of a water system improvements project as recommended by our Executive Administrator. 00:12:33.529 --> 00:12:41.120 Is there a second? All in favor say aye. Motion passes. Thank you. Next item, please. - Consider approving 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:45.711 a request from the city of the Dekalb for financing from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund 00:12:45.711 --> 00:12:50.690 for construction of waste water system improvements. My apologies to the city if I mispronounced 00:12:50.690 --> 00:12:56.490 the name, but I am using the Texas Almanac Pronunciation. We have Luis Farias here 00:12:56.490 --> 00:13:00.450 to present. - Good Morning, Chairman Lake, Director Jackson, Director Pop. For the record, I am Luis 00:13:00.450 --> 00:13:06.279 Farias of the Executive Administrator staff. The City of Dekalb is located in Bowie County 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:11.110 and serves approximately eight hundred ninety eight water and wastewater customers. The 00:13:11.110 --> 00:13:15.320 city operates an aging wastewater treatment plant that was constructed back in the mid 00:13:15.320 --> 00:13:20.400 1980s. On January 21 of 2018, the treatment plant 00:13:20.400 --> 00:13:25.920 was struck by a tornado and sustained significant electrical and structural damage. The city 00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:30.500 is requesting seven hundred seventy five thousand dollars from the Clean Water State Revolving 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:35.820 Fund program to make improvements to the plant. The project includes repairs and improvements 00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:42.700 to its clarifier, electrical system, backup generator, effluent screen, control building, 00:13:42.700 --> 00:13:48.149 floating brush aerators and any other repairs necessary to the water treatment plant. The 00:13:48.149 --> 00:13:52.980 proposed project will allow the city become compliant with Texas Commission on Environmental 00:13:52.980 --> 00:14:00.310 Quality standards. An emergency declaration was issued for the county of Bowie 00:14:00.310 --> 00:14:05.540 by Governor Abbott, and the city applied for emergency relief funding. They do qualify 00:14:05.540 --> 00:14:11.120 for six hundred thousand dollars in principal forgiveness and zero percent loan. Executive 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:14.589 Administrator recommends approval of this request, and that concludes my presentation. 00:14:14.589 --> 00:14:20.560 I'll be happy to answer any questions. - Thanks. Director Jackson? - So again, a small community. And, 00:14:20.560 --> 00:14:27.130 you know, we say that our emergency relief, it's associated with disasters beyond just 00:14:27.130 --> 00:14:31.380 hurricanes. And so, you know, this is a good example of being able to help a community 00:14:31.380 --> 00:14:38.910 that was impacted by a tornado and as you described, the repairs and improvements will 00:14:38.910 --> 00:14:45.310 build it back, help it to be more resilient. They can't expand. They can't add capacity 00:14:45.310 --> 00:14:50.430 and still get the funding with zero percent interest, but they are able to build it back 00:14:50.430 --> 00:14:56.550 better than it was before. So thank you for the work on this project. - Director Paup? 00:14:56.550 --> 00:15:02.580 We're just a state filled with floods, droughts and tornados. But we dearly love this state, 00:15:02.580 --> 00:15:10.440 so I'm happy to help this community. - Is there a motion? - Mr Chairman, I move we adopt the 00:15:10.440 --> 00:15:15.690 proposed resolution providing the city of Dekalb with financing from the Clean Water 00:15:15.690 --> 00:15:20.440 State Revolving Fund for the construction of waste water system improvements as recommended 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:28.860 by the Executive Administrator. - Is there a second? All in favor, say aye. Motion passes Next item, please. 00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:33.501 Consider approving a request from the city of Euless for financing from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund 00:15:33.501 --> 00:15:39.029 for construction of ground water well improvements. Luis Farias is again here to present. 00:15:39.029 --> 00:15:43.140 Again, Luis Farias of the Executive Administrator's staff. The city of Euless, located in Tarrant 00:15:43.140 --> 00:15:46.840 County, in the center of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metro area, and services approximately fifty 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:51.690 three thousand water and wastewater customers. The city blends groundwater with surface water 00:15:51.690 --> 00:15:56.490 that it purchases from Trinity River Authority to provide potable water to its customers. 00:15:56.490 --> 00:16:00.750 Two of the city's groundwater wells are aging and have developed perforations in the casing 00:16:00.750 --> 00:16:05.500 due to corrosion. This has allowed groundwater from in an overlying formation with poor water 00:16:05.500 --> 00:16:07.987 quality to infiltrate its wells. As the ground 00:16:08.012 --> 00:16:10.580 water quality continues to degrade, it has become 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:15.730 more difficult for it to meet its secondary maximum contaminant levels for total dissolved 00:16:15.730 --> 00:16:21.000 solids. The city is requesting nine point two million dollars from the Drinking Water 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:27.140 State Revolving Fund Program to abandon both these wells, drill two new wells, add updated 00:16:27.140 --> 00:16:32.690 disinfection equipment, replace pumps at each well sight and construct a new pump station 00:16:32.690 --> 00:16:37.279 and electrical building. The proposed project will allow the city to provide quality water 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:41.290 to its customers. The Executive Administrator recommends approval of this request and this 00:16:41.290 --> 00:16:46.510 concludes my presentation. Be happy to answer any questions. - Questions, comments? Director Jackson? 00:16:46.510 --> 00:16:51.520 A great example of community being able to utilize the resource is of the 00:16:51.520 --> 00:16:58.100 board to move forward and to upgrade their system. I'd like to think that they're 00:16:58.100 --> 00:17:03.300 doing it proactively, looking at the condition of their existing wells. And then 00:17:03.300 --> 00:17:09.329 also, the fact that they've got, you know, water from two sources is a good thing, and 00:17:09.329 --> 00:17:13.230 they're getting a great interest rate. I know it's whatever they get when they close, but 00:17:13.230 --> 00:17:18.990 right now we're projecting it to be less than two percent. So a great time to move forward. 00:17:18.990 --> 00:17:25.390 You know, use today's dollars in order to do it. Do the project with today's dollars, 00:17:25.390 --> 00:17:29.600 in this climate, with a low interest rate. Great for us to be able to help the 00:17:29.600 --> 00:17:36.639 city of Euless. - Director Paup? Is there a motion? - Chairman, I move we adopt 00:17:36.639 --> 00:17:40.889 the proposed resolution providing the city of Euless with financing from the Drinking 00:17:40.889 --> 00:17:45.379 Water of State Revolving Fund for construction of ground water well improvements as recommended 00:17:45.379 --> 00:17:52.150 by our Executive Administrator. - Is there a second? All in favor, say aye. Motion passes. Thank 00:17:52.150 --> 00:17:57.480 you, sir. Next item, please. - Consider approving a request from the city of Lubbock for financing 00:17:57.480 --> 00:17:59.799 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for 00:17:59.824 --> 00:18:02.370 construction of an advanced metering infrastructure 00:18:02.370 --> 00:18:07.711 project. Malcolm Lang, Water Resources Manager from the city of Lubbock would 00:18:07.711 --> 00:18:12.690 like to address the board at the appropriate time. Lee Huntoon from staff is here to present the item. 00:18:12.690 --> 00:18:17.659 Good Morning, Chairman Lake, Director Jackson, and Director Paup. For the record, I'm 00:18:17.659 --> 00:18:22.900 Lee Huntoon of the Executive Administrator's staff. The city of Lubbock is located in Lubbock County, 00:18:22.900 --> 00:18:27.820 in the northwest region of the state and is the eleventh most populous city in Texas. The 00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:32.350 city has approximately two hundred and forty four thousand five hundred seven residents 00:18:32.350 --> 00:18:37.129 with eighty eight thousand seven hundred thirty two water and eighty one thousand seven hundred 00:18:37.129 --> 00:18:39.644 twenty eight wastewater connections. The city 00:18:39.669 --> 00:18:42.159 is proposing to implement an advanced metering 00:18:42.159 --> 00:18:47.429 infrastructure project, which will help the city achieve and maintain the gallons 00:18:47.429 --> 00:18:52.470 per capita daily use goals set forth in its water conservation plan and allow the 00:18:52.470 --> 00:18:58.309 end user the ability to be notified sooner of possible leaks. The city of Lubbock is 00:18:58.309 --> 00:19:03.730 requesting financing in the amount of nineteen million six hundred thirty five thousand dollars 00:19:03.730 --> 00:19:08.070 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance the construction phase of the project. 00:19:08.070 --> 00:19:13.360 Additionally, the city qualifies for one million dollars in green subsidy for water 00:19:13.360 --> 00:19:18.590 efficiency. The Executive Administrator recommends approval of this request. This concludes my 00:19:18.590 --> 00:19:26.059 presentation. I'm happy to answer any questions. - Questions, comments? Director Jackson. 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:31.499 Great project. Good to see the city of Lubbock. I guess this is their second time coming in 00:19:31.499 --> 00:19:37.600 and using the clean water. And I don't know if you mentioned they have, 00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:43.890 they're planning to do eighty six thousand meters as a part of this. So, you 00:19:43.890 --> 00:19:48.470 know, I think great leadership by the city of Lubbock, moving forward, utilizing the resources 00:19:48.470 --> 00:19:53.249 of the board. And also they do a great job of outreach. I was at the Texas Alliance of 00:19:53.249 --> 00:20:00.019 Water Conservation in Lubbock earlier, and one of their staff members was 00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:06.029 doing kind of a show and tell and showing how they they treated the water that, you know 00:20:06.029 --> 00:20:10.850 they provided to the community. So I thought it was great that they were there supporting 00:20:10.850 --> 00:20:15.010 that event. And also they had the show and tell, so that people could kind of see firsthand 00:20:15.010 --> 00:20:19.759 what they were doing. So it's good to see them kind of moving forward, being proactive 00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:23.200 and working with the board. And thank you and your staff for working so closely with them. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:33.659 Director Paup? - Well, water in West Texas obviously is scarce and a huge commodity there. So 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:41.919 I am thrilled with this project. I think it is proactive and technologically advanced. 00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:47.860 And I'm happy to have Lubbock here. So thank you. - The gentleman from Lubbock like to address the board? Come on up. 00:20:47.860 --> 00:20:56.850 Chairman Lake, Board Member Jackson, Board Member Paup. 00:20:56.850 --> 00:21:01.009 Thank you for hearing me today. My name is Malcolm Lang. I'm the Water Resources Manager for 00:21:01.009 --> 00:21:03.786 the city of Lubbock. It I'm just here to compliment 00:21:03.811 --> 00:21:06.029 your staff. Miss Huntoon and her staff did 00:21:06.029 --> 00:21:11.789 a stunningly good job of helping us walk through this. So that's all I have. Other than, thank 00:21:11.789 --> 00:21:17.410 you for the consideration today. - Those are the kind of comments we like. - You do a marvelous job. Thank you. 00:21:17.410 --> 00:21:24.039 We love that. Thank you. - Appreciate it and thank you for being here. Kudos, Lee. 00:21:24.039 --> 00:21:32.409 He came all the way from Lubbock to say thank you to you - All right, it is there a motion? 00:21:32.409 --> 00:21:37.149 Mr Chairman, I move we adopt the proposed resolution providing the city of 00:21:37.149 --> 00:21:40.870 Lubbock with financing from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for the construction 00:21:40.870 --> 00:21:45.850 of an advanced metering infrastructure project as recommended by the Executive Administrator. 00:21:45.850 --> 00:21:49.644 Is there a second? All in favor, say aye. 00:21:49.669 --> 00:21:53.799 Motion passes. Thanks, Lee. Next item, please. 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:56.146 Consider approving a request from the White Water 00:21:56.171 --> 00:21:58.539 Springs Water Supply Corporation for financing from 00:21:58.539 --> 00:22:03.389 the State Water Development Fund for refinancing of existing debt for the purchase of water 00:22:03.389 --> 00:22:14.470 system facilities. Dain Larsen is here to present. Good Morning, Chairman Lake, Director 00:22:14.470 --> 00:22:19.149 Jackson, Director Paup. For the record, I'm Dain Larsen of Executive Adinistrator's staff. 00:22:19.149 --> 00:22:24.929 The White Water Supply Corporation is requesting funding to finance its existing 00:22:24.929 --> 00:22:30.809 debt, originally used in 2012 to purchase water infrastructure assets from 00:22:30.809 --> 00:22:36.840 the Lower Colorado River Authority. The corporation service area of approximately seventy seven 00:22:36.840 --> 00:22:40.706 homes is south of the city of Bertram in Burnett 00:22:40.731 --> 00:22:44.019 County. The corporation has an outstanding 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:48.489 Texas Water Development Board commitment totaling five hundred thousand, that consists of three 00:22:48.489 --> 00:22:55.460 hundred thousand in loan forgiveness for a project to construct a new water well. 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:59.990 Our financial review indicates the corporation has sufficient revenues to repay 00:22:59.990 --> 00:23:07.499 their proposed debt service. The Executive Administrator recommends approval of their request. My presentation's 00:23:07.499 --> 00:23:12.230 now concluded, and I'm available for any questions that you have. - Question, comments? Director Jackson? 00:23:12.230 --> 00:23:17.389 Look, this is something we've done in the past for other communities in a similar 00:23:17.389 --> 00:23:26.390 situation. Okay, thank you. - Director Paup? Is their a motion? - Chairman, I move we adopt the proposed 00:23:26.390 --> 00:23:31.340 resolution providing the Whitewater Springs Water Supply Corporation with financing from 00:23:31.340 --> 00:23:36.049 the Texas Water Development Board Fund for refinancing of existing debt for the purchase 00:23:36.049 --> 00:23:40.240 of water system facilities as recommended by our Executive Administrator. - Is there a second? All in favor, say aye. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:49.169 Motion passes. Thank you, Dain. Next item please. - Briefing and discussion 00:23:49.169 --> 00:23:55.859 on water conditions in the state of Texas, Doctor Mark Wentzel is here to present. 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:58.333 Good morning, Chairman Lake, Director Jackson, 00:23:58.358 --> 00:24:01.070 Director Paup. For the record, Mark Wentzel speaking 00:24:01.070 --> 00:24:06.279 on behalf of the Executive Administrator and this is your monthly water conditions report. 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:11.240 You are receiving these reports in person, at a board meeting, about every three months. 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:15.020 In intervening months, you're receiving these reports as an electronic copy, but they 00:24:15.020 --> 00:24:21.460 are still focused on a monthly reporting schedule. Of course, we can and will adjust the schedule 00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:31.799 to meet needs and as warranted going forward. This is the latest US Drought Monitor map 00:24:31.799 --> 00:24:36.779 that shows little change from the middle of December. Both pockets of drought from the 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:41.729 previous month, one up in the Panhandle and one in far West Texas. Those pockets are 00:24:41.729 --> 00:24:46.649 still hanging around. In the last month, we've also picked up two small pockets of 00:24:46.649 --> 00:24:54.150 drought in the lower Rio Grande Valley. Adding those two small pockets doubled the area of 00:24:54.150 --> 00:25:00.100 the state in drought from about eight-tenths of a percent in mid December to still under 00:25:00.100 --> 00:25:08.580 two percent at this time. So that's still quite quite good from a statewide perspective. 00:25:08.580 --> 00:25:15.690 Since 2000, we've seen drought conditions less than two percent in mid January only 00:25:15.690 --> 00:25:20.789 two other times, and that would be in 2005 and 2016. So this, we're 00:25:20.789 --> 00:25:25.729 getting off pretty easy at this point. And of course, that's quite an improvement from 00:25:25.729 --> 00:25:33.090 a year ago, when about forty two percent of the state was in drought. On this slide, we're 00:25:33.090 --> 00:25:40.260 looking at how rainfall has benefited our statewide water conservation reservoirs 00:25:40.260 --> 00:25:46.179 and our water supply. The dark line here shows how storage compares to minimum, maximum, and 00:25:46.179 --> 00:25:51.659 then median values for the day of the year for data going back to 1990. Also 00:25:51.659 --> 00:25:55.759 displayed on the chart in the lighter green lines are how we did in 2018 00:25:55.759 --> 00:26:01.399 and 2017. You can see that this year we've started quite close to the 00:26:01.399 --> 00:26:07.380 highest values that we've seen in conservation data going back to 1990. And in 00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:11.830 fact, we've only had better numbers in two other years. In 1992 and 1993 00:26:11.830 --> 00:26:18.039 In that period. So from a statewide water supply perspective, 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:25.450 we're also doing pretty well to start the year. Quite well. Of course conditions always 00:26:25.450 --> 00:26:31.369 vary across the state, so to see how that happens, on this slide, we're looking at conditions 00:26:31.369 --> 00:26:37.499 in twenty individual municipal water supply systems that rely on surface water. The first 00:26:37.499 --> 00:26:42.929 number near each city is the percent of capacity as of January 21, and then the number 00:26:42.929 --> 00:26:48.630 in parentheses is the change from the previous month overall. Not a lot of change 00:26:48.630 --> 00:26:54.630 on this map. Our systems in the northeast corner of the state were about full, near 00:26:54.630 --> 00:27:00.130 capacity, about a month ago in mid December, and so there's not much capacity for change 00:27:00.130 --> 00:27:06.950 on those, so they haven't changed a whole lot. For the rest of the state, in December, 00:27:06.950 --> 00:27:11.200 we were seeing some large improvements from the previous month, but those improvements 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:15.440 have kind of slowed down, and now we're seeing things that are a little more modest on the 00:27:15.440 --> 00:27:21.049 increases that we're getting. But in general, things are trending up even in those other 00:27:21.049 --> 00:27:26.090 areas. The one exception is Brownsville in the lower valley, which is down two percent 00:27:26.090 --> 00:27:29.953 from the previous month. And they are experiencing 00:27:29.978 --> 00:27:33.059 rainfall deficits in that area. Relative 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:38.389 today to going back to 1990. For all of these systems, most of them are at 00:27:38.389 --> 00:27:44.220 or above what's considered normal for this time of year. The one exception is El Paso, 00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:53.440 which is about twenty percent lower than what's considered normal this time of year. So you 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:58.149 know that's one that we're kind of keeping an eye on. Still, even with thie increases 00:27:58.149 --> 00:28:04.340 that they've had from the previous month, we're still watching that one fairly closely. 00:28:04.340 --> 00:28:09.359 What can we expect in the next few months? This is the National Weather Service's seasonal 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:16.749 droughts outlook through the end of April. This outlook looks pretty positive for the 00:28:16.749 --> 00:28:22.460 eastern two-thirds of the lower forty eight states, and Texas is included in that. In 00:28:22.460 --> 00:28:28.489 this outlook, the weather service is expecting that all the areas of drought in Texas will 00:28:28.489 --> 00:28:34.159 be removed by the end of April. We'll see enough improvement to see that. In terms of 00:28:34.159 --> 00:28:39.039 impact on El Paso, we're also interested in what's going on in New Mexico and Colorado, 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:45.470 which provides the snowpack that provides water for Elephant Butte Reservoir. Those 00:28:45.470 --> 00:28:52.929 areas are also expected to see some improvement. They may even get a normal snow situation 00:28:52.929 --> 00:28:57.679 for the first time in a few years. That won't be enough to break the drought in those areas, 00:28:57.679 --> 00:29:03.229 but it should provide some relief to Elephant Butte and El Paso. We'll keep watching that 00:29:03.229 --> 00:29:08.830 just to make sure that water shows up in that reservoir. That concludes my presentation, 00:29:08.830 --> 00:29:15.630 and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have. - Thank you, Doctor Wentzel. Questions, 00:29:15.630 --> 00:29:23.409 comments? Thank you, sir. Glad to see we're in such good shape. There's no formal action 00:29:23.409 --> 00:29:29.120 required on that item. The board will now receive comments from the public, if anybody 00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:35.730 would like to address a board, now is the time. If not, the board will meet in closed 00:29:35.730 --> 00:29:39.380 session today pursuant to the provisions of Section 551.071 and 551.074 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:44.039 of the Texas Open Meetings Act. Chapter 551 of 00:29:44.039 --> 00:29:46.898 of the Texas government code. This meeting of 00:29:46.923 --> 00:29:49.570 Texas Water Development Board hereby stands 00:29:49.570 --> 00:30:05.710 in recess. The Texas Water Development Board is back from executive session. The time 00:30:05.710 --> 00:30:12.460 is now 10:36. The board took no action in executive session and there is 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:17.130 no further business to come before the Water Development Board today. The meeting is hereby 00:30:17.130 --> 00:30:23.700 adjourned. That time is 10:37. Thank you.