columnist

Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 - 3:40 p.m.

In 2060, far West Texas, including El Paso, will need 226,569 additional acre-feet of water per year in drought conditions. That would be the equivalent of digging one-foot deep into the football field at Sun Bowl Stadium and filling it with water 226,569 times.

To meet this need, the Far West Texas Regional Water Planning Area has identified more than $800 million worth of water projects. The Texas Water Development Board is dedicated to ensuring the areas of El Paso and far West Texas have the opportunity to receive financial assistance for these projects.

In far West Texas, the population is expected to increase by more than almost 20 percent between 2010 and 2020. By 2060, it is expected to increase by 79 percent since 2010.

Since mid-November, my fellow TWDB board members, Kathleen Jackson and Bech Bruun and I have traveled to Corpus Christi, Lufkin, Amarillo, San Angelo, Waco, Lake Jackson, Bryan/College Station, and McAllen to discuss the funding opportunities available for water supply projects in those specific areas.

On Wednesday, I am honored to be in El Paso with Sen. José RodrÃ#guez, D-El Paso, interacting face-to-face with Texans committed to developing a sustainable water supply.

On Nov. 6, the TWDB began accepting applications for projects to be prioritized for funding from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas, or SWIFT.

Last year, Texas voters approved the creation of SWIFT, which enabled the investment of $2 billion from the state's Rainy Day Fun for water projects and strategies in the state water plan.

Approximately 97 percent of the people in the Far West Texas Regional Water Planning Area reside in El Paso County.

The entire region has eligible water supply projects that include desalination, direct reuse of reclaimed water, and water delivery systems.

On Wednesday, the TWDB is in El Paso to work directly with the organizations interested in financial assistance from SWIFT and to assist with and answer specific questions about the application process.

When I was appointed Chairman of the TWDB, my fellow board members and I decided to be proactive in our duties. That included traveling across Texas to learn first-hand the specific water needs of people from every corner of the state.

The way El Paso and far West Texas use water is changing. By 2060, municipal water demand is projected to increase 60 percent. Agricultural water demand will decrease slightly by 2060 but will still make up the largest share of the region's total water demands.

In addition to the growing population and increasing water demands, this area's water supply is affected by the way water is used and distributed under the terms of the Rio Grande Compact.

Texas recognizes how critical our water allocation under the compact is to the El Paso area and has taken action to protect our water at the highest levels, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Texas has experienced population increases and changes since its inception as a state. People are drawn to our thriving economy, the innovative ideas coming from our universities, the variety of cultures embraced in our communities, and the appreciation we have for our neighbors.

Even in economic downturns, people have come to Texas. This will not change, and we must be prepared. Without water, none of us will enjoy the many blessings that Texas has to offer.

The Far West Texas Regional Water Planning Group has helped the TWDB project future population and water demands through 2060 so that, together, we can develop a sustainable water supply for our kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.

Texans pride themselves on being in the biggest and best state. We are getting bigger, and to get even better, we must embrace our future. Please join us in our efforts to drought-proof Texas.

Carlos Rubinstein is chairman of the Texas Water Development Board. @TWDB_Carlos on Twitter

http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/c...le-el-paso-and


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