Raised on a cotton farm on the arid plains of West Texas, Gov. Perry has long recognized the vital importance of water, both as an infrastructural requirement for economic development and as the lifeblood of a productive agriculture and ranching sector. 

In his State-of-the-State Address in February 2007, Governor Perry challenged the Legislature to respond to Texas’ growing water supply needs and called for the designation of a substantial number of new reservoir sites.  With the Governor’s continued support, the Legislature delivered landmark water legislation.  In June, the Governor signed into law Senate Bill 3, an omnibus measure of far-reaching significance.

The population of Texas is expected to double over the next 60 years and the demand for water in the state will increase by 27 percent to about 22 million acre-feet in 2060, according to the 2007 State Water Plan prepared by the Texas Water Development Board.  Due to declines in various sources, the Board projects in the State Plan that to meet the 22-million acre-feet level an additional supply of about 8.8 million acre-feet will be needed.  In short, by 2060, the state will have about a 40 percent shortfall unless adequate new supplies are developed.

In the 2007 State Plan, the Texas Water Development Board recommended the designation of 19 unique reservoir sites. These man-made water containment areas are a key means of developing additional surface water supplies to meet future water supply needs.  Most active before 1970, reservoir construction has declined over time.  Designation of reservoir sites by statute is a limited but important measure for protecting proposed sites for future use.

Signed into law by Governor Perry in June 2007, Senate Bill 3 contains substantial measures to ensure future water supplies as well as necessary safeguards for landowners and regions affected by reservoir sites. It designates the nineteen reservoir sites recommended by the Texas Water Development Board in its 2007 State Water Plan.  To provide impetus for development, the designation of unique sites will end on September 1, 2015, unless the proposed project sponsor approves the expenditures necessary to construct a reservoir or file applications for needed state and federal permits. 

Two proposed reservoirs of great significance to the Dallas area—Marvin Nichols and Fastrill—received special attention in SB 3.  As an incentive to the East Texas region where the reservoirs would be located, 20 percent of the appropriated water for each reservoir will be held by entities located in the East Texas regional planning area.  Further, the municipal utilities and water supply districts in the Dallas area that would build the proposed reservoirs must also bear the cost of their construction.

In sum, great progress was made in the 2007 Legislative Session toward securing additional water supplies to meet the needs of a growing population.