In addition to this, a fund would be created using money raised from the sale of firm water to an out of basin customer, that would be used to finance water conservation projects on rice farms in the lower three counties. This would create about 240,000 acre feet of water annually for the lower three counties, Half of this amount would be transferred via pipeline to San Antonio and the remainder would be kept inside the basin for use by Region K rice farmers. One of the big issues in this plan will be the environmental impact of such a program to the bays and estuaries charged by the Colorado River. LCRA has stated on the record that this program will not go forward unless the environmental impacts on the bays and estuaries can be addressed to the satisfaction of all the parties. Texas RICE will be involved in this process and will try to help find answers to the questions presented.
Negotiations continue on the financial structure of the plan and the development time line.
Ongoing development of groundwater districts continue with legislation being put forward by all of the rice producing areas in Texas during this legislative session. The goal of these districts will be to regulate and control the development of groundwater resources in their various counties or regions. This legislature will address this pending legislation and will either allow the various water conservation districts to be developed subject to local approval, or may combine them into more regional rather than county oriented subdivisions. RICE has followed these developments and will continue to try and update the rice industry as events occur.