Rural, urban Texans facing challenge of water availability

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Water is one of Texas' priority issues that involves the state's farmers and ranchers and the growing population's needs. "Water is not a commodity. It's not like oil ... it's more like blood," pointed out one legislator at the recent Texas Water Summit. -- Staff photo by Lori Cope

November 20, 2003 -- Just as agricultural producers are starting to feel better about the price of cotton and the sale of livestock, speakers at the Texas Water Summit in Austin on Nov. 5 noted the largest problem to be faced: water availability.

From what various speakers had to say, the battle between agricultural producers and urban areas is really just beginning.

Myron J. Hess, Texas water programs manager for the National Wildlife Federation in Austin, explained all areas are going to need to work together, because water is "very much a common interest."

Hess discussed the flow of rivers and streams and how each benefits wildlife and ag production, as well as helping furnish water rights to urban areas. He discussed how the tourism industry in Texas has been growing, and said that much of the growth centers around the use of water ... either for boating and outdoor sports or wildlife and birding tourism.

According to Hess, tourism in Texas produced about $1.2 billion, last year, and is only expected to grow.

He explained that the state has been issuing water rights since the 1800s, and the water rights have been based on diversion of water and priority needs. Balancing these needs has been the primary issue, with urban areas hoping to capture water that has been reserved for agricultural needs for centuries.

In a discussion of critical water issues in Texas, the capacity crowd heard Rep. Robby Cook of Eagle Lake, Rep. Robert Puente of San Antonio, Sen. Ken Armbrister of Victoria and Sen. Robert Duncan of Lubbock explain how water rights affect their areas, and others that have the same basic needs.

"Every year (when the Texas Legislature meets), the issues are schools, water, and criminal justice," explained Armbrister. "Who would think we'd pay more for bottles of water than a gallon of gas?"

Duncan agreed "water has become a tough issue." He believes the Texas Legislature should give local water districts more control over the water in their areas. He said 95 percent of the groundwater goes to agriculture, and he thinks "agriculture needs to rethink it's political strength concerning ground water." He said he didn't believe the amount of water used to raise cotton is worth the 20 cents a pound it brings the producer.

"Water is not a commodity. It's not like oil ... it's more like blood," he noted.

Duncan said he believes that due to the competition for water, the various interested parties need to "keep coming to the table," since "balance has to occur."

Puente agreed with the first two speakers on the panel and said he doesn't believe Texas has enough water to meet its needs for the next 50 years "without making changes." He advocates finding a way to make water programs "work for all," but admitted it won't be easy.

He added that he believes water is a "very, very political issue" that needs to be resolved so that it will be a "win-win situation" for all parties involved.

Cook, along with being a legislator, is a rice, soybean and wheat farmer, and he has first-hand knowledge of the water needs of the agricultural population. While touring in his area, he said he talks with various water groups and everyone seemed to agree the agricultural community needed to give up some of its water rights.

"It sent up alarms," he said in response to the comments. He feels there needs to be a better system of "checks and balances" put in place, and said that "water wars" have always been present between the various parties involved.

Cook said the marketing of water in the future will demand the checks and balances, in order not to keep water from urban areas or agriculture producers, and in order not to put the economy out of business.

"It's not the Texas thing to do," he explained.

He said he feels like there has to be a way to keep everyone happy, but it would involve everyone working, together, to make a successful water program for Texas.

The four discussed the marketing concept for water and Ducan reminded the crowd that "without water, you die." He is interested in hearing what "added value" the private water marketing sector plans to bring to the table, concerning suggestions to the State.

"What may be cheap to marketers may be devastating to consumers," he noted.

Cook said that while he agrees with Duncan, he does take issue with some marketing that does not favor ag water use and rights.

Finally, everyone agrees that the increasing water demands in Texas will continue to challenge water needs of agriculture, urban areas and the environment, and it will continue to be a priority for all Texans.