TEXAS STATE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION BOARD. Agency Overview

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1 TEXAS STATE SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION BOARD Agency Overview

2 Created in 1939 due to Severe drought Dust storms Poor farming practices Economic depression

3 Primary role of agency Provide technical and financial assistance to local soil and water conservation districts Local districts encourage landowners and agricultural producers to voluntarily conserve natural resources on their private lands through the implementation of best management practices Results in a positive impact on state water resources, and protects soil quality which supports the strength of Texas agricultural economy

4 Conservation partnerships Texas Nationally National Association of State Conservation Agencies (State) TSSWCB Texas Ag Producers National Association of Conservation Districts (55 Agencies) NASCA States & Local Districts (Local) 216 Districts (Federal) USDA- NRCS (3000 Districts) NACD USDA- NRCS

5 Agency goals Assist local districts in carrying out conservation programs for constituents Prevent, manage, and abatement of nonpoint source water quality pollution from agricultural and silvicultural sources Enhance water supplies through targeted brush management activities

6 Grassroots design Bottom-Up Approach to Conservation 216 Local Districts Approx. 250,000 Production Farms in Texas 1,080 Elected District Directors State Soil and Water Conservation Board

7 Small, limited, efficient by design 72.1 FTEs 1/3 in Headquarters 2/3 in the Field

8 TSSWCB s role in state government State conservation priorities are established when there can be a large public benefit derived from many small activities on private lands When natural resource conservation priorities are established by TSSWCB, other agencies, committees, legislation, etc The TSSWCB is the agency that has the mandate, ability through the local district delivery system, and experience to: Implement actually work directly with landowners and agricultural producers to voluntarily install conservation practices, on private lands, to achieve the established resource conservation priorities

9 Support local districts Grants to assist with the employment of a technician in each district to assist landowners with conservation plan development Grants for maintaining 2,000 flood control dams across the state

10 Water Quality Management Plan Program 1993 Senate Bill 503 created the WQMP Certification Program To provide agricultural producers and landowners a voluntary mechanism for demonstrating that their activities are in compliance with water quality law More than 14,000 WQMPs are currently considered certified by the TSSWCB

11 Water Supply Enhancement Program Control of noxious brush species in targeted areas where it has been determined that the brush is contributing to a water conservation problem Planning to assess extent of benefit (water yield expectations) Target area identification based on results of planning Deployment of conservation planning and brush removal through technical assistance and financial incentives delivered by local district landowners must voluntarily choose to participate

12 Nonpoint Source Pollution Abatement Jointly administer the Texas Nonpoint Source Management Program with TCEQ Water Quality Management Plans on individual farms and ranches in problem areas Protection Plans on entire watersheds, (Watershed Protection Plans) Administer one-half of the Federal Clean Water Act, Section 319(h) Grant for Assessment, Demonstration, Implementation, and Education Projects Work with TCEQ on TMDLs, monitoring, modeling, and other forms of assessment in places where agriculture is involved Facilitate the involvement of local districts into stakeholder processes

13 Flood Control Program Nearly 2,000 floodwater retarding structures (FRS or dam) have been built over the last 60 years within Texas Earthen dams that exist on private property to protect lives and property from flooding local sponsors required to conduct O&M inspections, perform required maintenance/repair, and comply with state (TCEQ) rules and regulations for dams TSSWCB offers grants to local SWCDs for O&M and structural repairs

14 Texas Flood Control Program

15 Flood Control Program Sponsors Soil and Water Conservation Districts Counties Cities Water Control and Improvement Districts Watershed Authorities and Associations River Authorities State Recreation Areas Other Special Purpose Districts

16 Flood Control Program Benefits In 2012 $$$ (adjusted for inflation) Local sponsors have invested over $1 billion for land treatment, landrights, O&M, and construction. Federal Government has invested $1.47 billion in financial assistance. Capitalized benefits $5.13 billion Average annual benefits $150 million.

17 No Upstream Dams

18 Benefits to Public Roads 56 FRS 89 FRS

19 Benefits to Public Roads 223 Bridges 283 Bridges

20 Average Annual Benefits to Public Roads (2007 $$) County Bridge and Road Total Benefits Montague $313,400 $2,269,200 (283 bridges) Wise $286,300 $2,365,600 (396 bridges) Collin $871,900 $4,178,000 (485 bridges) Cooke $330,900 $1,458,000 (219 bridges) Coleman $679,900 $3,381,600 (795 bridges)

21 Flood Control Program Dam Needs The Bad News! Maintenance 2,041 dams $9.6 million (Average annual maintenance cost: $2 to $4 million)

22 Flood Control Program Dam Needs The Bad News! Repair 193 dams $48 million (Slope slides, overtopping & wave damage, pipe spillways)

23 Maintenance & Repair Program The Good News! Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) Funding from Texas Legislature $15 million for biennium $4 million for biennium $15 million for biennium

24 Maintenance & Repair Program TSSWCB Grants to Local SWCDs: Maintenance (sponsors = 10% local match) Repair (Sponsors = 5% local match) Federal Rehabilitation Program Sponsors = 5% of the 35% local share Federal Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Sponsors = 5% of the 25% local share Work with your local SWCD to apply for grant funds.

25 Flood Control Dams Do Fail!!!

26 Let s Not Let it Happen Again!

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