BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR SUMMIT GOALS
Valley leaders went to Washington, DC, June 21-22 for the Regional Leaders Conference sponsored by Rep. Hinojosa. They carried letters and resolutions of support for Summit goals and an informational brochure on infrastructure needs.
The group was welcomed with bipartisan support for Summit goals. View the press release.
A SUCCESSFUL SUMMIT
Close to 300 participants took part in the first-ever Valley Water Summit, a one-day work session focused on developing regional strategies that can attract funding for priority water supply projects to help the entire Lower Valley. For a full recap of the day's events, read the Valley Morning Star's follow-up article. A complete transcript of Senator Hutchison's remarks is also available.
Speakers included U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, U.S. Representative Rubén Hinojosa, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., TCEQ Chairman Kathleen Hartnett White, and Rio Grande Watermaster Carlos Rubinstein.
U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison addresses the Summit as state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., looks on
Registrants represented the full spectrum of interests: economic development, municipal, agriculture, industrial, irrigation, public/environmental. Through interactive surveys and strategic work sessions, participants developed consensus on priority action items.
PRIORITY ISSUES & ACTION STRATEGIES
Participants in the 2004 Valley Water Summit consistently identified three points as the most important water issues for the region:
- Inefficient water delivery system;
- Conflicts among agricultural, municipal, and environmental water needs; and
- Lack of water supply options.
Data collected throughout the Summit clearly show overwhelming consensus on three points:
- Establishing regional partnerships and cooperative financing mechanisms among all stakeholder groups that include enhancing community understanding of the vital importance of water issues and coordinating for federal and state funding;
- Improving efficiency of water delivery systems, particularly by rehabilitating canal infrastructure and instituting on-farm conservation measures; and
- Resolving treaty issues to enhance the reliability of water supplies.
A more detailed summary is available here in PDF format (275 KB; revised 04/06/2004).
