Top state officials -- including Gov. George W. Bush and Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock -- see a growing need to address water issues in the legislative session.
Texas' water needs will increase with the state's growing population, which is expected to double to more than 36 million by the year 2050. Texas is one of three states, along with New Mexico and Wyoming, that have no drought-management plan.
That's important to a lot of Texas businesses, especially those that depend on water, like agriculture, and communities trying to attract new business to their areas.
State Sen. Carlos Truan, D-Corpus Christi and vice chair of the Senate Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, said state officials have not adequately planned for the ongoing drought.
"We are going to have to sit down and talk about water as a natural resource and not as a commodity on the shelf that's going to be sold like bread," Truan said. "We need to make sure that some areas of the state aren't suffering while other areas have an overabundance."
Some water issues expected to be considered by lawmakers include: water management plans, interbasin transfers of surface water, regulation of transfer of surface water rights, surface water quality monitoring and state financial assistance for water needs of small communities.
Austin officials have vowed to fight the transfer of as much as 35,000-acre-feet of water to Corpus Christi from the Lower Colorado River, saying it could set a dangerous precedent for pumping water out of the river. For years, San Antonio has looked at the river as a possible water source.
Last year, the Corpus Christi City Council agreed to buy the water annually from the Garwood Irrigation Co., finalizing an option negotiated in 1992.
"It is going to be a critical issue in terms of water rights and property rights. Everyone feels that what's on my property, I own," said state Rep. Gene Seaman, R-Corpus Christi. "But Texas needs to come to the table and come to grips with what we are going to do about water in Texas."
Austin officials have indicated they will fight the transfer from the river, which is Austin's main water supply. Corpus Christi officials predict that their city could run out of water by 1998 if rains provide no relief. Austin officials say they could have water shortages around 2010 because of population growth.
"People are taking a defensive posture," Truan said. "We need to be concerned about putting together a plan to conserve as much water as we can. We cannot afford to continue unlimited pumping from our aquifers and we can't let people be so adamant about controlling ground water to the detriment of others."
State Rep. Judy Hawley, D-Portland, said members of the Coastal Bend delegation are united on doing what they can to preserve the future of interbasin transfers.
"We can't have regions of Texas fighting over something that's logical," she said. "We are not in any way jeopardizing anyone else's water supply."