Thursday, March 20, 1997

Water proposals must including funding for new facilities

By J.T. SMITH

Farm Editor

The leading cattle organization in the Southwest wants agriculture to be more than just a drip in the bucket when it comes to considering water rights.

Management of Texas water resources must include funding of new water facilities - and agriculture has to be part of the plan, says the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA).

The cattle raiser group made its points to the Texas Senate Committee in Austin this past week.

TSCRA is a 120-year-old livestock trade association with nearly 14,000 members owning and controlling about 1.8 million head of cattle. The organization represents the entire industry - including many small to moderate operations - not just large ranches.

In fact, 70 percent of today's TSCRA members own fewer than 50 head of cattle.

J. Mark McLaughlin, TSCRA second vice president from San Angelo, told the Senate Natural Resources Committee that SB 1 by State Sen. J.E. "Buster" Brown - a proposal to develop land manage water resources of the state - is a good plan that is worthy of support. But it has some deficiencies that must be corrected, McLaughlin added.

McLaughlin, a rancher and lawyer who chairs TSCRA's Water Policy for Texas Planning Committees, urged lawmakers to create additional water sources such as reservoirs.

He also encouraged them to fund these projects through user fees and other mechanisms.

"We (TSCRA) have had a readjustment in our thinking," McLaughlin says. "As landowners, we know this (underground) water is our water, but legislation is essential to protect correlative rights."

"Regulation requires cooperation," McLaughlin says. "And control of underground water districts must be local."

TSCRA wants TDA to have input

TSCRA also asks that the Texas Department of Agriculture be included in the decision-making process regarding water management.

The cattle raisers organization says TDA should have input at a level equal to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission.

McLaughlin reminded Austin lawmakers that Texas livestock sales contribute about $8.5 billion to the economy. Crop production provides an additional $8 billion.

"Texas needs money to fund brush control, weather modification, and additional reservoirs," McLaughlin says.

Because of droughts that periodically plague Texas, the 75th Legislature, currently in session, has been exploring ways of managing the state's water resources.

McLaughlin says said that water will be a top priority for TSCRA.