[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 4, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. HUTCHISON:
  S. 1367. A bill to amend the act that authorized the Canadian River 
reclamation project, Texas to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
allow use of the project distribution system to transport water from 
sources other than the project; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.


        the canadian river municipal water authority act of 1997

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation 
that would enable the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority in Texas 
to use the Canadian River Project's water distribution system to 
transport water from sources other than those envisioned when the 
project was conceived nearly 50 years ago.
  The Canadian River Municipal Water Authority is a State agency which 
supplies water to over 500,000 citizens in 11 cities on the Texas high 
plains, including Lubbock and Amarillo. The water authority was created 
by the Texas Legislature which authorized it to contract with the 
Federal Government under Federal reclamation laws to build and develop 
the Canadian River Project, also known as Lake Meredith. While the 
operation and maintenance responsibilities of the project were 
transferred to the water authority, the Bureau of Reclamation retained 
the title and ownership of the project.
  The quality and supply of water from the Canadian River Project has 
not met the expectations of either the Bureau of Reclamation or the 
residents of the Texas high plains. Not only is their insufficient 
water to provide adequately for the needs of the communities Lake 
Meredith serves, but the water has high levels of salt.
  The Canadian River Municipal Water Authority has proposed to 
supplement the water in Lake Meredith with better quality groundwater 
from nearby aquifers. While this will not require any Federal funding, 
the Bureau of Reclamation has ill-conceived guidelines precluding 
nonproject water from flowing through their reservoirs or distribution 
systems.
  The legislation I am introducing today would allow the use of the 
Canadian River Project water distribution system to transport better 
quality water from the nearby aquifers which are outside the originally 
defined project scope. An environmental review, as required by law, 
would be conducted and completed within 90 days of enactment of this 
legislation. Congressman Mac Thornberry has introduced similar 
legislation in the House of Representatives.
  The citizens of the Texas Panhandle have long suffered from 
insufficient water and poor water quality. The Bureau of Reclamation 
has worked with the water authority to develop a solution to the high 
salt content in the water. Local officials believe that one solution is 
to simply dilute the poor quality water with better quality water from 
the nearby aquifers.
  I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation quickly to meet the 
long-term water needs of many Texas Panhandle residents.
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