Water is a vital resource to the state of Texas, its people, and its environment. Water resources issues in Texas cover a wide range due to the diverse hydrological, topographic, climatic, biological, and economic situations existing in this large state. Ever since the establishment of the Lone Star Chapter in Texas, the Sierra Club has made water resources management and protection a priority. The Sierra Club in Texas has defeated unwarranted water development "boondoggle" proposals, strengthened the state’s surface water quality standards, helped to establish nondegradation as the groundwater protection policy of the state, promoted the proper management of such important water resources as the Edwards Aquifer, sought and achieved greater levels of protection for environmental water needs, and promoted water conservation and efficiency, among other accomplishments. In the 21^st century, as greater pressure is put on the state’s water resources due to population growth and other demands, the Sierra Club will continue to make water resources a priority issue.

The Sierra Club seeks to protect and enhance the quality of the waters of the state of Texas and to assure an appropriate supply of clean water to meet environmental, drinking water, recreational, and other water needs, consistent with the management of population growth and with the implementation of sound water conservation practices.

In order to protect and enhance the quality of the waters of the state and to assure an appropriate supply of water, the Lone Star Chapter will pursue the following objectives:

• Strengthen the State of Texas Surface Water Quality Standards and ensure the preparation of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) and action plans to improve the quality of water;
• Reduce and prevent increases in nonpoint source pollution from agriculture, silviculture, land development, construction, and urbanized areas.
• Expand and increase the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of water quality monitoring in Texas and develop an improved database of water quality information.
• Promote management and protection of water on a watershed basis.
• Assure that regional water plans and revisions to the Texas Water Plan provide a comprehensive review and assessment of options for meeting water resources needs and that such plans and revisions are based on true water needs and include a strong emphasis on water conservation and management rather than an emphasis on development and massive transfers of water;
• Assure that management and protection activities directed to the Edwards Aquifer guarantee appropriate springflows at Comal and San Marcos Springs, maximize water conservation, minimize additional water development, protect the quality of water, and are environmentally sound;
• Protect Texas rivers and ecosystems from environmentally destructive water projects that would impede freshwater inflows to bays and estuaries, impair instream uses, and result in serious loss of important fish and wildlife habitat, and further protect rivers and ecosystems by providing for necessary environmental flows;
• Enhance public awareness of the importance of Texas rivers and educate recreational users about the proper use of waterways;
• Assure more extensive use of water conservation and water efficiency at the local and regional level as a way of addressing water supply needs, including the use of best management practices, best available technology, and conservation water pricing with appropriate lifeline rates;
• Increase the protection of water quality from current point source pollution by enhancing inspection of wastewater dischargers and by reducing and, where appropriate, eliminating point source discharges;
• Strengthen federal clean water protections that affect the waters in the state of Texas;
• Enforce vigorously and review periodically safe drinking water standards to protect public health;
• Promote integrated water resource planning, including integration of surface water and groundwater planning;
• Protect land for natural aquifer recharge and limit impervious cover; and
• Revise the system of managing groundwater in Texas to include elimination of the antiquated rule of capture, adoption of the goal of implementing sustainable aquifer management on the basis of sustainable yield, adequate funding of groundwater availability modeling as well as groundwater monitoring and management activities, and appropriate restrictions on groundwater exports.