Isabella Carter
The Texas Constitution has been amended to protect the state's natural resources, including surface water and groundwater. The Conservation Amendment was approved by Texas voters in 1917 following a severe drought, instructing the state that it has a duty and responsibility to protect and conserve natural resources. The Legislature has since recognised the importance of protecting the 'biological soundness' of Texas' rivers, lakes, bays and estuaries for the public's economic health and general well-being. The Texas Natural Resources Code also provides the GLO with the authority to adopt rules governing the preservation and enhancement of the public's right to use and have access to public beaches.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conservation Amendment | Instructs the state to protect and conserve natural resources |
| Surface water and groundwater | Protected by the Conservation Amendment |
| Biological soundness of the state's rivers, lakes, bays and estuaries | Recognised as important by the Legislature |
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What You'll Learn
The Conservation Amendment
In 1917, Texas voters approved the Conservation Amendment to the Texas Constitution, instructing the state that it has a duty and responsibility to protect and conserve natural resources, including surface water and groundwater. The Conservation Amendment was approved following a severe drought.
The Texas Legislature has recognised that protecting the biological soundness of the state's rivers, lakes, bays, and estuaries is of great importance to the public's economic health and general well-being. Inadequate flows result in more species being proposed for listing as threatened or endangered, which creates greater uncertainty for water management.
In 2007, the Legislature established a process to help define environmental flow standards for rivers and bays to provide certainty in water management and development and to provide adequate protection of the state's streams, rivers, and bays and estuaries. This legislation calls for an ongoing review of adopted flow standards, strategies to meet flow standards, and accounting measures.
The Texas Natural Resources Conservation Service has a proud history of supporting Texas' farmers, ranchers and forest landowners by providing financial and technical assistance to help protect natural resources and meet their unique conservation needs. For more than 80 years, the NRCS has helped people make conservation investments in their operations and local communities to support working lands, boost rural economies, and improve the quality of our soil, water, and air.
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The Texas Natural Resources Code
In 1917, Texas voters approved the Conservation Amendment to the Texas Constitution, which instructs the state that it has a duty and responsibility to protect and conserve natural resources, including surface water and groundwater. The Texas Natural Resources Code includes proposed amendments that would give the GLO the authority to adopt rules governing the preservation and enhancement of the public's right to use and have access to public beaches, and certification of local government beach access and use plans as consistent with state law. The proposed amendments are expected to improve environmental protection and safety, and to reduce public expenditures associated with loss of structures and public infrastructure due to storm damage and erosion, disaster response costs, and loss of life.
The Texas Legislature has also recognised that protecting the "biological soundness" of the state's rivers, lakes, bays, and estuaries is of great importance to the public's economic health and general well-being. Inadequate flows result in more species being proposed for listing as threatened or endangered, which creates greater uncertainty for water management. In 2007, the Legislature established a process to help define environmental flow standards for rivers and bays to "provide certainty in water management and development and to provide adequate protection of the State's streams, rivers and bays and estuaries". This legislation calls for an ongoing review of adopted flow standards, strategies to meet flow standards, and accounting measures.
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Environmental flow standards
In 1917, Texas voters approved the Conservation Amendment to the Texas Constitution, instructing the state that it has a duty and responsibility to protect and conserve natural resources, including surface water and groundwater. The Texas Legislature has since undertaken a number of initiatives to manage groundwater and surface water.
The Texas Natural Resources Code provides the GLO with the authority to adopt rules governing the preservation and enhancement of the public's right to use and have access to public beaches, and certification of local government beach access and use plans as consistent with state law. The proposed amendments are expected to improve environmental protection and safety and reduce public expenditures associated with loss of structures and public infrastructure due to storm damage and erosion, disaster response costs, and loss of life.
In 2007, the Legislature established a process to help define environmental flow standards for rivers and bays to "provide certainty in water management and development and to provide adequate protection of the State's streams, rivers and bays and estuaries". This legislation calls for an ongoing review of adopted flow standards, strategies to meet flow standards, and accounting measures. The Legislature has recognised that protecting the "biological soundness" of the state's rivers, lakes, bays, and estuaries is of great importance to the public's economic health and general well-being. Inadequate flows result in more species being proposed for listing as threatened or endangered, which creates greater uncertainty for water management.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a long history of supporting Texas' farmers, ranchers and forest landowners by providing financial and technical assistance to help protect natural resources and meet their unique conservation needs. For more than 80 years, NRCS has helped people make conservation investments in their operations and local communities to support working lands, boost rural economies, and improve the quality of soil, water, and air.
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The GLO's authority
In 1917, Texas voters approved the Conservation Amendment to the Texas Constitution, instructing the state that it has a duty and responsibility to protect and conserve natural resources, including surface water and groundwater. The Texas Legislature has since undertaken a number of important initiatives to manage groundwater and surface water.
The GLO has the authority to adopt rules governing the preservation and enhancement of the public's right to use and have access to public beaches, and certification of local government beach access and use plans as consistent with state law. The GLO has evaluated the proposed rulemaking in accordance with Texas Government Code §2007.043(b) and the Attorney General's Private Real Property Rights Preservation Act Guidelines to determine whether a detailed takings impact assessment is required.
The Texas Legislature established a process in 2007 to help define environmental flow standards for rivers and bays to provide certainty in water management and development and to provide adequate protection of the state's streams, rivers, bays, and estuaries. This legislation calls for an ongoing review of adopted flow standards, strategies to meet flow standards, and accounting measures.
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Water management
In 1917, Texas voters approved the Conservation Amendment to the Texas Constitution, which instructed the state to protect and conserve natural resources, including surface water and groundwater. The Texas Legislature has since undertaken a number of initiatives to manage groundwater and surface water, resulting in two different sets of laws: one for groundwater and another for surface water. However, neither legal scheme fully accomplishes the mandates of the conservation amendment.
The Legislature has recognised that protecting the "biological soundness" of the state's rivers, lakes, bays, and estuaries is of great importance to the public's economic health and general well-being. Inadequate flows can result in more species being proposed for listing as threatened or endangered, which creates greater uncertainty for water management. In 2007, the Legislature established a process to help define environmental flow standards for rivers and bays, providing certainty in water management and development and protecting the state's streams, rivers, bays, and estuaries. This legislation calls for an ongoing review of adopted flow standards, strategies to meet those standards, and accounting measures.
The Texas Natural Resources Code provides the GLO with the authority to adopt rules governing the preservation and enhancement of the public's right to use and have access to public beaches, and certification of local government beach access and use plans as consistent with state law. The proposed amendments are expected to improve environmental protection and safety and reduce public expenditures associated with loss of structures and public infrastructure due to storm damage and erosion, disaster response costs, and loss of life.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a long history of supporting Texas' farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners by providing financial and technical assistance to help protect natural resources and meet their unique conservation needs. For more than 80 years, NRCS has helped people make conservation investments in their operations and local communities to support working lands, boost rural economies, and improve the quality of soil, water, and air. Through one-on-one, personalised advice, NRCS works with agricultural producers and the economy on a voluntary basis to meet their conservation goals, ensuring the health of natural resources and the long-term sustainability of American agriculture.
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Frequently asked questions
The Texas Constitution protects natural resources through the Conservation Amendment, which was approved by Texas voters in 1917.
The Conservation Amendment instructs the state that it has a duty and responsibility to protect and conserve natural resources, including surface water and groundwater.
The purpose of the Conservation Amendment is to ensure the long-term sustainability of Texas' natural resources, including its soil, water, and air.
The Conservation Amendment has led to the development of two different sets of laws: one for groundwater and another for surface water. These laws aim to manage and protect Texas' water resources.
Yes, Texas has proposed amendments under the Texas Natural Resources Code that aim to preserve and enhance the public's right to use and have access to public beaches. Texas also has a Natural Resources Conservation Service that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to help protect natural resources and meet their unique conservation needs.
