HB577 Alabama 2017 Session

Under existing law, the Alabama Water Resources Act, the Office of Water Resources is the state agency responsible for coordinating the water resources of this state including the administration of programs for river basin management, river assessment, water supply assistance, water conservation, flood mapping, the National Flood Insurance Program, and water resources development

This bill would create the Alabama Water Conservation and Security Act

This bill would amend the Alabama Water Resources Act to facilitate the coordination of the plans, laws, regulations, and decisions pertaining to water allocation in the state with those pertaining to water quality and to implement measures to preserve the flows and levels in all water sources as necessary to protect the appropriate biological, chemical, and physical integrity of water sources

This bill would: (1) authorize the Office of Water Resources to restrict any term or condition in a certificate of use for the duration of a water shortage or water emergency declared by the Water Resources Commission; (2) require the Water Resources Commission to declare a water shortage under certain conditions; (3) authorize the Office of Water Resources to provide conservation credits to water users who take certain conservation measures during periods of water shortages or emergencies; and (4) would authorize the commission to terminate a declaration of a water shortage or emergency upon certain findings

This bill would also require the state to preserve environmental flows and levels in all water sources, would allow the Office of Water Resources, after consultation with the Alabama Water Resources Council, to establish by rule environmental flow or level in any water source, and would establish a burden of proof for withdrawals of surface or underground water

Relating to water management; to create the Alabama Water Conservation and Security Act; to provide legislative findings and declarations; to amend Sections 9-10B-2, 9-10B-3, 9-10B-20, 9-10B-22, and 9-10B-24, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Alabama Water Resources Act, to facilitate the coordination of the plans, laws, regulations, and decisions pertaining to water allocation in the state with those pertaining to water quality; to implement measures to preserve the flows and levels in all water sources as necessary to protect the appropriate biological, chemical, and physical integrity of water sources; to authorize the Office of Water Resources to restrict any term or condition in a certificate of use for the duration of a water shortage or water emergency declared by the Water Resources Commission; to require the commission to declare a water shortage under certain conditions; to authorize the office to provide conservation credits who take certain conservation measures during periods of water shortages or emergencies; to authorize the commission to terminate a declaration of a water shortage or emergency upon certain findings; to require the state to preserve environmental flows and levels in all water sources; to allow the office, after consultation with the Alabama Water Resources Council, to establish by rule environmental flow or level in any water source; and to establish a burden of proof for withdrawals of surface or underground water; and to repeal Section 9-10B-23, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Authority of Alabama Department of Environmental Management to implement and enforce rules and regulations.