HB577 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Todd

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Water Resources Act, coordination of plans relating to water allocation required, restrictions of use under certain conditions, award of conservation credits to certain consumers, Alabama Water Security and Conservation Act, Sec. 9-10B-23 repealed; Secs. 9-10B-2, 9-10B-3, 9-10B-20, 9-10B-22, 9-10B-24 am'd.

Summary

HB577 creates the Alabama Water Conservation and Security Act to coordinate water allocation with water quality, protect environmental flows, and manage shortages using conservation credits.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates the Alabama Water Conservation and Security Act and amends the Alabama Water Resources Act to align water allocation with water quality and to protect flows and levels in water sources. It gives the Office of Water Resources power to restrict terms of certificates during water shortages or emergencies, requires shortages to be declared, and authorizes conservation credits for voluntary conservation. It also establishes environmental flow rules, designates capacity stress areas with rulemaking, and requires burden-of-proof provisions for withdrawals, while repealing an existing rulemaking section and creating new sections to govern these processes.

Who It Affects

• Certificate of Use holders and other water withdrawal rights, who could see restrictions during shortages or emergencies and may earn conservation credits for voluntary reductions.
• Public water systems and other water users (including irrigation) who must submit declarations of beneficial use, report withdrawals, and comply with environmental flow rules and coordinated water plans.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Water Conservation and Security Act and amends multiple sections of the Alabama Water Resources Act to coordinate water allocation with water quality and to preserve environmental flows.
• Authorizes the Office of Water Resources to restrict terms or conditions of certificates of use for the duration of a water shortage or emergency, with restrictions guided by drought management strategies.
• Requires the Water Resources Commission to declare a water shortage under defined conditions and to designate capacity stress areas where water use may be further regulated.
• Establishes environmental flows or levels for water sources, to be set by rule after consultation with the Alabama Water Resources Council, and places a burden of proof on withdrawal proponents to show their use will not impair these flows.
• Allows conservation credits for voluntary or mandated conservation measures during shortages or emergencies and provides for registration and accounting of joint conservation agreements.
• Authorizes termination of shortages or emergencies when conditions improve, and requires notice and due process for rule-making affecting capacity stress areas (including broad stakeholder notice and a 13-of-19 commission concurrence).
• Repeals Section 9-10B-23 and adds new sections 9-10B-31 to 9-10B-33 to implement environmental flow protections, certificate management, and related planning activities.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Water and Waterways