Water Quality: You Can Make a Difference!

Be a part of Lower Neches Valley Authority's Clean Rivers Program Steering Committee:

A primary element of CRP is the involvement of the public. LNVA depends on public involvement and input from stakeholders to assist in understanding the needs of the basins and the areas of concern. Therefore, LNVA works with stakeholders to address concerns within each basin and set water quality monitoring priorities. Historically, LNVA has worked with a steering committee, which, as defined in the Texas Clean Rivers Act, is a group of diverse stakeholders representing a variety interests in water quality. The steering committee has representatives from municipalities, state and federal agencies, industrial and agricultural interests as well as environmental organizations, and individual citizens. Each year, LNVA facilitates steering committee meetings, which are intended to bring the steering committee members together to discuss water quality and other related issues of each basin as well as LNVA's management of CRP. LNVA uses input from these meetings to help develop its CRP program.

The steering committee process is important because it provides LNVA with new ideas for work plans and allows LNVA to focus on the needs and interests of the stakeholders of the basins. Such ideas have included: increased education, more public outreach, additional special studies, expanded routine and systematic monitoring, and increased targeted monitoring.

To become a part of the Clean Rivers Steering Committee, you may do so by contacting Jesse Caillier by phone (409) 898-0561 ext. 4 or via email.

The Lower Neches Valley Authority is establishing the Clean Rivers Program Steering Committee for FY 2006-07 biennium. Please confirm your participation before January 31, 2006. We are actively promoting membership and will appreciate any recommendations you might have for additional new members.

Membership Membership Guidelines specify the steering committee should include stakeholder volunteers from across the Lower Neches Valley Authority's area of responsibility representing the following groups:

• Private citizens
• Fee-payers (identified in Texas Water Code TWC 26.0135(h)
• Political subdivisions (including local, regional, and state officials)
• State Soil and Water Conservation Board
• Other appropriate state agencies including: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Water Development Board, Texas General Land Office, Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Railroad Commission and Texas Department of Transportation.
• Other entities interested in water quality matters including: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regional staff, business and industry, agriculture, environmental and other public interest groups.

Role The steering committee serves as the focus for public input and assists with:

• Creation of specific achievable water quality objectives and basin priorities
• Review and development of work plans and allocation of resources
• Development, review and approval of major reports
• Establishing monitoring priorities and developing monitoring plans
• Identification of priority problem areas and development of actions to address these problems and pollutant sources

Goals The CRP Long Term Action Plan for Fiscal Years 2000-2005 established CRP goals for the steering committees to support and enhance public participation by:

• Improving awareness of water quality, water resource, and pollutant source issues
• Increasing opportunities for citizens to identify pressing issues and concerns, and contributing ideas to the CRP process
• Expanding the public's role in water quality management issues

Please contact me by phone at (409) 898-0561 ext. 4 or by email at jessec@lnva.dst.tx.us if you have any questions.