HB674 Alabama 2012 Session

Under existing law, the Alabama 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 Sustainability and Security Act to vest in the Office of Water Resources, the Water Resources Council, and the Water Resources Commission the power and responsibility to develop and, subject to adoption by the Legislature, carry out a comprehensive water management plan and drought management strategies, to make recommendations for adoption of legislation as necessary for the implementation and execution of the comprehensive water plan, and to develop other plans and strategies as may be necessary for the management of the waters of the state

This bill would require that the comprehensive water plan monitor and manage water withdrawals, protect minimum flows, manage interbasin transfers, include conservation and efficiency programs, and contain a regional decision-making structure

This bill would modify the current Certificate of Use system to make the right to use water a matter of legal record, entitled to legal protection

This bill also would authorize the Office of Water Resources to establish and convene planning advisory committees as necessary to assist in the formulation of the comprehensive water management plan

Relating to water management, to define terms, to require the Office of Water Resources, the Water Resources Council, and the Water Resources Commission to develop a comprehensive water management plan for recommendation to the Legislature, to establish minimum flows or levels under the comprehensive water management plan; to authorize the Office of Water Resources to establish and convene planning advisory committees to assist in the formulation of the plan; and to amend Sections 9-10B-5 and 9-10B-16, Code of Alabama 1975, to expand the powers and duties of the Office of Water Management and the Water Resources Commission related to the development and implementation of a comprehensive water management plan.