PUBLIC OPINION - Water Plan Out of Sync With Texans' Beliefs - National Wildlife Federation poll of Texas voters - Brief Article

National Wildlife, Oct-Nov, 2002

According to a recent NWF poll, Texans prefer a different approach to water conservation than their state's new plan proposes. Among the poll's findings:

* Ninety-three percent of voters say it is important to protect rivers, bays and wildlife in planning for the state's water needs. The Texas Water Plan, however, does not recognize wildlife or the environment as a category of water use in planning efforts.

* By a margin of two to one, voters support water conservation over building new dams and pipelines. The water plan relies heavily on the construction of dams and pipelines.

* Seventy-six percent of voters favor limits on the use of groundwater. The water plan recommends strategies that would deplete or exhaust many groundwater supplies.

* Ninety-one percent of voters say water supply projects should be proven to be cost-effective to qualify for state funding. Nothing in the water plan ensures that state funding will go to the most cost- effective method of meeting a community's water needs.