1. (a) The executive administrator shall prepare, develop, and formulate the state water plan and the board shall adopt a state water plan no later than January 5, 2002, and before the end of each successive five-year period after that date. The executive administrator shall identify the beginning of the 50-year planning period for the state and regional water plans. The executive administrator shall incorporate into the state water plan presented to the board those regional water plans approved by the board pursuant to Chapter 357 of this title (relating to Regional Water Planning Guidelines). The board shall, not less than 30 days before adoption or amendment of the state water plan, publish notice in the Texas Register of its intent to adopt a state water plan and shall mail notice to each regional water planning group. The board shall hold a hearing, after which it may adopt a water plan or amendments thereto.

2. (b) Development of the state water plan and of regional water plans shall be guided by the following principles:

   1. (1) identification of those policies and actions that may be needed to meet Texas' near- and long-term water needs and preparation for and response to drought conditions, in order that sufficient water will be available at a reasonable cost to satisfy a reasonable projected use of water to ensure public health, safety and welfare, further economic development, and protect the agricultural and natural resources of the state;
   2. (2) decision-making that is open to and accountable to the public with decisions based on accurate, objective and reliable information with full dissemination of planning results;
   3. (3) consideration of the effect of policies or water management strategies on the public interest of the state, water supply, and those entities involved in providing this supply throughout the entire state;
   4. (4) consideration of all water management strategies the board determines to be potentially feasible when developing plans to meet future water needs and to respond to drought so that cost effective water management strategies which are consistent with long-term protection of the state's water resources, agricultural resources, and natural resources are considered and approved;

Source Note:The provisions of this §358.3 adopted to be effective March 11, 1998, 23 TexReg 2382; amended to be effective October 5, 1999, 24 TexReg 8565; amended to be effective January 2, 2002, 26 TexReg 11025.