Water & Infrastructure
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Water is the lifeblood of Texas. Without an adequate supply of water, the region will not be able to sustain its growth. At the same time, communities need to be protected from flooding. Congressman Hinojosa has been working on a variety of fronts to conserve current supplies, locate new sources of water and prevent floods.
In the 110th Congress, Congressman Hinojosa introduced H.R. 361 to amend the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Conservation Act to authorize 15 additional conservation projects along the Texas/Mexico border. The bill passed the House on June 5, 2007. In the past two Congresses, Hinojosa has passed legislation authorizing 19 such water conservation projects. Congressman Hinojosa has helped secured almost $40 million in federal funding for these irrigation canal lining projects in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. As a result, several projects have been completed and are showing water savings of more than 30 percent.
A recent study by the Corps of Engineers shows that the International Boundary and Water Commission levees along the US/Mexico border are in critical condition and will not protect border communities in the event of heavy rains or hurricane. Congressman Hinojosa is fighting to obtain the $100 million in federal funding needed to repair the levees and prevent a New Orleans type disaster. This year he was successful in increasing House funding for levee construction from $2 million to $15 million.
The Water Resources Development Act authorizes and variety of water projects and sets national water policy. The act has not been renewed in several years. However, Congressman Hinojosa continues to fight for passage of this critical bill. He has requested the inclusion of several projects including funding for the Raymondville Drain project in South Texas. In addition he has requested that the Corps of Engineers be given the authority to not only provide technical assistance to colonias , but to also help them construct critical water and wastewater projects in these extremely needy communities, which could never afford to do themselves.
Congressman Hinojosa has been working with the Corps of Engineers to find ways to more effectively retain flood waters in areas like the Lower Rio Grande Valley that is prone to drought, while at the same time protecting northern communities in central Texas that are more prone to flooding. As a result of his efforts, the Corps of Engineers is currently looking at ways to better retain flood waters in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and is continuing its work on flood modeling in Goliad, Karnes and DeWitt Counties in order to update the flood maps critical to safe community development.
on this page: Latest News
Water is the lifeblood of Texas. Without an adequate supply of water, the region will not be able to sustain its growth. At the same time, communities need to be protected from flooding. Congressman Hinojosa has been working on a variety of fronts to conserve current supplies, locate new sources of water and prevent floods.
In the 110th Congress, Congressman Hinojosa introduced H.R. 361 to amend the Lower Rio Grande Valley Water Conservation Act to authorize 15 additional conservation projects along the Texas/Mexico border. The bill passed the House on June 5, 2007. In the past two Congresses, Hinojosa has passed legislation authorizing 19 such water conservation projects. Congressman Hinojosa has helped secured almost $40 million in federal funding for these irrigation canal lining projects in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. As a result, several projects have been completed and are showing water savings of more than 30 percent.
A recent study by the Corps of Engineers shows that the International Boundary and Water Commission levees along the US/Mexico border are in critical condition and will not protect border communities in the event of heavy rains or hurricane. Congressman Hinojosa is fighting to obtain the $100 million in federal funding needed to repair the levees and prevent a New Orleans type disaster. This year he was successful in increasing House funding for levee construction from $2 million to $15 million.
The Water Resources Development Act authorizes and variety of water projects and sets national water policy. The act has not been renewed in several years. However, Congressman Hinojosa continues to fight for passage of this critical bill. He has requested the inclusion of several projects including funding for the Raymondville Drain project in South Texas. In addition he has requested that the Corps of Engineers be given the authority to not only provide technical assistance to colonias , but to also help them construct critical water and wastewater projects in these extremely needy communities, which could never afford to do themselves.
Congressman Hinojosa has been working with the Corps of Engineers to find ways to more effectively retain flood waters in areas like the Lower Rio Grande Valley that is prone to drought, while at the same time protecting northern communities in central Texas that are more prone to flooding. As a result of his efforts, the Corps of Engineers is currently looking at ways to better retain flood waters in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and is continuing its work on flood modeling in Goliad, Karnes and DeWitt Counties in order to update the flood maps critical to safe community development.