Region I comment letter.final 1

September 8, 2005 Gary Hanlon DETCOG 210 Premier Drive Jasper, TX 75951 Re: Comments on Initially Prepared 2006 Regional Water Plan for the East Texas Region Dear Mr. Hanlon and Planning Group Members: The National Wildlife Federation, Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, and Environmental Defense appreciate this opportunity to provide written comments on the Initially Prepared Regional Water Plan for the East Texas Region (Region I). We consider the development of comprehensive water plans to be a high priority for ensuring a healthy and prosperous future for Texas. Our organizations also appreciate the extensive efforts of the planning group to produce the initially prepared regional plan. As you know, our organizations - whether individually or collectively - have provided periodic input during the process of developing the plan. The written comments in this letter build upon those previous comments in an effort to contribute to a better plan for all residents of Region I and for all Texans. I. BACKGROUND Our organizations support a comprehensive approach to water planning that considers all implications of water use and development. The process that Senate Bills 1 and 2 (SB1, SB2) established has the potential to produce major, positive changes in the way Texans approach water planning. Fully realizing that potential depends on the information that water plans provide, which must be sufficient to evaluate the likely ...