Texas Water Information Network Optimization Program

Summary

The program provides a water resource data collection and dissemination network that is in coordination with federal, state, and local governments, institutions of higher education, and other interested parties. The network is required to support assessment of ambient water conditions in Texas. This includes drought-monitoring data used for statewide drought planning. The program is to make recommendations for optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of water- resource data collection and dissemination as necessary to ensure that basic water resource data are maintained and available for all Texans.

The program utilizes a central website at www.texaswaterinfo.net for data dissemination. This website provides links to water-related entities through out the state and nation, to provide access to water data. The program also hosts cooperator websites to facilitate data dissemination.

Cooperative Agreements are executed with state entitles for cooperation in data collection and dissemination. The program indentifies potential cooperators through web research, personal networking, or referrals. Entities with signed agreements of participation have agreed to be responsible for the collection, storage and dissemination of water resource related information and to actively participate in Network Optimization Program development and enhancement in conjunction with the Network Optimization staff and other program cooperators. Signed cooperators have agreed to be responsible for the collection, storage and dissemination of water resource related information and to actively participate in Network Optimization Program development and enhancement in conjunction with the Network Optimization staff and other program cooperators. The program also loans computers, software and related equipment to facilitate the collection and dissemination of water-resources related data. Project staff provides assistance to network cooperators on issues related to water-resource data collection and dissemination.

There are 31-signed cooperators with the program. These entities include three river authorities, twenty-six groundwater conservation districts, and three other state entities. The program now hosts fifteen cooperators' internet domains on the TxWIN Web server. Presently, development of cooperator's data collection and dissemination efforts are underway. The program website is under constant development to provide the latest in water-resources data access for Texas.

The program has deployed computers, software, or related hardware, to cooperators to facilitate data collection and storage efforts. The deployed equipment is actively performing dissemination of data through cooperator websites.

Current signed cooperators are: the Brazos, Nueces, and Sabine River Authorities, Clearwater, Coke Co., Evergreen, Gonzales Co., Headwaters, Hemphill, Hickory No. 1, Hillcountry, Jeff Davis Co., Mesa, South Plains, and Sterling Co. Underground Water Conservation Districts, Barton Springs\Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, Irion Co. and Lipan-Kickapoo Water Conservation Districts, Springhills Water Management District, Bee Co., Blanco-Pedernales, Brewster Co., Coastal Bend, Coastal Plains, Culberson Co., Goliad Co., , Medina Co., Panhandle, and Rolling Plains Groundwater Conservation Districts, Houston-Galveston Area Council, Center for Water Supply Studies, and Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.