L’Oreal Stepney, who is the Chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), spoke to us about the duties and responsibilities of the TWDB. The TWDB's main responsibilities are threefold: collecting and disseminating water-related data; assisting with regional water supply and flood planning that contributes to preparing the state water plan and state flood plan; and administering cost-effective financial programs for constructing water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects. Every five years, the TWDB prepares a State Water Plan projecting out fifty years. They are working on the 2027 plan at this time, and the draft shows a potential water shortage of 5.8 million acre-feet in 2080 based upon the drought of record from the 1950s. The TWDB is working on projects and strategies to find an addition 7.6 million acre-feet by 2080. Planning in a nutshell takes a look at existing water supplies and projected water demand to determine if there will be a surplus. They continue to look for new sources of water and determine how much it will cost. Chairman Stepney also discussed the recent bills passed by the Texas Legislature that provided for funding for water infrastructure and supply projects, including one that will take a portion of the sales and use tax each year to create a $20 billion fund for water projects. The TWDB also prepares a State flood plan that provides for orderly preparation and response to flooding. You can find more information on the TWDB's website - www.twdb.texas.gov.