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This project seeks to determine whether proximity to major water sources (e.g. rivers or lakes) is associated with the public's perception of water scarcity. From a theoretical perspective, this project will aid our collective understanding of problem identification. From a practical perspective, this relationship could help inform decision makers about where support or resistance to a water policy may be concentrated and allow more targeted efforts to help inform citizens about short- and long-term water policy needs. Knowing the influence of local conditions on public support for policy action is particularly important as water policies are primarily the domain of local and state governments. We utilize Geographical Information Systems to quantify the distances between survey respondents and various water sources to attempt to determine the effect individuals' proximity to water sources has on their opinions about water scarcity. The analyses reveal that proximity is a predictor of water scarcity perceptions, and the implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the supply of and demand for water in Texas. Efforts of Texas to cut demand; Prediction that reservoirs supplied by the Rio Grande will go dry; Plan of T. Boone Pickens to buy water rights in western Texas and pipe water from the Ogallala aquifer to other areas; Concern of environmentalists that water will be overdrawn; Legislation pertaining to water protection by making more groundwater conservation districts.

The article informs that the Texas Water Development Board (TWDP) has issued the 250 million U.S. dollars of bond financing to the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) for a proposed reservoir as of September 2014. Topics discussed include objective of the reservoir to supplies water to rice farmers and other customers in Wharton County, Texas; plans of TWAP for debt-service schedule with interest-only payments on the bonds; and the triple-A credit rating of bonds.

The article offers information on Texas voters' approval 2 billion U.S. dollars in state funding to finance 50 years worth of water infrastructure projects in the state. It mentions that the funding will be used for public agencies in order to pursue projects developed to conserve or reuse water, or create new reservoirs designed to expand the water supply.