Which of these is an accurate assessment of Texas's water needs for the coming years?
a. In the 2012 State Water Plan, the Water Development Board recommended that Texas construct new water projects to be able to supply enough water to the future population.
b. The public voted to take 2 billion out of the state's Rainy Day fund to finance water projects, but the 2 billion is little compared to what's needed; thus, even if the money is spent efficiently, the state's water-supply problems will be almost as bad as before.
c. There are arguments between the eastern and western parts of the state, between cities and rural areas, and between agriculture and industry about how the state's water needs will be met.
d. It is one thing for the state of Texas to develop water plans, but it's another thing to overcome all the political conflicts that stand in the way of implementing those plans.
e. All of these are accurate assessments of the state's water needs.
Q. 2
The Texas Water Plan of the 1960s would have _____.
a. made the Trinity River running from Dallas to Houston into a ship canal
b. used the water of the Edwards Aquifer to build a massive lake near Odessa
c. created a cloud seeding agency to increase annual rain in Texas
d. taken water from the Mississippi River to provide resources in Texas
e. doubled the number of water reservoirs in Texas
Q. 3
Which statement about the TCEQ is not true?
a. The TCEQ is responsible for issuing air and water operating permits to businesses operating in Texas.
b. Businesses that desire permits to use public water are able to bring intense pressure to bear on the TCEQ through political channels.
c. The TCEQ has authorized so many permits for businesses to use Texas surface water that in years of scarcity, many ofthe rivers come close to going dry.
d. The TCEQ's policies have favored environmental protection over economic development.
e. High percentages of whooping crane deaths were due to the lack of fresh water in Texas.
Q. 4
The organization with the mission to protect our state's human and natural resources consistent with sustainable economic development is called _____.
a. the Texas Sustainability Commission (TSC)
b. the Economic Development and Tourism agency in the governor's office
c. the Texas Game and Wildlife Agency
d. the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
e. Ducks Unlimited
Q. 5
The estuary formed by the entrance of the Guadalupe River into San Antonio Bay near Aransas Pass is the home of _____.
a. feral pigs
b. whooping cranes
c. bluegill fish
d. delicate orchids
e. Texas bluebonnets
Q. 6
A _____ is an area of coastline where a river flows into a sea, mixing salt and fresh water.
a. TCEQ
b. river
c. ocean
d. estuary
e. EPA
Q. 7
What statement expresses the consequences of Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Buttell Day and Joel McDaniel?
a. The Texas Supreme Court sided with the advocates of private property rights.
b. The Texas Supreme Court ruled that although the state was entitled to regulate the use of groundwater, its rules in this particular case were unreasonable.
c. The court did not leave any clear guidelines as to what kind of regulations are reasonable, so public agencies do not know what they can and cannot do.
d. The court ensured that the future of water regulation in Texas will be confusing, uncertain, and full of lawsuits.
e. All of these are consequences of this decision.
Q. 8
If a landowner pumps so much water from underneath his or her land that a neighbor's well or lake runs dry, under the rule of capture, this is _____.
a. illegal, because the state has an interest in protecting underground water for future generations
b. illegal, because people and businesses cannot own underground water just like they cannot own surface water
c. legal, even if it puts others' access to water in jeopardy
d. legal, even though it conflicts with laws passed by the legislature that recognize that underground and surface water are connected
e. legal, even if it puts others' access to water in jeopardy and even though it conflicts with laws passed by the legislature that recognize that underground and surface water are connected