Alabama Legislature passes resolution to develop statewide water management plan

The Alabama Legislature passed a resolution Thursday to develop something the state doesn't have — a statewide water management plan, despite a severe drought and years of tri-state water talks.

SJR 28, sponsored by Sen. Kim Benefield, D-Woodland, has passed both the House and Senate. This bill creates the Alabama Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Water Policy and Management.

The purpose is to develop the Alabama Water Management Plan to recommend to the governor and the Legislature courses of action to address the state's long-term and short-term water resource challenges.

The committee would be composed of the chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry; the chair of the House Commerce Committee; the chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; the chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Transportation and Utilities; the chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; five members of the House appointed by the speaker; two members of the Senate appointed by the lieutenant governor; and two members of the Senate appointed by the president pro tem of the Senate.

Click here to read the SJR28 Water Resolution.