(a) The commission is the agency with primary responsibility for implementation of water quality management functions, including enforcement actions, within the state. Water quality management functions shall be oriented on a watershed basis in consideration of the priorities identified by river authorities and basin steering committees. The commission by rule shall coordinate the water quality responsibilities of river authorities within each watershed and shall, where appropriate, delegate water quality functions to local governments under § 26.175 of this code. The State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall coordinate and administer all programs for abating agricultural or silvicultural nonpoint source pollution, as provided by § 201.026, Agriculture Code.
(b) Nothing in this section is intended to enlarge, diminish, or supersede the water quality powers, including enforcement authority, authorized by law for river authorities, the State Soil and Water Conservation Board, and local governments. Nothing in this section is intended to enlarge, diminish, or supersede the responsibilities of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station to conduct educational programs and research regarding nonpoint source pollution and related water resource and water quality matters.

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Terms Used In Texas Water Code 26.0136

  • Board: means the Texas Water Development Board. See Texas Water Code 26.001
  • Commission: means the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. See Texas Water Code 26.001
  • Pollution: means the alteration of the physical, thermal, chemical, or biological quality of, or the contamination of, any water in the state that renders the water harmful, detrimental, or injurious to humans, animal life, vegetation, or property or to public health, safety, or welfare, or impairs the usefulness or the public enjoyment of the water for any lawful or reasonable purpose. See Texas Water Code 26.001
  • Rule: includes regulation. See Texas Government Code 311.005

(c) The commission shall establish rules to make the optimum use of state and federal funding and grant programs related to water quality programs of the commission.
(d) In this section, “river authority” has the meaning assigned by § 26.0135(i) of this code.