Video & Transcript Research : 'dam'

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HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

PBS Info Briefing - Mon Apr 20, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • flow would come down from Wahiawa dam. flow would come down from Wahiawa dam.
  • using the dam level?
  • There are reservoirs and there are dams. There are reservoirs and there are dams.
  • So, the dam by definition we like a dam?
  • <02:03:54.480> Um<02:03:54.800> but the dam. Um but the dam.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • into the dam fund.
  • , it would probably go into the dam fund.
  • , it would probably go into the dam fund.
  • go into the dam fund. go into the dam fund.
  • Um and the state to manage their dams.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
Summary: The Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee first approved the March 16, 2026 minutes, then took up several Department of Transportation property actions. The committee approved a Greenland access point sale for a cell tower site to Wakefield Investments for $132,800 plus a $1,100 administrative fee, and approved disposal of two Epsom parcels to the town at no cost, with the town assuming demolition of the former depot and the committee waiving the fee. It also approved a Milton access point sale to Jeremy West Champney and Cameron McDermott for $90,000 plus the fee, with conditions requiring permits and other approvals. During the DOT items, members asked about appraisals, access restrictions, and where the administrative fee goes; staff said the fee generally offsets agency administrative costs and may go to a dedicated fund or the general fund depending on the project. The committee then considered three Department of Environmental Services requests for utility easements to bring power to dams so gates can be operated more efficiently and potentially remotely. It approved an easement with New Hampshire Electric Co-op for Pine River Dam in Wakefield, an easement with New Hampshire Electric Co-op for Sunset Lake Dam in Alton, and an easement with Eversource for Suncook Lake Dam in Barnstead. Members discussed whether to waive the $1,100 administrative fee on these items, with some questioning the fee’s purpose and where it is deposited. The committee ultimately approved the DES items as requested, including the fee waivers, while asking staff to research the fee’s history, sufficiency, and use for a future report. Finally, the committee received informational items from the New Hampshire Council on Resources and Development. Members briefly discussed a property at Bloody Point in Newington and the related Sullivan Bridge demolition, and DOT staff said the property had been tabled previously and is now being worked on with Fish and Game for a possible transfer of management and future water access use. No votes were taken on the informational items.
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations - Room 210; 20 January, 2026: 8:45 AM

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • They look at the look at the dam.
  • I guess the dam itself, where the water is coming out of the dam, and that's where the Arabella issue
  • repair of the dam at Archusa Equipment. repair of the dam at Archusa Equipment.
  • <01:00:40.640> Little<01:00:40.880> Black dams are high hazard dams.
  • Little Black dams are high hazard dams.
Summary: The committee heard an update from the Mississippi State Port Authority at the Port of Gulfport on operations, finances, and recent developments. The port emphasized that it is an enterprise agency that does not seek state general fund support, and reported a regional economic impact of $3.8 billion, about $62 million in state and local taxes, and thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The witness highlighted growth in refrigerated cargo, especially efforts to bring more Mississippi poultry through Gulfport, along with continued container traffic and intermodal work. Several major investments and new business lines were discussed. Ports America is required under its lease to invest $43 million, and the port recently received a fourth crane, a $20 million investment that allows two vessels to be worked simultaneously. The port also announced American Cruise Lines stops in Gulfport, which is expected to bring high-end cruise passengers spending time and money locally. Additional updates included growth in technology and blue economy activity at the Roger F. Wicker Center, NOAA’s autonomous vessel operations center, Oceanero’s workforce expansion, and military moves that generated about 70,000 man-hours of local labor. Committee members asked about the FY27 budget, travel, and capital outlay requests. The port said the travel increase was for flexibility and that it spends conservatively, and explained that the larger capital figures reflect a strategic plan and potential private-sector and grant-funded projects rather than expected annual spending. The FY27 request was described as a slight decrease from the prior year, with the main salary increase tied to PERS and health insurance costs, and no special appropriations language was requested. Members also discussed the effort to regain chicken exports through Gulfport, including plans for a future freezer warehouse and the impact of the Kansas City Southern railroad merger, which the port said has had some hiccups but may help in the long run.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

January 20, 2026 - 01:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • A lot of people have said there's passages for life, so are 80% of your dams.
  • The second thing is they say the dam is in failure.
  • The state legislature Three years ago appropriated $1.7 million to make sure the dam was in good shape
  • The long-term solution to the situation is to breach the Rodman Dam, restore the Ocklawaha River.
  • They have designated it as a high hazard dam. When built it had a 50-year lifespan.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • I I believe repair of state dams.
  • um dam um dam maintenance shortfall. um dam um dam maintenance shortfall.
  • I I believe in a the critical dams.
  • um fish and to remove a couple of dams um fish and game<00:28:14.480> dams<00:28:15.520> um
  • Um, our our dams are<01:33:48.639> stateowned<01:33:49.120> dams<01:33:49.840> uh
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee began with introductions and a description of the day’s process: a full committee work session on four bills, with no public testimony, followed by caucus and then executive action. The first bill discussed was HB 113, concerning OHRV operation on certain highways in Windsor. Representative Nab presented an amendment that would require a public hearing and Department of Transportation approval, modeled on procedures used in Coös and Grafton counties. Members discussed whether Windsor had already held a local vote or hearing, whether minutes from a town meeting existed, and whether the amendment truly preserved local control. A Windsor resident testified informally that the town had not taken a final vote and that the matter had been left to the state. Committee members also raised concerns about noise, dust, public safety, and the fact that the road in question would connect OHRVs on a state road rather than a trail system. The chair closed the work session on HB 113 and said the committee would return after caucus to vote on the bill and amendment. The committee then took up HB 595FN, relative to coastal resilience zones. Representative Nat said the bill addressed flooding concerns in both coastal and inland New Hampshire, but that the sponsor viewed it as too complex and had recommended breaking the issue into separate parts in future legislation. On that basis, Nat said it was appropriate to ITL the bill, and noted that the sponsor supported that course. No further discussion followed, and the work session was closed. Next was HB 629FN, funding the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams. Representative Darby explained that the original bill had proposed both a waterfront frontage tax and a $5 charge tied to boat registration, but that the amendment would replace the bill by removing the frontage tax, moving the $5 dam-maintenance fee to the boat decal section of statute, and changing the effective date to January 1, 2027. Darby said the larger fee had raised concerns about impacts on current-use property and enforcement, while the revised $5 fee would raise roughly $500,000 to $600,000 annually. Representative Dunn thanked Darby and said the Marine Trades Association supported the revised approach. A question was raised about whether the original prime sponsors supported the amendment; the chair said they were on board, and Darby added that the proposal reflected recommendations from a prior study committee. The committee then closed HB 629FN and opened SB 27FN, relative to dwellings over water. On SB 27FN, Representative Derby said he opposed the bill because it would take away public access rights and amounted to a one-off legislative solution for a private concern. Representative Donnelly asked how many similar structures might be affected and whether the Department of Environmental Services knew of other cases; DES responded that there was one other related case under settlement compliance and no other active cases with the same issue. In follow-up discussion, DES clarified that the proposal was not a shoreland 50-foot setback issue, but rather involved structures extending over public water. The discussion remained focused on the scope of the bill and its potential precedent-setting effect, with no vote taken in the portion of the transcript provided.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 01/29/25

Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:
  • base load capacity hydroelectric dams base load capacity hydroelectric dams located<00:01:16.680
  • flows through each of those six dams flows through each of those six dams generating<00:03:51.519
  • The dams are very small.
  • Does this mean a dam, a large hydro dam, is going in tomorrow somewhere? Absolutely not.
  • was actually a hydro dam, right?
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
Summary: The Minnesota Senate Energy Committee heard Senate File 426, authored by Senator Icorn, which would remove the 100-megawatt cap on hydropower for purposes of qualifying as an eligible energy technology under Minnesota law. Supporters said hydropower is carbon-free, reliable, flexible baseload power that can help Minnesota meet its 100% carbon-free electricity goal by 2040. Testifiers from Missouri River Energy Services and Minnesota Power described existing hydropower resources, including allocations from federal Missouri River dams, Minnesota hydro stations, and Manitoba Hydro, and argued that the bill would preserve and expand options for clean energy development. Several members raised concerns about the bill’s purpose and potential environmental impacts. Senator McEwen questioned why the size limit should be removed without specific proposed projects or more information about the need for larger dams, citing concerns about fisheries, water resources, and land use. Senator Port and others asked about costs, environmental effects, and where new projects might be built. In response, supporters said the bill is intended to open the door to future projects and allow agencies to review proposals through existing permitting and environmental processes, rather than approving any specific dam. Committee members offered mixed reactions. Senator Frentz said he supported the concept but recommended laying the bill over for further discussion and possibly sending it to the Environment Committee, noting environmental concerns and the need for more conversation. Senator Gruenhagen strongly supported the bill, arguing that it merely lifts a cap while leaving permitting and review requirements in place. Senator Hoffman also supported the bill, saying current policy blocks consideration of new projects and that the change would allow regulators to evaluate proposals on their merits. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the bill was left open for further consideration.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • Important for everything from determining how much water to allocate to flood forecasting to dam or dam
  • So, the third one is water storage, dam safety, and floodplain management.
  • So, dam safety as well as floodplain management.
  • You know, there are 4,700 dams in the state.
  • State funding per dam and then state-regulated dams per FTE. You can see in the middle row there.
Keywords: 914, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I wanted to talk about dam safety. How many dams has the Department of Water Resources classified?
  • I wanted to talk about dam safety. How many dams has the Department of Water Resources classified?
  • There is another program in Prop. 4, the Dam Removal Program.
  • Action 1.11, I believe, is Matilla Ha Dam.
  • The dam has absolutely no use any longer.
Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on water and coastal resilience heard an overview of the governor’s Proposition 4 spending plan, with presentations from the Department of Finance, the State Water Resources Control Board, the Department of Water Resources, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and later coastal agencies. Members discussed the water chapter’s major allocations for drinking water and wastewater, recycled water, tribal water infrastructure, groundwater recharge and SGMA implementation, dam safety, flood protection, integrated regional water management, Salton Sea projects, and water data/stream gauges. The LAO noted that many programs are established and have clear funding processes, but some newer or less-defined programs may warrant more detailed future budget requests and reporting. No votes were taken on the agenda items. Members raised concerns about groundwater subsidence, water deliveries from the Delta, the pace of water storage investments, instream flows, and whether bond dollars were being used to backfill General Fund reductions. Administration witnesses said groundwater recharge spending is being paced because prior years already funded substantial SGMA work, that Delta operations are governed by water quality, salinity, and species requirements, and that Proposition 1 storage projects have moved slowly because they are locally led and require permitting and financing. The Water Board and DWR said they use public needs assessments, annual plans, and existing grant processes to prioritize projects, and Finance said some General Fund programs were shifted to Proposition 4 to help balance the budget. Members also asked for clearer public tracking of bond spending and more concise future reporting. In the coastal resilience portion, the Ocean Protection Council and Coastal Conservancy described Proposition 4 funding for sea level rise adaptation, coastal flood management, habitat restoration, public access, and San Francisco Bay projects, with a multi-year rollout based on project readiness and recent large state investments. The Conservancy said it would use its existing rolling grant process, while OPC said its sea level rise grants would build on existing programs and new technical assistance. The Department of Fish and Wildlife explained its proposed use of bond funds for climate-ready fisheries, hatchery modernization, salmon monitoring, whale- and turtle-safe fishing gear, and a specific hatchery operations request tied to the Friant settlement. The LAO said the coastal chapter’s proposed first-year spending is relatively modest but generally reasonable given staffing and project readiness, while members emphasized oversight, transparency, and coordination across agencies and jurisdictions.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota House elects Rep. Lisa Demuth as House Speaker 2/6/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Anderson, P.E., Dam, Dam, Dam, Anderson, pH, Anderson, pH, Anderson, pH, Anderson, pH, Anderson, pH,
  • Dam Dam Anderson<00:14:30.680> pH<00:14:31.680> Anderson<00:14:32.560> phth<00:
  • <00:15:44.199> Davis Davids Dam Davis Davids Dam Davis Davis<00:15:47.040> Davis<00
  • <00:21:11.400> Perryman<00:21:11.840> votes<00:21:12.240> Dam Perman votes Dam
  • Perryman votes Dam Perman votes Dam Perryman votes Dam Pinto<00:21:13.520> Hortman<00:21:14.279
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: The House met to elect a Speaker. Representative Baker nominated Lisa Demuth on behalf of the Republican caucus, emphasizing civility, trust, inclusiveness, bipartisanship, and the need to unify a divided chamber. Representative Igo seconded the nomination, praising Demuth’s experience, integrity, consensus-building, and focus on affordability, safety, and future planning. On behalf of the DFL caucus, Representative Mhler nominated Melissa Hortman, describing her leadership in football metaphors and highlighting her work since 2019, including the Minnesota Values Project, her handling of major crises, and her willingness to put the institution and state above personal interests. Representative Hollands seconded Hortman’s nomination, stressing her mentorship, willingness to collaborate across differences, and sacrifice for the greater good. Nominations were then closed, and the clerk pro tem called the roll for the Speaker election. After the roll call, the results were announced as 67 votes for Representative D. Dibble and 65 votes for Representative Hortman. The presiding officer declared Representative D. Dibble duly elected Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives for the 2025-2026 session. Members were appointed to escort the speaker-elect to the rostrum, and Senator Bobby Joe Champion administered the oath of office. In remarks after taking the oath and receiving the gavel, the new Speaker thanked family, supporters, voters, and colleagues, said the office was an honor and a responsibility, and pledged to lead with integrity, respect, collaboration, and accountability. The Speaker said the House should focus on real results for Minnesotans, maintain civility, keep government efficient and accountable, and work across party lines on issues such as public safety, schools, workforce shortages, infrastructure, and support for farmers.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Okay, dams.
  • Okay, dams.
  • , but DWR, Division of Dam Safety, oversees most of the dams—the 1,500 non-federal jurisdictional dams
  • With that being said, there are over 1,400 major dams in California, and over 80% of those dams are over
  • Dam safety to prevent flooding is critical, and one of the solutions that needs to be considered is dam
Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on flood risk and flood management in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that flooding is a statewide and growing threat due to climate change, including the possibility of extreme losses in a worst-case event. Members noted recent flooding in places such as San Diego, the Tulare Basin, and Pajaro, and framed the hearing as a way to better understand prevention, response, and how to capture excess water for later use. Jeffrey Mount of PPIC gave the main overview, describing California’s high flood exposure, the different flood types the state faces, and the mix of structural and non-structural tools used to manage them. He stressed that levees, dams, bypasses, land-use planning, flood insurance, and emergency response all matter, but that risk is rising because current standards are based on past hydrology rather than future climate conditions. He also warned that flood management is underfunded, that the National Flood Insurance Program is weak, and that federal support is increasingly uncertain. Members asked about groundwater recharge, permitting, NOAA and federal cuts, and which communities are most at risk; Mount said recharge can help but does not eliminate flood risk, and that small Central Valley communities and heavily developed floodplains are especially concerning. State officials Laura Hollander of the Department of Water Resources and Jane Dolan of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board described the state’s role in forecasting, emergency response, grants, planning, and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. They highlighted aging infrastructure, the need for better coordination, and the state’s special liability in the Central Valley after the Paterno decision. Dolan reviewed the history of major floods and said the plan calls for about $1 billion per year over 30 years to meet current needs, while Hollander said the state works with local and federal partners on preparedness, response, and subventions projects. Both emphasized that floodplain planning, regional coordination, and faster permitting are important, but that more consistent funding is needed. A later panel from local flood agencies and districts reinforced those points, arguing that the state’s annual flood funding is below identified needs and that a proposed statewide flood and dam safety bond was reduced substantially in the broader climate bond package. Witnesses urged more routine maintenance funding, support for regional flood planning, and continued federal-state-local partnerships to reduce risk and maintain eligibility for federal assistance. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the informational hearing.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • The grid Dam Village State Resort Parks.
  • > Lake,<00:21:16.480> and Kentucky Dam Village, Kin Lake, and Kentucky Dam Village, Kin
  • Dam safety: $5 million has been appropriated to Pennyroyal Forest State Resort Park Dam.
  • <00:23:29.200> priority Resort Park Dam.
  • The dam is a priority Resort Park Dam.
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The Budget Subcommittee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Protection received a detailed update from Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Meyer on capital projects funded through HJR 76, HJR 56, and House Bill 6. He said the department is making steady progress on a large portfolio of park improvements, with regular quarterly reporting to the legislature and ongoing coordination with the Finance Cabinet, the Energy and Environment Cabinet, the Commonwealth Office of Technology, and local utilities and governments. He emphasized that ADA accessibility is a priority across projects and noted that many completed items, including campground bathhouse renovations, broadband upgrades, life safety improvements, playground replacements, and some furniture and mattress upgrades, are already drawing positive feedback. The presentation focused heavily on campground, utility, and infrastructure work. Meyer described $40 million in campground upgrades split between western and eastern Kentucky, including projects at Ken Lake, Carter Caves, My Old Kentucky Home, Cumberland Falls, and others. He also outlined $20 million in utility improvements, including a federal matching grant for grid resiliency at Ken Lake and Kentucky Dam Village, plus wastewater and electrical infrastructure work at parks such as Dale Hollow, Blue Licks, Natural Bridge, and Cumberland Falls. Additional categories included building systems, life safety, structural repairs, accommodations and hospitality upgrades, pool and beach work, dam safety, playgrounds, and golf course improvements. Members asked about the status of Lake Barkley utilities, the possibility of transferring upgraded utility infrastructure to local providers after repairs, and how park repair priorities are set. Meyer said park managers report issues through regional directors and that projects are prioritized through a running capital list, similar to a long-range transportation plan. He said the department has already spent the current $20 million allocation and is requesting $40 million in the next budget cycle, adding that the department believes it could spend and complete projects if that amount is appropriated. The commissioner also said the department is managing 284 additional capital projects outside the main funding streams, totaling nearly $70 million.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • if it is a federally funded dam.
  • development of the existing dams.
  • Agency staff estimates a total population risk of 94,000 below the dam.
  • If one of the dams, if one of the dams break and meet the hazardous criteria, how does that impact Dallas
  • There were 13 of those diversion dams in that area, had it not been.
Bills: SB1, SB 1
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Fiscal Committee (03/20/2026)

Transcript Highlights:
  • actual height of the dam to be removed. actual height of the dam to be removed.
  • Anything over six feet is considered a dam.
  • Anything over six feet is considered a dam.
  • The dam removal will not remove the water body.
  • The dam removal will not remove the water body.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
Summary: The Joint Fiscal Committee met on March 20, 2026, approved the minutes, and adopted the consent calendar after removing two items for separate discussion: FIS 26048 from the Department of Safety and FIS 26053 from the Department of Environmental Services. The committee then adopted both of those items after brief questioning. Safety explained that a $2 million transfer would reduce its lapse, though it still expected a lapse of just under $4 million. Members, especially Senator Gray, emphasized concern about lapses and the need to track them closely given prior-year shortfalls. On the Environmental Services item, members discussed the Heavy Falls dam removal. The commissioner said the dam is old, not grounded in bedrock, and does not meet current safety standards, so removal was the practical option because replacement funding was unavailable. He said the aquatic resource mitigation fund and Army Corps of Engineers support made the removal feasible, and that the town had been involved in discussions for years. The committee adopted the item. The committee also adopted a Department of Transportation item, with staff noting high snowfall and a roughly 25% vacancy rate but saying contractors and bonus incentives had allowed plowing operations to continue. A Judicial Council item was then adopted, with the director saying it would likely be his last appearance this fiscal year. The committee next reviewed information materials on YDC claims administration, where DOJ staff said current spending would leave about a $10 million buffer into the next fiscal year and described reduced staffing and ongoing claims work; no action was taken. The committee then heard audit presentations for the Liquor Commission and Lottery Commission. The Liquor Commission audit reported seven findings, including a material weakness on reconciliations, issues with NextGen data/reporting, gift and promotional card controls, procurement and leasing practices, and one nonconcurrence on whether certain purchases were exempt from bidding requirements; members discussed whether attorney general review or legislation might be needed. The commission said it had completed a year-end reconciliation and was about 70% reconciled through February. The Lottery Commission audit reported three internal control comments, all concurred with by the lottery, focused on written procedures, filling the controller position, annual risk assessments, disaster recovery testing, user access controls, and training compliance; the lottery said it was hiring to reduce reliance on one employee and had no unresolved findings. The committee took no vote on the audit materials and adjourned after setting the next meeting for April 17 at 11:00 a.m.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Feb 10th, 2025

Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • So we run the dam safety program, which monitors and regulates private and public dams in Texas.
  • These privately located earthen dams provide over 600 million in annual benefits.
  • And then, members, the dam conversation is an interesting one for me.
  • There are multiple classes of dams and different people responsible for each dam, so when you go down
  • But those dams are our responsibility as a state.
Keywords: 1185, senate, all
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources Jan 29th, 2026 at 09:07 am

House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • These flood protection dams were supposed to be just to protect agriculture, right?
  • people put trailer parks and subdivisions and all kinds of things right under these dams.
  • So now they're considered high-hazard dams, so then there is even a lot more liability.
  • failed I guess my other question was the Heron Dam.
  • You measure a dam shutting down and the effect on, you know, all of that.
Keywords: 996, all
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Transportation Committee Nov 20th, 2025

Joint Transportation Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • As you know, there are four dams in the southeast corner of the state.
  • The dam issue. You've got to hear a damn pun sometime today, right?
  • So getting away from the dam issue because we're not here for the dams.
  • If the dams are removed, you've got one less choice.
  • You heard earlier today folks on the Snake River Dam.
Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Joint Transportation Committee study of transportation impacts if the Lower Snake River dams were removed. WSDOT and Jacobs described the study’s phases, including current work on geology, infrastructure risk, and a total logistics cost model. They explained that the study is examining how freight now moved by barge—especially wheat, fertilizer, and wood—could shift to rail and roads, and they outlined several scenarios ranging from no-dam future conditions to new unit-train terminals, short-line rail options, and a combined “many solutions” scenario. Members asked about irrigation, impacts in Idaho and Oregon, port capacity, emissions, competition, EV trucks, and whether the model could estimate transportation effects if grain volumes decline. The presenters said the study assumes current production levels continue, does not model irrigation changes or broader farm-economics impacts, but does account for transloading costs and can estimate transportation impacts under different volume assumptions. WSU’s independent review team said the model has improved substantially but still needed refinement, especially in routing, road data, and spatial detail, and that stakeholder engagement had been strong though delayed by model development. No votes were taken. The committee then received a presentation on the alternative sidewalk funding study. Staff and consultants said the study is exploring ways local governments could sustainably fund sidewalk maintenance, repair, and new construction, using a statewide survey, interviews, national research, and case studies in eight jurisdictions. They noted sidewalks are important for pedestrian safety and connectivity, but there is no dedicated funding source in Washington, and existing grants and local revenue tools are highly competitive or limited. The consultants highlighted sidewalk fees or utility-style charges as the most promising option to study, while a parcel tax was largely set aside because of state property-tax uniformity concerns. Members asked whether the study would duplicate existing funding or add to current taxes, and how a sidewalk fee would be collected; the consultants said the goal is to expand local options, not mandate adoption, and that fees would likely be billed through utilities rather than property taxes. A preliminary draft report is due December 15, with a final report due in mid-June. Next, staff gave a brief update on the ocean-going vessels study, which is examining shore power and emissions rules for vessels at berth. The presenter explained that federal Clean Air Act rules and California waiver authority create legal limits on how far Washington can go if it wants to adopt similar standards, and that deviations from California’s approach can increase litigation risk. The report will summarize stakeholder outreach and will be presented in draft form at the next JTC meeting. Finally, county engineers from Chelan and Douglas counties began a presentation on county transportation challenges, with the association’s director emphasizing collaboration with state agencies and local partners on issues such as fish passage barriers and infrastructure needs. The county presentation was only beginning when the transcript ended, and no committee action or votes were recorded.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I wanted to talk about dam safety. How many dams has the Department of Water Resources classified?
  • Statewide regulated dams by the Department of Water Resources.
  • There's another program in Proposition 4, the Dam Removal Program.
  • There is infrastructure and dams around the state and the country.
  • And dam removal, which will be critical to salmon recovery.
Keywords: 988, house, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • SB 43 would impact them and the 2039 dams across Texas.
  • Basically, members, without getting into a whole lot of dam discussions, there are a whole lot of dams
  • The answer is not a private dam, but these dams are a lot like the private dams and very seldom get confused
  • Downstream of the dams on the Highland Lakes, we do have sirens.
  • To prevent this, we need proper dam permitting for those private earthen dams that exist, proactive creek
Keywords: 1185, senate, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Agriculture & Livestock Mar 11th, 2025

Agriculture & Livestock

Transcript Highlights:
  • Currently, 752 dams are classified as high.
  • So they have been classified as high-hazard by the Dam Safety Program at TCEQ.
  • Additionally, the board is requesting an FTE for a dam safety engineer in the field for that.
  • And these aren't dams that look like the Hoover Dam, these are these are dams and in some cases kind
  • Comments about the dam situation that perhaps we we need to hear about or?
Bills: HB294, HB405, HB519, HB294
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Can you expand upon what led to the dams? So the question is what led to the D+ in dams.
  • So for dams, uh, one of the issues that always comes up with dams, I think we've talked about in previous
  • report cards as well, is ownership and dam, like the planning behind, uh, Dam infrastructure.
  • Uh, but also is that there's a lot more development going on downstream of dams.
  • So safety was one of the metrics that brought dams down. Next question.