Brazos River Authority

The Brazos River Authority was created in 1929 as the first river authority in Texas, overseeing the Brazos River Conservation and Reclamation District (House Bill 197, 41st Texas Legislature, 2nd Called Session). The Brazos River is the longest river in the state, beginning in Stonewall County and flowing mostly southeast where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico, south of the city of Freeport. The Brazos River basin provides 6.75 billion gallons of water each year for cities, agriculture, industry and mining. Recreational boating, swimming and fishing take place on the river, on its three lakes formed by dams, and on nineteen major reservoirs.

The authority develops and distributes water supplies, provides water and wastewater treatment, monitors water quality, and pursues water conservation through public education programs. Although the Brazos River Authority is an agency of the State of Texas, it does not levy or collect taxes. Except for occasional governmental grants to help pay the costs of specific projects, the agency is entirely self-supporting. The authority maintains and operates its reservoirs and treatment systems using revenues from the customers it serves. Its board of directors consists of 21 members serving six-year staggered terms, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The governor designates one director as presiding officer. In 2012 the authority had approximately 250 employees.

(Sources include: the Brazos River Authority web site, accessed February 2012.)