Sec. 11.031. ANNUAL REPORT. (a) Not later than March 1 of each year, each person who has a water right issued by the commission or who impounded, diverted, or otherwise used state water during the preceding calendar year shall submit a written report to the commission on a form prescribed by the commission. The report shall contain all information required by the commission to aid in administering the water law and in making inventory of the state's water resources. However, with the exception of those persons who hold water rights, no report is required of persons who take water solely for domestic or livestock purposes.

(b) A person who fails to file an annual report with the commission as required by Subsection (a) or fails to timely comply with a request by the commission to make information available under Subsection (d) is liable for a penalty for each day the person fails to file the statement or comply with the request after the applicable deadline in an amount not to exceed:

(1) $100 per day if the person is the holder of a water right authorizing the appropriation of 5,000 acre-feet or less per year; or

(2) $500 per day if the person is the holder of a water right authorizing the appropriation of more than 5,000 acre-feet per year.

(b-1) The state may sue to recover a penalty under Subsection (b).

(c) The commission may waive the requirements of Subsection (a) of this section for a person who has a water right or uses state water in an area of the state where watermaster operations are established.

(d) Each person who has a water right issued by the commission or who impounds, diverts, or otherwise uses state water shall maintain water use information required under Subsection (a) on a monthly basis during the months a water rights holder uses permitted water. The person shall make the information available to the commission on the commission's request. The executive director shall establish a reasonable deadline by which a person must make available information requested by the commission under this subsection.

(e) Except as provided by Subsection (a), the commission may request information maintained under Subsection (d) only during a drought or other emergency shortage of water or in response to a complaint.

(f) Subsection (e) does not affect the authority of a watermaster to obtain water use information under other law.

(g) The commission shall establish a process by which a report required under Subsection (a) may be submitted electronically through the Internet.

Amended by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2207, ch. 870, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 795, Sec. 1.003, eff. Sept. 1, 1985; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 427, Sec. 1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.

Amended by:

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1021 (H.B. 2694), Sec. 5.02, eff. September 1, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1020 (H.B. 2615), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2013.