The LRGV is comprised of over 40 local, state and federal jurisdictions with overlapping and intersecting interests in flood prevention, protection and planning. Effecting regional coordination for flood projects between historically competing and contentious jurisdictions and economic sectors is most easily accomplished with the injection of external resources targeting a shared goal, such as the TWDB FIF program and regional flooding. Sustaining regional flood infrastructure established using such external incentives requires providing a platform for recruiting and engaging decision makers and staff from relevant jurisdictions and private sector entities. The most universally applicable and attractive structure involves the creation of a regional economy promoting flood management, with the most effective instrument being an Institute.
An Institute is currently being established with a primary focus on the development of a Water Data Economy within the LRGV, promoting the adoption of Data-Driven Decision-Making for multi-jurisdictional/multi-sector water resource management, with an immediate focus on flood management.