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Region K Water Plan. John E. Burke, P.E. Chairman, Lower Colorado Regional Planning Group (Region K) General Manager, Aqua Water Supply Corp. How Aqua Got Involved. Late 1990s - Concern about our water supply Our aquifer was targeted by water marketers - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Region K Water Plan
John E. Burke, P.E.Chairman, Lower Colorado Regional
Planning Group (Region K)General Manager, Aqua Water Supply
Corp.
How Aqua Got Involved
Late 1990s - Concern about our water supply
Our aquifer was targeted by water marketers
Senate Bill 1 - Regional water planning
Regional Water Plans
Senate Bill 1, 1997
16 planning regions
Each region prepares a 50-year water plan, updated every 5 years
First plans in 2001
Region K
Region K’s Diverse MembersPublic Julia Marsden League of Women Voters Travis
Chris King Wharton Co. Commissioners Court Wharton
Bill Neve Burnet Co. Commissioners Court Burnet
Billy Roeder Gillespie Co. Commissioners Court Gillespie
James Sultemeier Blanco Co. Commissioners Court Blanco
Dennis Jones City of Lago Vista Travis
Teresa Lutes City of Austin Williamson
Industries Barbara Johnson Austin Area Research Organization Travis
Bill Miller Rancher Llano
Haskell Simon Rice Industry Rep. and Farmer Matagorda
Jim Barho Protect Lakes Inks, Buchanan Burnet
Ron Fieseler Blanco-Pedernales GCD Hays
Jennifer Walker Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter Travis
Ronald Gertson Wharton
Harold Streicher Assistant Fayette County Attorney FayetteElec. Generating Utilities Rick Gangluff STP Nuclear Operating Company Matagorda
River Authorities Mark Jordan LCRA Travis
Water Districts Paul Tybor Hill Country UWCD Gillespie
Water Utilities John Burke Aqua WSC Bastrop
Roy Varley Mills
Bob Pickens Colorado
Recreation Del Waters The Ski Dock Travis
Small Businesses
Other(s)
Counties
Municipalities
Agricultural
Environmental
Region K Population Projections
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060
2006 LCRWPG Plan
Region K Demand Projections
0
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
1,400,000
acre
-fee
t/ye
ar
2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060
2006 LCRWPG Plan
Region K’s Issues At Outset
Region K projected to be water-short even with conservative demand projections
Many “straws” proposed to take water from our basin: “Water is the new oil”
Instream flows and bays and estuary needs
More Challenges
You can’t create new water - or can you?
Rice farmers can’t afford conservation measures
Need to develop new models (GAMs, WAMs)
Other regions also water-short and have competing needs
The birth of an idea….
Region K Groundrules
Groundwater is renewable resource; no “mining” of aquifers
Minimal social, economic and cultural impacts
Economics, environmental impacts, and water availability guide selection of projects
Interbasin solutions must benefit each region
Region K’s approach
Involve all stakeholders
Adhere to groundrules, e.g., water as renewable resource
Collaborate
Seek win-win solutions
Be innovative - e.g., how to use available water more efficiently?
Region K(Lower Colorado)
Region L(South Central TX) LCRA-
SAWS Water
ProjectWater Shortfall Agricultural irrigation Rural communities upstream of Highland Lakes
Water Shortfall•San Antonio needs additional supply for municipal use
LCRA - SAWS Water Project
Key: Capture floodwaters in off-channel reservoirs
SAWS pays for rice farm conservation
Conjunctive use of groundwater during drought
Main concern is instream flows, bays & estuaries in drought-of-record
$41 million for studies, environmental impact assessments, and plans
More stable water levelsin Highland Lakes
Water for agriculture
Water for ruralcommunities
Austin
San Antonio
LakeBuchanan
Instream flows to
maintain aquatic habitat
Water for San Antonio
Freshwater inflows forMatagorda Bay
Lower Colorado River basin and San Antonio region both
benefit: a “win-win” solution.
LCRA – SAWS Planning Timeline
Possible Extension (30 Years)
Implementation Period
(50 years)
2010 2060 2090
LCRA-SAWS Water ProjectLCRA-SAWS Water Project
Study Period
2002 2010
Decision on project implementation
2004 2007-2008
Technical Study Plan Development Technical Studies Permit Submittal
Permit Review/ Approval
Region K Supply with LCRA-SAWS project
0
100,000
200,000
300,000
400,000
500,000
600,000
700,000
2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060
ac-f
t/yr
Water Management Strategies Region K Needs
What If Project Doesn’t Happen
Decrease in rice farms, which leads to…– Decrease in flow to bays and estuaries
– Decrease in habitat for migratory birds
Regions with water needs will turn to other sources– Would not help our basin’s needs
– Could have negative environmental impacts elsewhere
What’s Next
Finish studies on instream flows, bays and estuaries
Make decision whether to implement plan (LCRA - SAWS)
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