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Water Planning 101

Water Planning 101. Lower Colorado Regional Planning Group-Region K January 9, 2013 W. David Meesey, O.W.P. (Old Water Planner). Hydrological Cycle. Water Planner’s Nightmare. Water Planning: Legislative Response to Drought. Late 1950s Drought of Record 1957: Creation of TWDB

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Water Planning 101

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  1. Water Planning 101 Lower Colorado Regional Planning Group-Region K January 9, 2013 W. David Meesey, O.W.P. (Old Water Planner)

  2. Hydrological Cycle

  3. Water Planner’s Nightmare

  4. Water Planning: Legislative Response to Drought • Late 1950s Drought of Record • 1957: Creation of TWDB • $200 million Water Development Fund • 9 State Water Plans, 1961-2012 • Late 1990s: Potential New Drought of Record • ~$6 billion economic losses in ‘96 (mostly agriculture) • ~300 entities with threat to water supplies • 1997 & 2001: Implementation of SB 1 & 2 which created & refined regional water planning

  5. Regional Water Planning • Electric-generating utilities • River authorities • Statutory interests: • Public • Counties • Municipalities • Industries • Agriculture • Environment • Small businesses • Water districts • Water utilities • Groundwater management areas

  6. Planning Process 2010 Census plus RWPG adjustments 2010 Water Use Survey Identify Water Management Strategies (WMS) Evaluate WMS Impacts 2010 – 2070 Population & Demand Projections Identify Shortages 2010 - 2070 Select and Recommend WMS 2010 – 2070 Supply Projections Publish Initial Plan Receive Public Comments Surface Water Availability Models Groundwater Availability Models Publish Final Plan

  7. Regional Water Planning • 16 regions each produce a unique 5-yr plan • Project future population and water demands • Quantify existing and future water supplies • Identify surpluses and needs • Evaluate and recommend water management strategies • Make policy recommendations • Adopt the plan

  8. Water Management Strategies • WMS are the projects or actions recommended to meet water needs • Examples: conservation; wastewater reuse; desalination of surface or ground water • New infrastructure to access existing supplies (Example: new pipeline to a distant reservoir) • New surface water diversions or impoundments in reservoirs (on/off-channel) • New groundwater

  9. Impact Analysis Strategies are analyzed for potential effects on: • Water quality • Existing water rights • In-stream flows • Bay and estuary freshwater inflows • Sustainable aquifer yield • Agricultural water resources • Threatened and endangered species • Wildlife habitat • Public lands • Recreation

  10. Why do we Plan? Water right permits from TCEQ for a new project must be consistent with regional & state water plans Financial assistance from TWDB for a project only if it is consistent with regional & state water plans. For some loan programs project must be recommended in plan to meet needs Waiver of this requirement by agency governing body can be granted

  11. Consistency with Regional & State Water Plans Consistency is achieved when a proposed project will use the same source of water as currently used or recommended in the water plan The project does not have to be in the water plan unless certain state financing is used (WIF, etc) Treatment & distribution infrastructure usually not included in plans

  12. Water Planning Terms & Concepts • Drought-of-Record (DoR) - not the worst ever but the worst that was recorded in TX (~150 years) • We plan for 50 years by decade – next plan will project to 2070 • Water volume in plans is shown in acre-feet-yr (AFY) • 1 Acre-foot = 325,851 gallons • Major reservoir = 5,000 acre-feet (1.63 billion gal) • Need is not equal to demand (supply-demand=surplus (positive) or need (negative) • Water management strategy – WMS • Wholesale water provider – WWP • Water user group - WUG

  13. Water Planning Terms & Concepts • Program Acronyms (Alphabet Soup): • WAM – Water Availability Model (Surface) • GAM – Groundwater Availability Model • GMA – Groundwater Management Area containing several GCDs or Groundwater Conservation Districts • DFC – Desired Future Condition or the strategy for managing groundwater by a district • MAG – Modeled Available Groundwater or the amount available for use annually based on the DFC as a result of running the GAM for the area

  14. Lower Colorado (K) Region • 2010-2060: population projected to increase 100% to 2,831,937 • Water supply needed 2060: 367,670 AF • Recommended water strategy volume 2060: 646,170 AF • Capital cost = $907 million • Conservation: 37%; reuse 21% of strategy volume by 2060

  15. Lower Colorado (K) Region • Conservation: 37% of 2060 strategy volume • New off-channel reservoir • Reuse: 21% of 2060 strategy volume

  16. Planning Group Members • Members represent interest groups; 12 statutory & “other” • A member (county; manufacturing) represents the interests of ALL counties, etc. in the region • May have more than 1 member per interest group, but each represents designated interest for theentire region • Region K, with all or parts of 14 counties, goes beyond requirements by having members that represent each county in the region • Ultimate goal? Produce and adopt a regional water plan every 5 years through work & cooperation of members

  17. Planning Group Members • Membership has its privileges - and responsibilities • Attend meetings regularly • Designate an alternate for when you can’t go • Serve on a committee • Read and learn the material • Think about the “big picture” (water for Texas) • Ask questions when in doubt Your vote counts; we are all in this together

  18. Questions?? Call: David Meesey, TWDB 512) 936-0852 E-mail: david.meesey@twdb.texas.gov Visit with members of LCRWPG (Region K)

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