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Region K Water Plan

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

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Region K Water Plan

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  1. Region K Water Plan John E. Burke, P.E.Chairman, Lower Colorado Regional Planning Group (Region K)General Manager, Aqua Water Supply Corp.

  2. How Aqua Got Involved • Late 1990s - Concern about our water supply • Our aquifer was targeted by water marketers • Senate Bill 1 - Regional water planning

  3. 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

  4. Region K

  5. Region K’s Diverse Members

  6. Region K Population Projections

  7. Region K Demand Projections

  8. 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

  9. 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….

  10. 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

  11. 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?

  12. Region L (South Central TX) Region K (Lower Colorado) LCRA-SAWS Water Project Water Shortfall • Agricultural irrigation • Rural communities upstream of Highland Lakes • Water Shortfall • San Antonio needs • additional supply for • municipal use

  13. 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

  14. Lower Colorado River basin and San Antonio region both benefit: a “win-win” solution. Water for San Antonio Water for rural communities More stable water levels in Highland Lakes Lake Buchanan Austin Instream flows to maintain aquatic habitat San Antonio Water for agriculture Freshwater inflows for Matagorda Bay

  15. LCRA – SAWS Planning Timeline Study Period Technical Study Plan Development Permit Review/ Approval Permit Submittal Technical Studies Decision on project implementation 2002 2004 2007-2008 2010 Implementation Period (50 years) Possible Extension (30 Years) LCRA-SAWS Water Project 2090 2010 2060

  16. Region K Supply with LCRA-SAWS project

  17. 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

  18. What’s Next • Finish studies on instream flows, bays and estuaries • Make decision whether to implement plan (LCRA - SAWS)

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