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NRCS Watershed Program In Texas. Water Resources. Authorities Project Activities Rehabilitation Funding. Authorities. Flood Control Act of 1944 (PL 78-534) Pilot Watershed Program (1953) Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (PL 83-566 ).
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NRCS Watershed Program In Texas
Water Resources • Authorities • Project Activities • Rehabilitation • Funding
Authorities • Flood Control Act of 1944 (PL 78-534) • Pilot Watershed Program (1953) • Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (PL 83-566)
Flood Control Act of 1944 (PL 78-534) • Authorized work in 11 watersheds on a river basin basis. • 3 of these watersheds were in Texas • Washita River • Middle Colorado • Trinity River
Pilot Watershed Program(1953) • Approved the study of 62 small watersheds • 4 of these were in Texas • Cow Bayou • Green Creek • Calaveras Creek • Escondido Creek
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (PL 83-566) “Small Watershed Program” • Authorized technical and financial assistance to local watershed organizations for planning and carrying out watershed projects. • Limited watershed to 250,000 Acres
PL 83-566 • Included these potential practices: • Watershed Protection • Flood Prevention • Agricultural Water Management • Nonagricultural Water Management • Groundwater Recharge
Watershed Program Activities in Texas • 145 Watershed Projects • 115 Completed Watershed Projects • 30 Projects Remaining • Nearly 2100 structures (FRS & GSS) • 306 miles of channel improvement • Land treatment including critical areas, AWMS, etc.
Sponsoring Local Organizations • Request initial assistance • Provide local leadership • Secure landrights • Carry out O&M after construction is complete • At least one must have the right of imminent domain
Current Watershed Sponsors • Soil and Water Conservation Districts - 106 • Counties - 86 • Cities - 50 • Water Control and Improvement Districts - 20 • Watershed Authorities and Associations - 6 • River Authorities - 1 • State Recreation Areas - 1 • Other Special Purpose Districts - 14
Investments in Watershed Program in Texas • Local sponsors have invested over $1 billion for land treatment, landrights, O & M, and construction. • Federal Government Invested $1.1 billion in financial assistance. • Capitalized benefits have exceeded $2.9 billion to date.
Other Benefits • Sediment Storage above 20 Major Reservoirs • Example: Lake Lavon • Sediment Storage • Lake Lavon 82,600 ac-ft • Project Dams Above Lake Lavon 21,500 ac-ft
Floodwater Retarding Structures (FRS) Constructed by Year
Rehabilitation • Public Law 106-472 (Rehabilitation Amendment to PL-566) • Added authority for rehabilitation • FRS have reached or are near the end of evaluated life. • 217 FRS will exceed evaluated life in 2007
Dams in Texas Exceeding 50 Years of Age
Some Problems Associated with aging structures are Slope Stability Problems
Watershed Rehabilitation Needs • Rehabilitation extends the useful life and benefits for an additional 50 to 100 years. • 120 Structures in Texas are in need of repair • Approx. 112 FRS need upgrading to current safety criteria
Future Actions Needed • Sponsors need to defend easements • Prevent encroachment from development • Protect structures from utility and pipeline construction • Insure vegetative cover • Life of Project • Sponsors must provide adequate O&M • Funding –through taxes or bonds • Rehabilitation funding • Request Technical advice/guidance from NRCS as needed • Review & Update O&M Agreements
Future Actions (cont.) • Sponsors should address need to educate the public • Awareness of watershed programs • Dam Safety • Emergency Action Plans • Project benefits
Future Actions (cont.) • NRCS Actions • Provide Technical Assistance for • Operation & Maintenance • Repairs • Upgrades • Rehabilitation Activities
Texas Watershed Rehabilitation Financial Assistance (FA) Funding (Nominal Dollars)
SUMMARY Aging Dams in Texas • Number of floodwater retarding dams 1,971 • Number of dams • exceeding 50 years of age in 2007 217 • Number of dams that • will exceed 50 years of age in 2011 543 • Number of dams that need major repair 120 • Estimated total cost of repairs needed $28 million
SUMMARY Dam Safety in Texas • Number of dams classified as high hazard 213 • Number of dams originally classified as • low hazard that need to be • upgraded to high hazard criteria 112 • Number of high hazard dams • greater than 50 years of age in 2007 14 • Number of high hazard dams • greater than 50 year of age in 2011 61
SUMMARY Rehabilitation of Dams in Texas • Number of high hazard dams rehabilitated to date 5 • Number of high hazard dams that • need to be rehabilitated 112 • Estimated total cost of rehabilitation • needs in Texas $200 million • Estimated Sponsor’s share • of total rehabilitation cost $70 million
NaturalResourcesConservationService Questions? For further information www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/watersheds/