Yes, under certain conditions. That’s why it’s more important now than ever before for LCRA and San Antonio Water System to partner in solutions for future water needs.

Transferring surface water from one basin or region to another can be done, but the interbasin transfer first must meet specific legal conditions and have a state water rights permit. (1)

Surface water rights have been transferred from the lower Colorado River basin to other regions before (see map below). A potential conflict arose again in 2000 during the state’s new regional water planning process.

Region L said it will need more water to serve future growth in San Antonio, now the seventh largest city in the United States. Region L identified a dozen ways to meet future shortages with groundwater and surface water from the lower Colorado River basin. (2)

Region K, which includes the lower Colorado River basin, immediately began seeking ways to respond to Region L’s plan while protecting the Colorado River basin’s water supplies. Region K and LCRA had a choice – to fight Region L’s proposals to acquire water from the basin or work together to find a solution that would benefit both regions.

Taking part in a planning process early on is far more effective than reacting to decisions at the end. Based on past experience, the most sensible choice for LCRA and SAWS was to form a partnership to explore solutions for water needs in both regions. These discussions led to the proposed LCRA-SAWS Water Project.

REFERENCES
1. Texas Water Code, Section 11.085.
2. Table 5.1-1, “South Central Texas Regional Water Plan Water Supply Option Summary Sorted by Unit Cost,” Section 5. Regional, County, City, Water User Group, and Major Provider Plans, Volume I, South Central Texas Regional Water Plan, January 2001.
3. Lower Colorado River Auth. V. Tex. Dept. Water Resources, 689 S.W.2d 873 (Tex. 1984).
4. Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Amended Certificate of Adjudication No. 14-5434B, Garwood Irrigation Company, Oct. 7, 1998.
5. “Water Resources” link, City of Corpus Christi Official Web Site.
6. Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Amended Certificate of Adjudication No. 14-5434C, Garwood Irrigation Company, Oct. 7, 1998.