A reliable supply of water is vital to sustain economic stability and growth, water quality and wildlife habitat. But there won’t be enough water for everyone in the future – unless we plan now.

Region K, the water planning region for the lower Colorado River basin, expects the region’s population to double by 2060. Most of this growth will occur in Austin and surrounding counties. As the basin’s urban areas need more water from the Colorado River, less will be available for other uses — especially irrigated agriculture in Colorado, Wharton and Matagorda counties.

Neighboring Region L includes fast-growing San Antonio, now the seventh-largest city in the nation. San Antonio has an aggressive, highly effective water conservation program but it won’t be enough to meet future needs, due to continued growth and federal restrictions on using water from the environmentally sensitive Edwards Aquifer.

The solution: sharing water resources

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and San Antonio Water System (SAWS) are studying an innovative plan to help meet future water needs in both regions. The proposal was developed during the statewide regional water supply planning process required by Senate Bill 1, passed in 1997, and is included in regional and state water plans.

Three strategies would conserve and develop water in the lower Colorado River basin for both regions.

• Reduce agricultural irrigation demands for water with conservation practices and measures, such as laser-leveling fields, improving canals and growing more water-efficient rice.
• Capture and store unused and excess river flows in holding basins, or off-channel storage facilities.
• Use a limited amount of groundwater for agriculture when surface water isn’t available. (No groundwater would be sent to San Antonio.)

Study phase

LCRA and SAWS signed a contractual agreement in 2002 to work together on the water supply project. The agreement consists of two phases – a study period followed by implementation, if the project meets legislative requirements and is technically, environmentally and financially feasible.

During the study period LCRA and SAWS also will file applications for federal, state and local permits that will be needed if the project goes forward.

LCRA and SAWS are in the fifth year of the technical studies, which are scheduled to end in 2015. Based on the study results, the LCRA and SAWS boards will decide whether to implement the project.

Whether to proceed

LCRA and SAWS agree the project won’t proceed if the studies show the costs are too high, not enough water is available or the project doesn’t meet specific requirements adopted by the Texas Legislature to protect the lower Colorado River basin.