AUSTIN – LCRA and the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) released a draft water sharing agreement Wednesday (Dec. 12) and began a period of public comment before their boards of directors vote on the interbasin water supply agreement in February 2002.

The draft contract requires LCRA and SAWS to find that the project is technically feasible and environmentally sound before they commit to its implementation. The document will be available Thursday (Dec. 13) on the LCRA Web site, www.lcra.org, and the SAWS Web site, www.saws.org. Printed copies are available at the LCRA office in Austin.

If approved, the contract would define how the Lower Colorado River Authority and SAWS will determine the feasibility of increasing the amount of water supply available in the lower Colorado River basin by up to 330,000 acre-feet annually. The contract also would entitle SAWS to an annual allotment of 150,000 acre-feet of water for up to 80 years if, after the seven-year study period, the project is found to be technically feasible, mutually beneficial and environmentally sound.

The contract's approval depends in part on whether the LCRA Board finds that it meets requirements established in House Bill 1629, which amended the Act that created the LCRA. HB 1629, now Section 28 of the LCRA Act, allows a water transfer only if the Board makes seven findings about the contract. The Board must find, after providing an opportunity for public input, that the contract:

• Will protect and benefit lower Colorado River basin interests.
• Is consistent with the state public planning process.
< li>Will ensure the health of Matagorda Bay.
• Will maintain current river flow protections.
• Will ensure that San Antonio maintains effective conservation methods.
• Provides for a broad review process.
• Will raise the average levels of lakes Travis and Buchanan.

"The Legislature has given our Board of Directors clear direction on the findings they must make before a contract with San Antonio can be approved," said LCRA General Manager Joe Beal. "We welcome the upcoming public meetings as a forum for discussing whether the draft contract adequately addresses the required findings."

The draft contract allows SAWS to consider the estimated cost of the project before committing to project implementation. The agreement calls for SAWS to pay for the feasibility studies.

The agreement fits well with SAWS' long-term strategy for meeting future water needs: aggressive conservation programs, environmentally sound regional projects and public involvement, said SAWS President and CEO Eugene Habiger.

"Since all of those items are part of the contract with LCRA, we are very motivated to continue moving into the study phase of the project," Habiger said. "We want the people in the lower Colorado River basin to know that we will be working from a partnership standpoint to make the project work for both regions."

The idea of increasing and sharing water resources in the lower Colorado River basin is a component of long-term regional water plans submitted to the Texas Water Development Board. The project would involve storing excess river flows, such as flood water, in off-channel ponds downstream of Austin; aggressive conservation measures in LCRA irrigation districts; and use of groundwater for irrigation in the coastal region during drought. These measures would make additional water available for irrigation in the Colorado River basin, increase average water levels at lakes Buchanan and Travis, and serve municipal users in the San Antonio area and rural communities in the western part of the lower Colorado River basin.