AUSTIN – The LCRA Board of Directors on Wednesday (Sept. 20) took action to respond to recent concerns raised by the public about a proposed interbasin water supply project that is critical to meeting future water shortages and maintaining quality of life in the lower Colorado River basin.
Board members from Colorado, Wharton and Matagorda counties presented a resolution that recognizes the benefits of the LCRA-SAWS Water Project, and provides direction to staff on key issues, such as groundwater, land acquisition, and mitigation of lost property tax revenues.
The resolution was unanimously approved by the 15-member Board. Board members from the basin’s lower three counties are John C. Dickerson III of Matagorda County, John H. Matthews of Colorado County, and Walter E. Garrett and Linda C. Raun of Wharton County.
Board members expressed their appreciation to elected officials, advisory group members and residents for taking part in a six-year study of the proposed project’s financial, technical and environmental impacts.
The resolution acknowledged that until this study period is completed, the Board cannot determine if the project will meet legal requirements adopted by the Texas Legislature in 2001 to make sure the project will protect and benefit the basin and its interests.
The Board also said that the proposed project will not begin until the study period is complete, required local, state and federal permits have been approved, and the project’s potential long-term effects are better understood.
The Board specifically directed LCRA staff to:
- Respect private landowners’ property rights, offer fair compensation during land acquisition negotiations, and seek willing sellers to avoid using eminent domain except as a last resort.
- Work with the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to develop recommendations to mitigate lost property tax revenues resulting from the project and avoid passing those costs on to LCRA, its customers or the basin’s residents.
- Use groundwater developed for the project only when needed to meet water supply needs of customers of LCRA’s irrigation districts. The Board noted that the sale of groundwater to cities outside LCRA’s service area, including San Antonio, as a result of the project is not allowed by state law governing the project.
- Abide by the rules of local groundwater districts, limit the amount of groundwater used, and lease existing wells instead of owning or drilling wells when feasible.
- Continue to work closely with the basin’s elected officials, stakeholders and residents to regularly inform them of the project’s status and the study findings.
If it goes forward, the project would provide the funding needed to meet future water shortages for agriculture and rural communities in the lower Colorado River basin. The project also would help meet some of the shortages identified in the San Antonio area.
Water planning groups for both regions and the Texas Water Development Board have included the project as a key part of their long-term water plans. Major water suppliers in each region – LCRA and the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) – are studying the project and, if it goes forward, would implement it. SAWS would fund the project.
LCRA and SAWS have agreed that the project won’t proceed after the study period if costs are too high, not enough water is available, or it does not meet the legal protections set by the Texas Legislature.
