For Immediate Release: April 20, 2006

AUSTIN -- Property owners and the general public in Wharton, Matagorda and Colorado counties will be able to discuss facilities for the LCRA-SAWS Water Project, including plans for off-channel water storage facilities, at three open houses during May.

The open houses will be come-and-go events to explain the water conservation and development project and get feedback from landowners about potential sites for the storage facilities that are part of the project.

The dates and locations are as follows:

-- May 18, 6 to 8 p.m.: Bay City Civic Center, Bay City
-- May 22, 6 to 8 p.m.: Colorado County Fair Complex, Columbus
-- May 25, 6 to 8 .pm.: El Campo Civic Center, El Campo

In advance of the open houses, LCRA will communicate directly with landowners whose property may be in one of several potential alternative sites. LCRA also is interested in hearing from property owners who might want their land to be considered.

The LCRA-SAWS Water Project is a joint effort by the Lower Colorado River Authority and San Antonio Water System to conserve and develop water for the lower Colorado River basin and San Antonio region in the 21st Century. The project is in the third year of a six-year study to determine its environmental, financial and technical feasibility. The federal permitting process requires that potential sites be identified at this time.

The project calls for capturing excess and unused river flows and storing them in one to three water storage facilities, which are earthen embankments that contain the water. The storage facilities would cover a total of 7,000-10,000 acres and be built after 2010. Some potential sites have been identified in Wharton, Matagorda and Colorado counties, west of the Colorado River.

"We are confident of finding off-channel water storage facility sites that meet the project's needs while minimizing the impact on landowners and on the environment," said Leah Manning, LCRA program manager for the LCRA-SAWS Water Project. "Our plan is to meet with landowners, review our siting criteria and arrange to see their property so we can ensure the accuracy of our information."

At the open houses study team members will explain the project, the site-selection process and timeline. Landowners will have a chance to talk individually with LCRA representatives.

"We are studying the bay and estuary system to see if the project can be accomplished," Manning said. "We are studying the potential impact on the river and the economy. Now we need to see if there is land available to support the project. We need this information before we proceed with the permitting process."

The LCRA-SAWS Water Project would make water available in these ways:

-- Conserving as much as 118,000 acre-feet a year of agricultural irrigation water.
-- Capturing excess and unused river flows to transfer between 50,000 and 150,000 acre-feet a year to San Antonio.
-- Pumping limited amounts of groundwater to be used for agriculture purposes locally when surface water is not available in sufficient quantity.

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