In addition to seeking a willing landowner, LCRA used the following criteria to evaluate potential sites for a holding basin to store water for the proposed LCRA-SAWS Water Project.

• Environmental conditions, such as wetlands, water quality, streams and irrigation canals, drainage and hydrology, forests, noise and visibility, cultural resources, and waterfowl and wildlife habitat. 
• Land uses, such as agriculture and prime farmland, homes, commercial businesses, parks and recreation areas, schools, roads, highways, railroads, oil and gas pipelines and wells. 
• Technical factors, such as electric transmission lines, elevation of water storage and transmission facilities, geological and geotechnical conditions, site conditions and topography. 
• Costs, such as real estate acquisition, construction, operations and maintenance, electricity for pumping, and mitigation and permitting.