Firm Water Use

 

LCRA is updating its Water Conservation Plan (WCP) and welcomes comments from the public on the proposed changes through Wednesday, March 27. The proposed plan includes updates to LCRA’s five- and 10-year water savings goals.

The LCRA Board of Directors will consider the proposed changes to the WCP at its April 25 meeting in Brenham.

At its March 26 meeting in Austin, the LCRA Board will consider proposed changes to the drought contingency plans and rules. LCRA accepted public comments on proposed updates through March 13.

The proposed changes include adding a drought response stage and additional mandatory drought response measures. LCRA firm water customers are required to develop their own DCPs that are at least as protective as LCRA’s.

At its Feb. 21 meeting, the LCRA Board approved an amendment to LCRA’s current DCPs limiting outdoor watering to no more than once a week anytime the combined storage of lakes Buchanan and Travis is below 900,000 acre-feet. For the current combined storage, see the River Operations Report. Firm customers must adopt the schedule by May 1. Read the news release. The new watering restriction also is included in the proposed DCPs.

LCRA Board meeting agendas are posted here at least 72 hours before the meeting.

Customers such as municipalities, industries and temporary water users in the LCRA water service area must secure a firm water supply contract from LCRA to use water from the Highland Lakes or lower Colorado River. Firm water is available even during a severe drought.

House Bill 1437 authorizes LCRA to also provide raw water to some entities in Williamson County. The supply of firm water under LCRA’s water right 14-5434, as amended, is subject to terms of the Garwood Purchase Agreement.

Contracts

Municipal, industrial and large-scale irrigation use

LCRA’s rate for firm water used is $155 an acre-foot per year. LCRA’s rate for firm water reserved for future use is $77.50 an acre-foot per year. The reservation fee helps pay the cost of storing and managing reserved water supplies. The total amount of water under contract with LCRA sets the Maximum Annual Quantity (MAQ). LCRA’s rate for use in excess of the MAQ – known as the “firm water inverted block fee” – is $310 an acre-foot per year.

LCRA municipal, industrial and large-scale irrigation water use customers are required to develop a water conservation plan and implement a drought contingency plan. LCRA must approve the plans before a water sale contract is executed.

Landscape irrigation and recreation use

LCRA offers long-term landscape irrigation and recreation contracts to property owner associations, parks and commercial properties. The contracts are for up to 10 years and up to 30 acre-feet per year. LCRA’s rate for landscape irrigation and recreation use is $155 an acre-foot per year.

Landscape irrigation and recreation use water customers are required to develop a water conservation plan and a drought contingency plan. LCRA must approve the plans before a water sale contract is executed.

Temporary raw water use

LCRA offers temporary water contracts for up to 10 acre-feet per year for up to three years. LCRA’s rate for temporary raw water use is $155 an acre-foot per year. There is a different contract and application process for temporary contracts for more than 10 acre-feet per year or longer than three years – see landscape irrigation and recreation use.

LCRA requires its temporary raw water use customers to implement a drought contingency plan. LCRA must approve the plan before a water sale contract is executed.