Agricultural Irrigation Use

LCRA supplies water to portions of Matagorda, Wharton and Colorado counties for agricultural use, as prescribed by the state-approved Water Management Plan. Irrigation facilities are organized into four service areas – Gulf Coast, Lakeside, Garwood and Pierce Ranch. (LCRA operates the nine major pumping plants and a network of canals in the Gulf Coast, Lakeside and Garwood systems, while Pierce Ranch is privately operated.) LCRA holds senior downstream water rights allowing it to pump water directly from the Colorado River to serve customers.

In January 2023, the LCRA Board of Directors approved updates to the contract rules and rates for interruptible agricultural customers in the Garwood, Gulf Coast and Lakeside divisions.

LCRA’s 2023 rate for the Garwood Agricultural Division is $41.04 or $48.46 per acre-foot delivered, depending on the customer’s location in the canal system. The 2023 water rate for the Gulf Coast Agricultural Division is $74.30 per acre-foot delivered. The 2023 water rate for the Lakeside Agricultural Division is $74.30 per acre-foot delivered.

Under the 2020 Water Management Plan, no interruptible stored water is available for the Gulf Coast and Lakeside divisions for 2023. Here is a draft example of the contract form for the Garwood division.

LCRA supply of water to agricultural customers in the Garwood Agricultural Division is subject to provisions of LCRA’s 1998 purchase agreement with Garwood Irrigation Company.