SCTRWPG PowerPoint Slide Presentation January 4, 2000 Slide 1: Title Slide Good (morning/afternoon/evening). Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today about the very important issue of water planning for Texas. I will begin with an overview of the Water Planning Process that was established by Senate Bill 1 and then we will look at how the Water Planning Process is working in our region of the state. Slide 2: Introduction A regional water planning process for the state was established in 1997 by Senate Bill 1. This water planning process charges sixteen regions in the state with assessing their current water supplies, and estimating water needs through the year 2050. When needs exceed supply, the planning groups are to address those needs in their water plan. This process is challenging because of the diversity and magnitude of the urban and rural water needs in the region. Slide 3: Purpose & Intentions of Water Planning Process In the summer of 1997 Governor Bush signed into law Senate Bill 1. The bill established a water planning process that would not only meet the water needs of all of Texas through the year 2050, but would also make the state less susceptible to the effects of drought. The intention of the legislation is to provide for the orderly development, management and conservation of the water resources in the state. Slide 4: Region L Map The Texas Water Development Board established sixteen planning regions in the state. Each of these sixteen regions is charged with developing a water plan for the needs of that region. ________________ County is located in Region L or the South Central Texas Region. Slide 5: Timeline The overall timeline for the legislations is to have each planning group submit their regional plan to the Texas Water Development Board by January 05, 2001. In 1998, the planning group representatives were appointed by the Texas Water Development Board. Each planning group has eleven special interest categories represented in the membership. By the end of 1998, the South Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group had budgets approved for the work ahead. In 1999, the planning group began working with HDR Engineering as their technical contractor, and Moorhouse Associates as their public participation contractor. The technical contractor prepared a report describing the region, assessed current water supplies and identified future needs in the region. They also analyzed several water supply options available for consideration. The Public Participation Contractor conducted survey's, focus groups, provided meeting speakers, and maintains a website for the region. As we begin the year 2000, the technical and public information will continue to be collected as the regional water plan is developed. A draft final plan for the region is scheduled to be available in October of this year. Slide 6: Description of the Region The Technical Contractor for the project, HDR Engineering in Austin, has prepared a description of the region that includes the following topics: Physical Description Population and Demography Economy - Major Sectors and Industries Water Uses Major Water Providers (Municipal and Manufacturing) Water Supplies Water Quality Threats to Agricultural and Natural Resources Summary of Existing Plans and Programs Slide 7: Physical Description of Region The region includes parts of six river basins and three coastal basins. The terrain ranges from Hill country to coastal plains. The mean annual precipitation is highest in DeWitt County with 38 inches a year and lowest in the western counties with 23 inches per year. There are four major and two minor aquifers in the area. Comal and San Marcos Springs are two areas of environmental interest in the region. Slide 8: Land Resources The region covers a little over 20,000 square miles: 38% Rangeland 21% Cropland (one-tenth of which is irrigated) 2.6% Urban 38.4% Other Slide 9: Major Water Demand Centers There are four major water demand centers in the region: 1. I-35 corridor from San Antonio to San Marcos 2. Edwards Aquifer region West of San Antonio (Uvalde and Medina Counties) 3. Wintergarden area South of the Edwards Aquifer area (Zavala, Dimmit and LaSalle Counties) 4. Coastal Area (Calhoun and Victoria Counties) Slide 10: Population and Demography The 1998 population for the region is 1.9 million. The area of region is 20,025 square miles. The percentages of persons residing in Urban Areas are 82, while 18% live in Rural areas. Remember the previous slide indicating 2.8% of the land area was urban use. Therefore, 82% of the population is residing in 2.8% of the area of the region. Historically, the fastest growing counties are: Hays (3.34%), Comal (3.15%), Kendall (2.83%) and Guadalupe (2.31%). The counties historically exhibiting no growth are La Salle, Refugio, Karnes, Gonzales, and DeWitt. (Table 2-3, Section 2.2.1) Slide 11: Economy - Major Sectors and Industries The economic base of the region is centered on agricultural production, livestock production, mining, manufacturing and trades and services. Trades and services accounts for 76% of the regions total market value of all products produced in the region because it generates $32 billion in sales receipts. The trades and services sector also employs 21% of the population. (Table 2-9, Section 2.3.6) Manufacturing contributes over $9 billion to the region; Agriculture Production and livestock Production are estimated to have a total market value of $942 million. Slide 12: Water Demand vs. Supplies Currently, water shortages exist in the municipal, irrigation and mining categories within the region. Projections are that demand will exceed supply by 490,000 acre feet in the year 2050 and that all categories, except livestock, will be in shortage. The largest shortages are projected in the municipal and irrigation use categories. These shortages are based on existing supply numbers. Slide 13: Projected Shortages by County Seven counties are currently indicating shortages in water supplies: Comal, Bexar, Atascosa, Medina, Frio, Uvalde and Zavala Three more will have shortages by 2020 and by 2050 one more will need more water. 2020 - Hays, Goliad and Guadalupe. 2050 - Victoria. Ten counties in the region indicate that current supplies will meet their demands through the year 2050. Slide 14: Projected User Category Shortages When considering specific water user groups of municipal, industrial, steam-electric, irrigation and mining, twelve counties are indicating current or future shortages. One of the goals of the water plan will be to help shift surplus water supplies to areas of need. This may mean shifting water from one user group to another. Another goal of the plan is to identify new water options to meet the future needs. Options that are dependable during drought years are of particular interest. Slide 15: Potential Water Supply Options There are fifty-seven options currently under evaluation by the South Central Region's technical contractor and they can be categorized as follows: Local options, conservation, reuse and exchange - 11 options Various methods for recharging the Edwards Aquifer - 5 options River diversion with storage - 7 options Using or enhancing existing reservoirs - 5 options Locations for potential new reservoirs - 19 options Potential in other aquifers including the Trinity, Carrizo and Gulf Coast - 10 options Slide 16: General Water Options Several general water supply options are being evaluated for application around the region. These include: Demand reduction or conservation Brush Management Weather Modification Rainwater Harvesting Desalination Slide 17: Exchange Water Options Several ideas for shifting water around in the region are also under consideration. These include: Exchanging reclaimed water for irrigation water Purchasing or leasing irrigation water rights to be used for municipal and industrial use Using Gulf Coast Aquifer water in exchange for surface irrigation water rights Slide 18: Aquifer Water Options Effective and efficient use of groundwater resources is also being evaluated as part of the plan. Five options concerning the Edwards Aquifer and several options involving the Trinity, Carrizo and Gulf Coast Aquifers are being considered. Slide 19: Potential New Reservoirs Ten new reservoir sites within the region and four outside the region are also being evaluated as potential sources. Surface water sources are of particular interest in areas that are currently heavily dependent upon ground water sources. Surface storage sites are also of interest because they can be used to store floodwaters for use during drought years. Slide 20: South Central Texas Region Initial Evaluation Criteria The Regional Water Planning Group will use certain criteria to determine which options to include in the regional plan. These criteria include: Compatibility Economic Efficiency Environmental Fairness Feasibility Flexibility Reliability Water Quality Slide 21: Assembling A Water Plan The water supply options are like pieces of a puzzle that will be assembled into a plan for the region. The nine criteria shown on the previous slide will be used when developing the plan. In addition, alternative plans will initially be developed that have a certain focus or concentration on how to assemble the pieces. Slide 22: Current Alternative Plan Approaches The three currently identified approaches include: 1. Local Plans 2. Economic/Reliable/Environment/Publicly Acceptable 3. Conservation/Environmental Up to three other Approaches yet to be identified may be assembled by the planning group. These alternatives will be combined into a single draft plan by October of 2000. The draft will be revised until January 5, 2001 when it is to be submitted to the TWDB. Slide 23: Irrigation Water Supply Issues As the alternative plans are assembled, the Regional Water Planning Group is discussing several issues regarding irrigation water supplies. These issues include: 1. Achievable Water Conservation Potential 2. Funding for Water Conservation Projects 3. Strategies for Transferring Water to Municipal and Industrial Use 4. Economic and Social Impacts of Water Transfers 5. Addressing Unmet Needs Slide 24: Urban Water Supply Issues The Regional Water Planning Group is also discussing several issues regarding urban water supplies. These issues include: 1. Achievable Water Conservation Potential 2. Rapid Population and Economic Growth 3. Viable Options for New Sources 4. Secondary Impacts of New Sources 5. Strategies for Transferring Other Uses to Municipal and Industrial Use Slide 25: South Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group Schedule The Regional Water Planning Group meets the first Thursday of every month. The meetings will be rotated to the cities as indicated on the calendar. By moving the meetings around the region, the planning group hopes to help the public become more aware of and involved in the process. Slide 26: Summary In summary, the members of the Regional Water Planning Group are preparing a fifty-year regional water plan for this region. Seven counties in this region need water now and seven more will experience needs during the next fifty years. A long-term drought could also significantly economically impact the region. The water plan is being prepared to address the regions needs and to prepare for drought conditions. Several water supply options identified to address these concerns are currently being considered for inclusion into the regional plan. Through public input, the Alternative Plans will be refined and combined to form one regional plan that: 1. Addresses the long-term needs of the region 2. Provides drought management strategies, and 3. Is publicly acceptable. Several challenging Urban and Rural issues are being discussed as the regional plan is assembled.