South Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group
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Regional Water Process FAQ's

This section provides answers to some common questions. If you cannot find the answer to your particular question please e-mail us at info@watershedexperience.com


Questions:



How much will it cost to prepare a Regional Water Plan?

SB I provides state financial assistance administered by the TWDB to assist in paying for the preparation of regional water plans. TWDB rules provide that state funds will be used to pay 100 percent of the direct planning costs, while RWPG will be required to cover 100 percent of their administrative costs.

All 16 RWPG complied with the August 1, 1998 deadline to submit to the TWDB completed grant applications for state financial assistance and scopes of work for preparing regional water plans. The costs for the 16 water plan preparation scopes of work total approximately $20.5 million. By December 1998, the TWDB awarded $7.56 million in planning grants appropriated by the Legislature for the Fiscal Year 1998-1999 biennium as partial payment toward the costs of developing regional water plans. Additional state financial assistance will be considered by the Legislature during its session convening in January 1999.
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What are the steps in preparing a Regional Water Plan?

The planning process begins with the collection and analyses of many types of information related to water demands and supplies. RWPG members are responsible for deciding how future water needs in their respective region may be met. Each regional water plan will include information about water supplies and demand, water quality problems affecting water supply, and social and economic characteristics of the region. The plan also will identify water supply threats to agriculture and natural resources. Information concerning current preparations for drought and the status of other water plans in the region will be reviewed.

The following tasks are common to each regional water plan:

  • Determine water demands
  • Determine water supplies available for use during drought of record
  • Determine where and when there is a surplus of supply or a need for additional supplies
  • Determine social and economic impact of not meeting needs
  • Develop plans that contain:
    • Specific strategies to meet future near-term needs (less than 30 years)
    • Options to meet long-term future needs (30-50 years)
    • Identified needs with no fewible solutions
    • Identify ecologically unique streams and rivers
  • Identify unique sites for reservoir construction
  • Coordinate with neighboring regions concerning mutual interests and shared resources
  • Propose regulatory, administrative or legislative recommendations to improve water resource management in the state
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What if an entity does not participate in the plan?

Participation in the regional planning process is not required. If a political subdivision or a RWPG decides not to participate, the TWDB will use existing local and regional water planning strategies identified in the TWDB-prepared 1997 state water plan and other study results to update the next state water plan. TWDB recommended water management strategies and/or recommendations for a specific entity and/or region are typically based on the least expensive solution.
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What are the benefits of participating in developing Regional Water Plans?

  • The opportunity to identify regional solutions to water supply problems with resulting lower water supply costs.
  • The opportunity to obtain detailed current population data for small communities and rural areas in the region. For communities of less than 1,000 population, this information is not available in the 1997 state water plan, nor is it readily available from official sources.
  • The opportunity to analyze water supplies, water demand and water resource management strategies for local communities at the level of detail agreed upon by the RWPG and identified in SB 1.
  • The opportunity to determine regional water infrastructure needs and how best to meet those needs.
  • The opportunity to identify and address local issues and concerns within the framework of SB I and regional water plans.
  • The ability to receive low-interest TWDB loans for financing water supply projects.
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What don't Regional Water Plans do?

  • Regional water plans do not change existing water law. Legislative action is needed for such changes.
  • Regional water plans do not a&ct existing water rights or contracts.
  • Regional water plans do not force water management strategies on an entity. If a proposed water management strategy is objectionable to the political subdivision supplying or receiving water supplies, then the strategy will not be included in the plan as a strategy for meeting the need of the objecting political subdivision. The entity must specify its reasons for objecting to a proposed water management strategy, and the strategy may still be applied to meet other needs.
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How can I participate in Regional Water Planning efforts?

To participate in regional water planning efforts, you may attend any of the RWPG meetings or contact regional group members or the TWDB to voice your concerns or to obtain additional information. At the TWDB, you may contact Mr. Jorge Arroyo, P.E. by calling (512) 475-3003 or by E-mail to jarroyo@twdb.state.tx.us. Also, you may visit the TWDB web site at www.twdb.state.tx.us.
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Since the State Water Plan is complete, why have another Planning Cycle?

Water is a precious and finite resource that must be managed efficiently and effectively in order to meet the future needs of Texas - a state whose population is projected to nearly double by 2050. Water planning must be a continuous process in order to respond to changing climate, environmental, and socioeconomic and demographic conditions, in one of the most diverse areas in the United States. to respond to these changes, Texas water law requires that new Regional and State Water Plans be prepared every five years. During the next four years (2002-2006), the Planning groups will update their Regional Water Plans to comply with new planning considerations included in Senate bill 2 (SB 2), enacted in 2001, and new TWDB rules and guidelines developed in response to legislative directives and public comment.
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What are the activities for the Second Planning Cycle?

The Planning Groups will review, revise, and refine their currently approved Regional Water Plans to respond to changed conditions that may impact estimated demands for water, water supplies, or recommended water management strategies. In the 2002-2006 planning effort, specific activities include:

  • Updating Regional Water Plans based on new population and water demand projections resulting from the 2000 Census.
  • Developing and revising water supply and water availability estimates based on new Groundwater Availability Models and Water Availability Models.
  • Evaluating and recommending water management strategies to meet water supply needs, placing a much greater emphasis on water conservation and evaluating the impacts of these strategies on the environment.
  • Considering and possibly recommending changes to current water policy and water law in Texas that may serve to better manage the State's water resources.

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What will the 2002-2006 regional planning activities cost?

The total estimated budget for completing the 2002-2006 regional water planning activities is $18 million. These funds were allocated proportionately to the 16 Planning groups to comply with statutory requirements, which include updating the regional plan, addressing new planning requirements, performing additional water supply studies, and evaluating each water management strategy.
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