An Interregional Water Solution with Conjunctive Use of Groundwater
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Transcript of An Interregional Water Solution with Conjunctive Use of Groundwater
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An Interregional Water Solution with
Conjunctive Use of Groundwater
Haskell L. SimonPresident, Coastal Plains Groundwater Conservation District
Vice President, Region K Water Planning Group
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New Era for Water Planning Based on “Bottom Up” or “Grass Roots” Approach
Address anticipated water shortages over a 50 year period by determining: Available water supplies Demands for water Strategies to achieve projected short falls
SB1 (1997)Mandate for Statewide Water Plan
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The Essence of the SB1 Process
Top Down Approach vs. Bottom Up Approach
Before Today
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16 Regions in Texas Each group represented by one or more individuals
from 11 “Interest Groups”
RWPG is responsible for preparing and adopting a regional water planRegional Plans consolidated into the State Water Plan “Water for Texas 2002”Implementation of the Plan will require legislative and/or regulatory action.
SB1 Regional Approach
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Regional Water Planning Areas
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Regional Planning Group Membership(11 Interest Groups)
1. Public
2. Counties
3. Municipalities
4. Agricultural Interests
5. Environmental Interests
6. Industries
7. Small businesses
8. River Authorities
9. Water Districts
10. Water Utilities
11. Electrical Generating Utilities
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1990 2000 2020 2030 2040 2050
Agricultural
Urban
Year
Mil
lio
n A
cre
-fe
et
Projected Urban & Agricultural Water Uses
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Total Water Demand by Type of Use (2003)
Irrigation63%
Steam Electric10%
Mining2%
Livestock1% Municipal
21%
Manufacturing3%
Steam Electric17%
Mining2%
Livestock1%
Municipal37%
Irrigation36%
Manufacturing7%
Year 2000 Year 2060
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Use by Source of Supply (2000)
SURFACE WATER
65%
GROUND-WATER
35%
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2050 Water Needs
SB 1 Planning Process(entire state & border regions)
Region K2050 Shortfalls • 160,000 acre-feet/yr of irrigation • Some rural communities upstream of Highland Lakes (5,400 acre-feet/yr)
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2050 Water Needs
SB 1 Planning Process(entire state & border regions)
Region L
Bexar County shortfall• 350,000 acre-feet/yr of municipal use(current update to plan will reduce this amount)
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Regional Cooperation Defines Project
SB 1 Planning Process(entire state & border regions)
Region K(LCRA)
Region L(SAWS)
LCRA-SAWS Water
Project
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Regional sharing of resources to meet future water needs
The LCRA-SAWS Water Project is designed to meet the needs of both the lower Colorado River basin and the San Antonio areaThe lower Colorado River basin needs additional water
to satisfy agricultural needs, protect Highland Lake levels and provide water for upstream rural communities
San Antonio needs significant additional water to meet growth and economic development needs
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Project Summary
Construct off-channel reservoirs to store surface waters
Institute practices and improvements to reduce agriculture’s demand for water
Install groundwater wells to serve agriculture’s needs during drought
Create up to 150,000 acre-feet per year for SAWS
Meet environmental requirements
Study Period activities determine implementability and permitting
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LCRA-SAWS Water Project
More stable water levelsin Highland Lakes
Water for agriculture
Water for ruralcommunities
Austin
San Antonio
LakeBuchanan
Freshwater inflows forMatagorda Bay
Instream flows to
maintain aquatic habitat
Water for San Antonio(up to 150,000 ac-ft/yr)
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LCRA SAWS Water Project
Develop 330,000 ac-ft of water by:
1. Irrigation conservation-Onsite and system improvements in districts
P
P
3. Conjunctive use of groundwater for agricultural needs during drought
Matagorda Bay
Bay City
Wharton
Columbus
Colorado
Wharton
Matagorda
2. Off-channel reservoirs
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Legislation requires that in order for the project to proceed, the project must ...
1. Protect and benefit basin interests2. Be consistent with the state regional water plan3. Provide inflows adequate to maintain the ecological
health and productivity of Matagorda Bay4. Maintain current instream river flow protections5. Ensure that San Antonio practices stringent conservation
measures6. Provide for a broad public and scientific review process7. Benefit stored water levels in Lakes Travis and Buchanan
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We are at the beginning of a multi-year, comprehensive evaluation
2002 2007-2008 20102004
Technical Study Plan
DevelopmentTechnical Studies
Permit Submittal &
Continuation of Studies
Permitting Review &
Completion of Studies
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Groundwater
Average of 62,000 ac-ft per year in severe droughts
Divert only to Colorado basin agricultural users
Groundwater used only in times of drought
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Groundwater Modeling Overview
Simulate a range of withdrawals to meet agricultural needs during drought
Evaluate impacts to groundwater/ surface water
Assess impacts of pumping on groundwater quality
Assess uncertainty with model predictions
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Groundwater Study Objectives
Potential mitigation techniques for users, if affected
Saline water encroachment from the coast.
Land surface subsidence
Induced migration of poor quality native groundwater that could result from increased groundwater use
Determine if additional groundwater can be developed without substantially affecting the current groundwater users and evaluate:
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Comprehensive Groundwater Evaluation
Defines consequences of conjunctive useIdentifies mitigation needs and optionsUses more data and performs more data analyses than the GAMPredictions will contain confidence limits based on uncertainty associated in calibrated model Model will be developed at the spatial resolution supported by the data 0.1 to 0.5 mile variable grid anticipated
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Stay tuned . . .