Table of Contents Panhandle Water Plan

Chapter No. Page No. Executive Summary ES-1 Chapter 1 Planning Area Description 1.1 Introduction 1-2 1.2 Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 2 1-3 1.3 Regional Water Planning Area 1-5 1.3.1 Population 1-5 1.3.2 Economic Activities 1-11 1.3.3 Climate 1-11 1.4 Wholesale Water Providers 1-13 1.4.1 Canadian River Municipal Water Authority 1-13 1.4.2 City of Amarillo 1-13 1.4.3 City of Borger 1-14 1.4.4 City of Cactus 1-14 1.4.5 City of Dumas 1-14 1.4.6 Mesa Water, Inc. 1-14

1.4.7 Greenbelt Municipal and Industrial Water Authority 1-141.4.8 Palo Duro River Authority 1-14

1.5 Sources of Water 1-15 1.5.1 Groundwater Regulation 1-15 1.5.2 Aquifers 1-17 1.5.3 Springs 1-24 1.5.4 Surface Water 1-24 1.6 Current Water Users and Demand Centers 1-30 1.6.1 Municipal Use 1-30 1.6.2 Industrial Use 1-32 1.6.3 Agricultural Use 1-33 1.7 Natural Resources 1-38 1.7.1 Natural Region 1-38 1.7.2 Regional Vegetation 1-40 1.7.3 Regional Geology 1-42 1.7.4 Mineral Resources 1-42 1.7.5 Soils 1-44 1.7.6 Wetlands 1-44 1.7.7 Aquatic Resources 1-47 1.8 Threats and Constraints to Water Supply 1-50 1.8.1 Drought Contingency 1-50 1.9 Existing Programs and Goals 1-52 1.9.1 Federal Programs 1-52 1.9.2 Interstate Programs 1-54 1.9.3 State Programs 1-55

Chapter 2 Review and Revision of Population and Water Demand Projections 2.1 Projected Population and Water Demand for the Region 2-2 2.1.1 Population 2-3 2.2 Historical Water Use and Projected Water Demands 2-8 2.2.1 Municipal Water Demands 2-10 2.2.2 Industrial Water Demands 2-12 2.2.3 Agricultural Water Demands 2-16 2.3 Wholesale Water Providers 2-20 2.3.1 City of Amarillo 2-20 2.3.2 Greenbelt Municipal and Industrial Water Authority 2-21 2.3.3 Canadian River Municipal Water Authority 2-22 TWDB Population and Demand Projections 2-23 Chapter 3 Water Supply Analysis 3.1 Evaluation of Adequacy of Current Water Supplies 3-2 3.1.1 Groundwater Supplies 3-3 3.1.2 Major Aquifers 3-6 3.1.3 Minor Aquifers 3-10 3.2 Surface Water Supplies 3-13 3.2.1 Water Rights 3-15 3.2.3 Lake Meredith 3-17 3.2.3 Palo Duro Reservoir 3-18 3.2.4 Greenbelt Reservoir 3-19 3.2.5 Other Potential Surface Water Sources 3-20 3.3 Water Supply and Demand Summary 3-27 3.3.1 Regional Demands 3-28 3.3.2 Current Supply 3-28 3.4 Comparison of Demand to Currently Available Supplies 3-29 3.5 Identified Shortages for the PWPA 3-36 3.5.1 Irrigation 3-37 3.5.2 Municipal 3-37 3.5.3 Manufacturing 3-37 3.5.4 Mining 3-37 3.5.5 Steam Electric Power 3-38 3.5.6 Livestock 3-38 3.6 Conclusions 3-38 Chapter 4 Identification, Evaluation, and Selection of Water management Strategies

Based on Needs 4.1 Regional Shortages 4-2 4.2 Evaluation Procedures 4-3 4.3 Strategy Development Assumptions 4-9 4.3.1 Strategy Costs 4-9 4.3.2 Conservation 4-9 4.4 Municipal Shortages 4-11 4.4.1 Amarillo 4-11

4.4.2 Cactus 4-11 4.4.3 Canyon 4-11 4.4.4 Dalhart 4-13 4.4.5 Dumas 4-14 4.4.6 Stratford 4-15 4.4.7 Sunray 4-16 4.4.8 County-Other, Dallam County 4-18 4.4.9 County-Other, Hartley County 4-19 4.4.10 County-Other, Moore County 4-21 4.4.11 County-Other, Potter County 4-22 4.4.12 County-Other, Randall County 4-24 4.4.13 County-Other, Sherman County 4-25 4.5 Manufacturing Shortages 4-27 4.5.1 Hutchinson County 4-27 4.5.2 Moore County 4-28 4.5.3 Potter County (Red Basin) 4-30 4.6 Steam Electric Power Shortages 4-32 4.6.1 Moore County 4-32 4.7 Irrigation Shortages 4-33 4.7.1 Overview Analysis of Agricultural Water Conservation Strategies 4-34 4.8 Description of Irrigation Strategies 4-34 4.8.1 Methodology 4-37 4.8.2 Results 4-38

4.8.3 Dallam County: Irrigation Shortages and Water Savings from Conservation Strategies 4-394.8.4 Hartley County: Irrigation Shortages and Water

Savings from Conservation Strategies 4-404.8.5 Hutchinson County: Irrigation Shortages and Water Savings from Conservation Strategies 4-414.8.6 Moore County: Irrigation Shortages and Water

Savings from Conservation 4-424.8.7 Sherman County: Irrigation Shortages and Water

Savings from Conservation 4-424.8.8 Summary of Irrigation Conservation Strategies 4-434.8.9 Additional Irrigation Supply from Groundwater Wells 4-44

4.9 Livestock Shortages 4-44 4.10 Wholesale Water Providers 4-45 4.10.1 Canadian River Municipal Water Authority 4-45 4.10.2 City of Amarillo 4-48 4.10.3 City of Borger 4-51 4.10.4 City of Cactus 4-52 4.10.5 City of Dumas 4-54 4.10.6 Greenbelt Municipal and Industrial Water Authority 4-56 4.10.7 Mesa Water, Inc. 4-57 4.10.8 Palo Duro River Authority 4-57

4.11 Water Transfer and Water Marketing Companies 4-59 4.12 Brush Control 4-60 4.13 Summary of Recommended Water Management Strategies 4-61 4.14 Socioeconomic Impact of Not Meeting Shortages 4-61 Chapter 5 Impacts of Selected Water Management Strategies on Key Parameters of

Water Quality and Impacts of Moving Water from Rural and Agricultural Areas

5.1 Introduction 5-2 5.2 Water Quality Standards 5-2 5.2.1 Surface Water Quality 5-3 5.2.2 Groundwater Quality 5-6 5.3 Water Quality Issues 5-17 5.3.1 Urban Runoff 5-18 5.4 Water Quality Impacts of Implementing Water Management Strategies 5-18 5.5 Impacts of Moving Water From Agricultural Areas 5-18 Chapter 6 Water Conservation and Drought Management Recommendations 6.1 Introduction 6-2 6.2 Agricultural Conservation 6-5 6.3 Water Conservation Plans 6-6 6.4 Groundwater Conservation Districts 6-8 6.4.1 Collingsworth County Underground Water Conservation District (CCUWCD) 6-9

6.4.2 Hemphill County Underground Water Conservation District 6-96.4.3 North Plains Groundwater Conservation District No. 2 6-106.4.4 The High Plains Underground Water Conservation

District No. 1 6-12

6.4.5 Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District 6-13 6.5 Water Conservation Management Plans and Drought Contingency Plans 6-14 6.5.1 Drought Contingency Plans 6-14 6.5.2 Regional Drought Triggers 6-14 6.6 Water Conservation Recommendations 6-23 6.5.1 Water-Saving Plumbing Fixture Program 6-23 6.5.2 Water Conservation Best Management Practices 6-23 6.5.3 Water Conservation Tips 6-24 6.7 Model Water Conservation Plan 6-24

Chapter 7 Description of How the Regional Water Plan is Consistent With Long-term Protection of the State’s Water Resources, Agricultural Resources, and Natural Resources

7.1 Introduction 7-2 7.2 Water Resources within the Panhandle Water Planning Area 7-2 7.2.1 Red River Basin 7-2 7.2.2 Canadian River Basin 7-2 7.3 Agricultural Resources within the Panhandle Water Planning Area 7-3 7.4 Natural Resources within the Panhandle Water Planning Area 7-3 7.4.1 Threatened and Endangered Species 7-3 7.4.2 Parks and Public Lands 7-4 7.5 Impacts of Water management Strategies on Other Water Resources 7-4 Chapter 8 Unique Stream Segments, Reservoir Sites, and Legislative

Recommendations for the Panhandle Water Planning Area 8.1 Unique Stream Segments 8-2 8.2 Sites of Unique Value for the Construction of Reservoir 8-3 8.3 Legislative Recommendations 8-4 8.3.1 Regulatory Issues 8-5 8.3.2 Legislative Issues 8-5 8.4 Recommendations for Future State Water Plans 8-6 Chapter 9 Report to Legislature on Water Infrastructure Funding Recommendations 9.1 Introduction 9-2 9.2 Objectives of the Infrastructure Financing Report 9-2 9.3 Methods and Procedures 9-2 9.4 Survey Responses 9-2 Completed IFR Surveys for the Panhandle Water Planning Group Chapter 10 Plan Adoption and Public Participation 10.1 Plan adoption and Public Participation 10-2 10.2 Panhandle Water Planning Group 10-2 10.2.1 Panhandle Water Planning Group Public Information and Education Commitment 10-4 10.3 Public Participation Activities 10-5 10.3.1 Special Regional Water Planning Presentations 10-5 10.3.2 Media Events and Coverage 10-6 10.3.3 Electronic Outreach 10-6 10.3.4 Formal Public Hearing and Advisory Forums 10-7 10.3.5 Surveys 10-7 10.4 Panhandle Water Planning Group Functions 10-8 10.4.1 Panhandle Water Planning Group Meetings 10-8 10.4.2 Panhandle Water Planning Group Committee Activities 10-8

10.4.3 Interregional Coordination 10-9 10.5 Plan Adoption Process 10-9 10.5.1 Public Hearing 10-9 10.5.2 Initially Prepared Plan Adoption 10-9 10.5.3 Response to Comments 10-9 10.5.4 Final Regional Water Plan Adoption 10-10 10.6 Local Participation in the Regional Water Planning Process 10-10 10.7 Conclusion 10-10 Bibliography 11-1

Table of Figures Panhandle Water Plan

Chapter No. Page No. Chapter 1 Planning Area Description

1-1 Panhandle Water Planning Area Map 1-41-2 Panhandle Population Projections 1-71-3 Panhandle Population Projections by County 1-71-4 2000 PWPA Population Distribution 1-91-5 2060 PWPA Population Distribution 1-101-6 Groundwater Conservation Districts in PWPA 1-161-7 Major Aquifers in the PWPA 1-191-8 Minor Aquifers in the PWPA 1-201-9 Surface Water Feature in the PWPA 1-261-10 Natural Regions in the PWPA 1-391-11 Regional Vegetation in the PWPA 1-411-12 Regional Geology of the PWPA 1-431-13 Regional Soils of the PWPA 1-45

Chapter 2 Review and Revision of Population and Water Demand Projections 2-1a 2000 Populations for Counties in the PWPA 2-32-1b 2000 Populations for Counties in the PWPA 2-42-2 PWPA Regional Map 2-52-3a Projected Populations for Counties in the PWPA, excluding Potter

and Randall Counties 2-72-3 Projected Populations for Potted and Randall Counties 2-72-4 2000 Water Use and Population for Counties in the PWPA 2-82-5 Total Water Use for PWPA 2000-2060 2-92-6 Projected Total PWPA Water Demand by County 2-102-7 Projected Municipal Water Use for Counties in the PWPA 2-112-8 Projected Municipal Water use for Counties in the PWPA,

excluding Potter and Randall Counties 2-112-9 Projected Municipal Water Demand for Potter and Randall

Counties 2-122-10 Projected Manufacturing Water use for Counties in the PWPA 2-132-11 Historical and Projected Manufacturing Water Use for Counties in

the PWPA 2-132-12 Projected Steam Power Water Use for Counties in the PWPA 2-142-13 Historical and Projected Steam Power Water Use for Counties in

the PWPA 2-142-14 Projected Mining Water Use for Counties in the PWPA 2-152-15 Historical and Projected Mining Water Use for Counties in the

PWPA 2-152-16 Projected Water Use for Irrigation for Counties in the PWPA 2-17

2-17 Historical Water Use and Projected Demands for Irrigation Water Use for Counties in the PWPA 2-18

2-18 Projected Livestock Water Demands for PWPA 2-192-19 Projected Livestock Water Demands by Animal Category 2-192-20 Historical and Projected Livestock Water Use for Counties in the

PWPA 2-202-21 Historical and Projected Water Demands on Major Water

Providers in the PWPA 2-21

Chapter 3 Water Supply Analysis 3-1 Major Aquifers in the Panhandle Water Planning Area 3-43-2 Minor Aquifers in the Panhandle Water Planning Area 3-53-3 Total GAM Supplies from the Ogallala Aquifer 3-83-4 Available Supplies from Groundwater Sources in PWPA 3-83-5 Total Volume in Storage in the Ogallala Aquifer 3-93-6 PWPA Supplies and Demands (ac-ft/yr) 3-293-7 Shortages in Region A for Planning Period 2010-2060 3-30

Chapter 5 Impacts of Selected Water management Strategies on Key Parameters of Water Quality and Impacts of Moving Water from Rural and Agricultural Areas

5-1 Areas of Concern within PWPA for Nitrates and Chlorides 5-75-2 Locations of Public Water-Supply Wells located in Areas of

Concern 5-9

Chapter 6 Water Conservation and Drought Management Recommendations 6-1 Municipal Conservation Savings Resulting from State Water-

Efficient Plumbing Act (AFY) 6-3

Chapter 8 Unique Stream Segments, Reservoir Sites, and Legislative Recommendations for the Panhandle Water Planning Area

8-1 Ecologically Significant River and Stream Segments in Region A 8-4

Table of Tables Panhandle Water Plan

Chapter No. Page No. Chapter 1 Planning Area Description

1-1 Voting Members of the Panhandle Water Planning Group 1-61-2 Cities and unincorporated Areas in PWPA 1-81-3 Economic Activities of Counties in the PWPA 1-121-4 Summary of Policies Affecting Water Quality and Quantity in Texas

1-161-5 Groundwater Conservation Districts in PWPA 1-161-6 Estimated Groundwater Storage Volume of the Ogallala Aquifer in

the PWPA 1-211-7 Dockum Aquifer Storage and Recharge 1-231-8 Individual Water Rights in the PWPA: Permitted and Actual Use

(Greater Than or Equal to 1,000 ac-ft) 1-251-9 2002 303(d) Listed Segments in the PWPA 1-271-10 Historical and Projected Municipal Water Use for the PWPA 1-301-11 Water Used by CRMWA Member Cities in the PWPA during 2000 1-311-12 TWDB Historical and Projected Industrial Water use for the PWPA 1-331-13 Number of Farms and Acres of Harvested Cropland 1-341-14 Projected Irrigation Water use for the PWPA 1-351-15 Estimates of Livestock Water Use in the PWPA during 2000 1-371-16 Projections for Livestock Water Use in the PWPA 1-381-17 Mineral Resource Production for Counties in the PWPA 1-421-18 Physical characteristics of playas within the PWPA 1-471-19 Threatened and Endangered Species in the PWPA 1-491-20 Drought Triggers and Responses 1-51

Chapter 3 Water Supply Analysis 3-1 Total Water Supply from the Ogallala Aquifer (GAM 2005 Results) 3-63-2 Available Water Supply from the Ogallala (1.25% Available

Supplies ac-ft) 3-73-3 Total Water Supply from the Seymour Aquifer (GAM 2005 Results) 3-103-4 Available Annual Water Supply from the Seymour Aquifer (1.25%

Total Supplies in ac-ft) 3-103-5 Total Water Supply from the Blaine Aquifer (GAM 2005 Results) 3-11

3-6 Available Annual Water Supply from the Blaine Aquifer

(1.25% Available Supplies in ac-ft) 3-113-7 Available Annual Water Supply from the Dockum Aquifer

(1.25% Available Supplies in ac-ft) 3-123-8 Average Pumpage and Projected Groundwater Availability in

the Rita Blanca Aquifer for Counties in the PWPA 3-133-9 Recalculated Channel Losses 3-143-10 Descriptive Information of Water Supply Reservoirs in the

PWPA 3-153-11 Water Rights in the PWPA Greater Than 1,000 acree-feet/yr 3-163-12 Water Rights in the PWPA Less Than 1,000 acre-feet/yr 3-163-13 Projected Yield and Available Supply of Lake Meredith 3-183-14 Projected Yield and Available Supply of Palo Duro Reservoir 3-193-15 Projected Yield and Available Supply of Greenbelt Reservoir 3-203-16 Descriptive Information of Minor Reservoirs in the PWPA 3-213-17 Acreage and Estimated Maximum Storage of Playa Lake in the

PWPA 3-243-18 Direct Reuse in the PWPA 3-253-19 Summary of Local Supplies in the PWPA 3-253-20 Summary of Water Supplies in the PWPA 3-273-21 Developed Water Supplies to Water User Groups inv PWPA 3-283-22 Comparison of Supply and Demand by County 3-313-23 Year 2010 Shortages by County and Category 3-333-24 Year 2010 Shortages by County and Category 3-343-25 Year 2010 Shortages by County and Category 3-353-26 Decade Shortage Begins by County and Category 3-363-27 Municipalities with Identified Shortages 3-37

Chapter 4 Identification, Evaluation, and Selection of Water management Strategies Based on Needs

4-1 Identified Shortages in the PWPA 4-34-2 Summary of Selected Strategy Impact and Cost Evaluation 4-64-3 Assumptions Made for Additional Groundwater Wells 4-94-4 Irrigation Shortages Identified in the PWPA 4-344-5 Possible Water Management Strategies for Reducing Irrigation

Demands 4-364-6 Changes to Senate Bill 1 Water Management Strategies 4-374-7 Estimated Water Savings and Costs Associated with Proposed

Water Conservation Strategies in Region A 4-384-8 Dallam County Projected Annual Irrigation Shortage and

Water Savings by Strategy 4-404-9 Hartley County Projected Annual Irrigation Shortage and

Water Savings by Strategy 4-414-10 Hutchinson County Projected Annual Irrigation Shortage and

Water Savings by Strategy 4-41

4-11 Moore County Projected Annual Irrigation Shortage and Water Savings by Strategy 4-42

4-12 Sherman County Projected Annual Irrigation Shortage and Water Savings by Strategy 4-43

4-13 Estimated Costs of Irrigation Wells in Region A 4-444-14 Summary of demands on CRMWA 4-464-15 Summary of demands on the City of Amarillo 4-494-16 Summary of demands on the City of Borger 4-514-17 Summary of demands on the City of Cactus 4-524-18 Summary of demands on the City of Dumas 4-544-19 Summary of demands on the Greenbelt M&IWA 4-574-20 Distribution of Water from Palo Duro Reservoir 4-584-21 Summary of Water Savings from the Recommended

Conservation Water Management Strategies 4-62

4-22 Summary of Supplies for Water User Groups from the Recommended Water Management Strategies

4-63

4-23 Summary of Supplies for Wholesale Water Providers from the Recommended Water Management Strategies

4-64

Chapter 5 Impacts of Selected Water management Strategies on Key Parameters of

Water Quality and Impacts of Moving Water from Rural and Agricultural Areas

5-1 Selected Public Drinking Water Supply Parameters 5-25-2 2002 303d Listed Segments in the PWPA 5-45-3 Surface Water Segments in the PWPA and Associated Water

Quality Issues 5-55-4 List of public water supply well fields occurring in areas of

concern for dissolved chloride and nitrate in groundwater 5-95-5 Areas of Groundwater Contamination in the PWPA 5-12

Chapter 6 Water Conservation and Drought Management Recommendations 6-1 Municipal Water Users Gallons Per Capita Per Day 6-46-2 County-Other Water Users Gallons per Capita per Day 6-56-3 Potential Agricultural Conservation Savings 6-66-4 Water Users in the PWPG that area Required to Prepare Water

Conservation Plans 6-86-5 Type of Trigger Condition for Entities with Drought

Contingency Plans in PWPA 6-206-6 Reservoirs in the Panhandle Region Planning Area 6-22

Chapter 7 Description of How the Regional Water Plan is Consistent With Long-term Protection of the State’s Water Resources, Agricultural Resources, and Natural Resources

7-1 Plan Consistency 7-5

Chapter 9 Report to Legislature on Water Infrastructure Funding Recommendations 9-1 Municipal Water User Groups with Shortages 9-3

Chapter 10 Plan Adoption and Public Participation 10-1 Panhandle Water Planning Group Voting Members 10-310-2 Panhandle Water Planning Group Former Members 10-310-3 Panhandle Water Planning Group Ex-Officio Positions 10-4