NRCSNRCS

Watershed ProgramWatershed Program

In TexasIn Texas

Water ResourcesWater Resources

• AuthoritiesAuthorities

• Project ActivitiesProject Activities

• RehabilitationRehabilitation

• Funding Funding

AuthoritiesAuthorities

• Flood Control Act of 1944 (PL 78-Flood Control Act of 1944 (PL 78-534)534)

• Pilot Watershed Program (1953)Pilot Watershed Program (1953)

• Watershed Protection and Flood Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954Prevention Act of 1954 (PL 83-(PL 83-566566))

Flood Control Act of 1944 Flood Control Act of 1944 (PL 78-534)(PL 78-534)

• Authorized work in 11 Authorized work in 11 watersheds on a river basin basis.watersheds on a river basin basis.

• 3 of these watersheds were in 3 of these watersheds were in TexasTexas

• Washita River Washita River • Middle ColoradoMiddle Colorado• Trinity RiverTrinity River

Pilot Watershed ProgramPilot Watershed Program(1953)(1953)

•Approved the study of 62 Approved the study of 62 small watershedssmall watersheds

• 4 of these were in Texas4 of these were in Texas

• Cow BayouCow Bayou• Green CreekGreen Creek• Calaveras CreekCalaveras Creek• Escondido CreekEscondido Creek

Watershed Protection and Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 Flood Prevention Act of 1954

(PL 83-566) (PL 83-566) ““Small Watershed Program”Small Watershed Program”

• Authorized technical and financial Authorized technical and financial assistance to local watershed assistance to local watershed organizations for planning and organizations for planning and carrying out watershed projects.carrying out watershed projects.

• Limited watershed to 250,000 Limited watershed to 250,000 Acres Acres

PL 83-566PL 83-566

•Included these potential practices:Included these potential practices:

•Watershed ProtectionWatershed Protection•Flood PreventionFlood Prevention•Agricultural Water ManagementAgricultural Water Management•Nonagricultural Water Nonagricultural Water

ManagementManagement•Groundwater RechargeGroundwater Recharge

Watershed Program ActivitiesWatershed Program Activities in Texas in Texas

•145 Watershed Projects145 Watershed Projects

•115 Completed Watershed Projects115 Completed Watershed Projects

•30 Projects Remaining 30 Projects Remaining

•Nearly 2100 structures (FRS & GSS)Nearly 2100 structures (FRS & GSS)

•306 miles of channel improvement306 miles of channel improvement

•Land treatment including critical areas, Land treatment including critical areas, AWMS, etc.AWMS, etc.

Sponsoring Local Sponsoring Local OrganizationsOrganizations

• Request initial assistanceRequest initial assistance

• Provide local leadershipProvide local leadership

• Secure landrightsSecure landrights

• Carry out O&M after construction is Carry out O&M after construction is completecomplete

• At least one must have the right of At least one must have the right of imminent domainimminent domain

Current Watershed Current Watershed SponsorsSponsors

• Soil and Water Conservation Districts Soil and Water Conservation Districts - - 106106

• CountiesCounties - 86- 86• CitiesCities - 50- 50• Water Control and Water Control and

Improvement DistrictsImprovement Districts - 20- 20• Watershed Authorities and AssociationsWatershed Authorities and Associations - 6- 6• River AuthoritiesRiver Authorities - 1- 1• State Recreation AreasState Recreation Areas - 1- 1• Other Special Purpose DistrictsOther Special Purpose Districts - -

14 14

Investments in Watershed Investments in Watershed Program in TexasProgram in Texas

• Local sponsors have invested over Local sponsors have invested over $1 billion for land treatment, $1 billion for land treatment, landrights, O & M, and landrights, O & M, and construction.construction.

• Federal Government Invested Federal Government Invested $1.1 billion in financial assistance.$1.1 billion in financial assistance.

• Capitalized benefits have Capitalized benefits have exceeded $2.9 billion to date.exceeded $2.9 billion to date.

Other BenefitsOther Benefits

• Sediment Storage above 20 Sediment Storage above 20 Major ReservoirsMajor Reservoirs

• Example: Lake LavonExample: Lake Lavon

•Sediment StorageSediment Storage

•Lake Lavon 82,600 ac-ftLake Lavon 82,600 ac-ft

•Project Dams Above Lake Project Dams Above Lake Lavon 21,500 ac-ftLavon 21,500 ac-ft

Floodwater Retarding Structures Floodwater Retarding Structures (FRS)(FRS)

Constructed by YearConstructed by Year

Total FRS Built by DecadeTotal FRS Built by Decade

RehabilitationRehabilitation

• Public Law 106-472 (Rehabilitation Public Law 106-472 (Rehabilitation Amendment to PL-566)Amendment to PL-566)

•Added authority for rehabilitation Added authority for rehabilitation

•FRS have reached or are near the FRS have reached or are near the end of evaluated life.end of evaluated life.

•217 FRS will exceed evaluated life 217 FRS will exceed evaluated life in 2007in 2007

Dams in Texas Dams in Texas Exceeding Exceeding

50 Years of Age50 Years of Age

Some Problems Associated Some Problems Associated with aging structures arewith aging structures are

SlopeSlope

StabilityStability

ProblemsProblems

Inlet Structure DeteriorationInlet Structure Deterioration

SedimentSediment Accumulation Accumulation

Pipe & Pipe & Plunge BasinPlunge BasinFailuresFailures

Hazard Classification Hazard Classification ChangesChanges

Urban Urban EncroachmeEncroachme

ntnt

• Rehabilitation extends the useful life Rehabilitation extends the useful life and benefits for an additional 50 to 100 and benefits for an additional 50 to 100 years.years.

• 120 Structures in Texas are in need of 120 Structures in Texas are in need of repair repair

• Approx. 112 FRS need upgrading to Approx. 112 FRS need upgrading to current safety criteriacurrent safety criteria

Watershed Rehabilitation Watershed Rehabilitation NeedsNeeds

Future Actions NeededFuture Actions Needed

•Sponsors need to defend easementsSponsors need to defend easements

•Prevent encroachment from developmentPrevent encroachment from development•Protect structures from utility and pipeline Protect structures from utility and pipeline

constructionconstruction• Insure vegetative coverInsure vegetative cover•Life of ProjectLife of Project

•Sponsors must provide adequate O&MSponsors must provide adequate O&M

•Funding –through taxes or bondsFunding –through taxes or bonds•Rehabilitation fundingRehabilitation funding•Request Technical advice/guidance from Request Technical advice/guidance from

NRCS as needed NRCS as needed •Review & Update O&M Agreements Review & Update O&M Agreements

Future Actions (cont.)Future Actions (cont.)

•Sponsors should address need to Sponsors should address need to educate the publiceducate the public•Awareness of watershed programsAwareness of watershed programs

•Dam SafetyDam Safety

•Emergency Action PlansEmergency Action Plans

•Project benefits Project benefits

Future Actions (cont.)Future Actions (cont.)

•NRCS Actions NRCS Actions

•Provide Technical Assistance forProvide Technical Assistance for

•Operation & MaintenanceOperation & Maintenance

•RepairsRepairs

•UpgradesUpgrades

•Rehabilitation ActivitiesRehabilitation Activities

Texas Watershed Operations Financial Assistance (FA) Funding (2006 Dollars)

$0

$10,000,000

$20,000,000

$30,000,000

$40,000,000

$50,000,000

$60,000,000

$70,000,000

1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 2007

Fiscal Year

$0

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

$3,000,000

$3,500,000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Fiscal Year

Texas Watershed RehabilitationTexas Watershed RehabilitationFinancial Assistance (FA) Funding Financial Assistance (FA) Funding

(Nominal Dollars)(Nominal Dollars)

SUMMARYSUMMARY

• Number of floodwater retarding damsNumber of floodwater retarding dams 1,971 1,971

• Number of dams Number of dams

exceeding 50 years of age in 2007 exceeding 50 years of age in 2007 217217

• Number of dams that Number of dams that

will exceed 50 years of age in 2011will exceed 50 years of age in 2011 543543

• Number of dams that need major repairNumber of dams that need major repair 120120

• Estimated total cost of repairs neededEstimated total cost of repairs needed $28 million$28 million

AgingAging Dams in Texas Dams in Texas

SUMMARYSUMMARYDam Safety in TexasDam Safety in Texas

• Number of dams classified as high hazardNumber of dams classified as high hazard213213

• Number of dams originally classified asNumber of dams originally classified as

low hazard that need to be low hazard that need to be

upgraded to high hazard criteria upgraded to high hazard criteria 112112

• Number of high hazard dams Number of high hazard dams

greater than 50 years of age in 2007greater than 50 years of age in 2007 14 14

• Number of high hazard dams Number of high hazard dams

greater than 50 year of age in 2011greater than 50 year of age in 2011 61 61

SUMMARYSUMMARY

Rehabilitation of Dams in TexasRehabilitation of Dams in Texas

•Number of high hazard dams rehabilitated to dateNumber of high hazard dams rehabilitated to date 5 5

•Number of high hazard dams that Number of high hazard dams that

need to be rehabilitatedneed to be rehabilitated 112112

•Estimated total cost of rehabilitation Estimated total cost of rehabilitation

needs in Texasneeds in Texas $200 million$200 million

•Estimated Sponsor’s share Estimated Sponsor’s share

of total rehabilitation costof total rehabilitation cost $70 million $70 million

NNaturalatural RResourcesesources CConservationonservation

SServiceervice

Questions?Questions?

For further information For further information www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/prograwww.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/progra

ms/watersheds/ms/watersheds/