Welcome to Region K News

Welcome to the Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Group (LCRWPG or Region K) electronic newsletter. This newsletter highlights activities and solicits input on water planning issues in the 14 counties that comprise the Lower Colorado Region. You are encouraged to share this information by forwarding this newsletter to others interested in water issues.

In response to a Texas legislative mandate to plan for the water needs of all Texans, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) created Region K and 15 other regional water planning groups.

Region K Solicits Input on Draft Water Plan

The public is invited to participate in the regional water planning efforts by participating in the public hearing scheduled for September 7, 2005 at 6PM, in Austin.  The members of the Region K planning group will present an Initially Prepared Plan for public review and input at the upcoming public hearing.  A copy of the draft plan may be reviewed online at the Texas Water Development Board website.  Some key elements of the plan are expected population growth from 1.1 million to 2.7 million people by 2060; a projected 30 percent increase in water use; widespread municipal and agricultural water conservation; and a plan to create more water supplies by sharing water resources between regions.  The draft plan proposes interbasin transfers from the Lower Colorado River Authority to San Antonio in exchange for San Antonio Water System paying for agricultural conservation and other needed projects. 

The public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, September 7, at 6 PM.  The hearing will be held at One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, in Austin. Interested citizens who are unable to attend the hearing may submit written comments to John Burke, P.O. Drawer P, Bastrop, TX 78602, or CBraendle@aquawsc.com.  The comment period ends on November 6, 2005.  The Region K Planning Group has already held two public meetings to gather feedback and comments on the Initially Prepared Plan.  Those meetings were held on August 23, 2005 in Columbus and August 30, 2005 in Burnet.

For more information about Region K water planning and related issues, interested citizens can visit www.regionk.org (Region K website), www.twdb.state.tx.us (Texas Water Development Board website), www.lcra.org/lswp/index.html (Information on the Lower Colorado River Authority website - San Antonio Water System Project), and www.texaswatermatters.org/region_k.htm  (Information provided by Texas Water Matters).

Region K Draft Plan Highlighted

Water Demand and Population

A significant task in preparing the 2006 LCRWPG Region K Plan is to estimate water demands as well as current and future populations. The TWDB and LCRWPG have adopted these projections. Using the 2000 census data as a starting point, the LCRWPG developed the 2006 population projections, making adjustments as needed. . [FULL STORY]

Water Supply Availability 

Do you know where your drinking water is coming from?  Are you curious or concerned about how the future water supply will be distributed in Texas?  The Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Group (LCRWPG) has prepared a draft water plan for Region K.  A key task in the preparation of the 2006 LCRWPG Plan for the Lower Colorado Region (Region K) is to estimate available water supplies within the region.

Water supplies in the Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Area (LCRWPA) are available from 10 aquifer systems and groundwater and 6 river and coastal basins.  The Colorado River Basin makes up the single largest source of surface water for the region with large volumes of water available from both run-of-river diversion rights and water stored in reservoirs.  [FULL STORY] 

Water Shortages

How does Region K estimate water shortages? The water supplies and projected demands for each water user group were compared to determine where shortages, or “needs,” are expected to occur.  The comparison identified 99 water user groups that would have projected water deficits by the year 2030.  An additional 19 water user groups are shown with projected water deficits arising between 2030 and 2060.  [FULL STORY]

Water Management Strategies

Several management strategies were assembled to provide for the unmet water needs, with a strong focus on conservation.  Extending existing contracts, implementing new contracts, or allocating existing supplies met many of the shortages.  Other strategies are more extensive and will require the implementation of conservation measures or the construction of additional infrastructure.  [FULL STORY]

Region K Members

Region K members represent 13 interests, including environmental, river authority, recreation, and water utilities.  If you would like to schedule a presentation for your community or organization, or have any questions or concerns, please contact a Region K member. 

Important Dates to Remember

We Look Forward to Hearing from You

Click here to subscribe to The Region K News.  Thank you for visiting the Region K site!