Texas Water Matters


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Region C

2010 Initially Prepared Plan Information

Read the Initially Prepared Plan: http://www.regioncwater.org/Documents/index.cfm?Category=2011+Init+Prepared+Plan+(IPP)

Public Hearing: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 7 pm, Bob Duncan Community Center, 2800 South Center Street, Arlington, TX 76014

Comment Deadline: July 26, 2010 at 5 pm

Contact/Submit Comments: James Parks, RCWPG Chairman/Administrator, c/o NTMWD, PO Box 2408, Wylie, Texas, 75098-2408, (972) 442-5405

2005 Regional Water Plan Review

The following general review is based on the 2005 Initially Prepared Regional Water Plan (IPP).

Regional Facts

Major Cities	Dallas, Fort Worth
Population: 2000	5,254,722
Population: 2060	13,087,849
Total Water Use: 2000	1,380,556 Acre-Feet
Total Water Use: 2060	3,311,217 Acre-Feet
Primary Rivers	Trinity, Red
Major Aquifers	Trinity
Annual Precipitation	28-44 Inches
Net Evaporation	24-44 Inches

Basic Plan Facts

Population in the 17-county area is projected to increase 250% between 2000 and 2060.
Total capital cost of proposed water supply measures: Not available.
Three new reservoirs are proposed for Region C: Lower Bois d'Arc Reservoir, Lake Ralph Hall, Marvin Nichols I, and Lake Fastrill. In addition, Marvin Nichols I, is proposed in Region D primarily to supply this region's projected needs.

What's at Issue?

Region C includes 12 of the 20 fastest-growing communities in Texas. This high rate of growth will put increasing pressure on the region's water sources. Another factor driving the high demands and projected needs for water resources is the region's projected high per capita use rates (some of the highest in the state). In addition, the plan currently proposes to supply 20% more than the projected 2060 demand (an excess of 810,000 Acre Feet.) To meet these inflated demands, four environmentally damaging and unnecessary reservoirs are proposed, for a cost of $4 billion.

Action Items

Here are some of the items the Region C Planning Group must address.

Conservation and Drought Management
For conservation and drought management, the plan needs to...

Recommend conservation measures as a management strategy to reduce high per capita use rates in the region. Region C has some of the highest municipal water use rates in the state. If the region focused on managing these demands, some of the most damaging proposed supply strategies, like the proposed Marvin Nichols I Reservoir in Region D, would not be needed.
Include reasonably practicable conservation measures (required by law) for proposed interbasin transfers.
Include drought management as a water management strategy. Each water user group with a shortage should use a drought management strategy derived from its drought management plan as a way to meet their water needs. The regional plans in the state are based on a drought of record and it only makes sense that drought management should play a large role in planning to meet the region's water needs during that drought period.

Environmental Flows
To secure the protection of flows for fish and wildlife, the plan needs to...

Include discussion of how current water development projects and existing permits affect environmental flows.
Fully assess the incremental impacts of new projects, especially proposed reservoirs, on environmental flows.
Consider the impacts of proposed strategies to springs in the region.
Designate stream segments in the region that meet the criteria as having "unique ecological value". No segments were designated in the plan. In fact, the recommended Lower Bois D'Arc Reservoir would be constructed on a stream segment that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommended for protection. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends 10 segments for designation in this region.

Wildlife Habitat and Farmland Protection
To avoid destroying valuable wildlife habitat and productive farmland, the plan needs to...

Avoid recommending construction of unnecessary reservoirs. With the implementation of better water efficiency and drought management measures, the projected supply would more than meet projected demands.
Avoid the construction of the proposed Lake Fastrill. This reservoir is proposed for same reach as Upper Neches National Wildlife Refuge.

Online Resources

Regional water plan documents can be located on the TWDB website.


		Contact the Regional Group Member who represents your interest. Contact Your Group Member Attend a Region C group meeting. Times and locations are posted on the TWDB website. Attend a Region C Meeting Here are just a few things you can do.


		Report: Drop By Drop: Seven Ways Texas Cities Can Conserve Water National Wildlife Federation and the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, 2010 Report: Save Water, Save Rivers, Save Money: The Potential of Municipal Water Conservation in Texas National Wildlife Federation, 2007


		Supreme Court ruling means no Lake Fastrill reservoir for Dallas Dallas Morning News, 2/23/10 Read Article Groups Disagree on water reservoir Longview News Journal, 2/10/10 Read Article Local officials preparing water plan for North Texas Ft. Worth Business Press, 1/18/10 Read Article Judge's ruling blocks plans for Neches River reservoir Houston Chronicle, 7/02/2008 Read Article Regional message clear: conserve Star-Telegram, 11/27/2007 Read Article Are wells straining aquifers? The Dallas Morning News, 10/14/2007 Read Article Water or Woods? Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, July 2007 Read Article Drought not water under bridge The Dallas Morning News, 6/24/2007 Read Article Study group will look at water supply options in NE Texas Sulphur Springs News-Telegram, 6/21/2007 Read Article City officials say state water usage goal too low for Plano Plano Star, 6/8/2007 Read Article Marvin Nichols Reservoir opponents voice concerns Texarkana Gazett, 6/6/2007 Read Article Fastrill back on radar again The Jasper Newsboy, 6/6/2007 Read Article Fastrill legislation doesn't change refuge status, conservation officials say The Lufkin Daily News, 5/31/2007 Read Article Treat water as money, because it is Texarkana Gazette, 5/7/2007 Read Article N. Texas wakes up to water woes Dallas Morning News, 4/29/2007 Read Article The people care about water � so why don�t their leaders? Fort Worth Business Press, 4/9/2007 Read Article Barnett water usage figures released Weatherford Democrat, 2/2/2007 Read Article Texas goes shopping for water Texarkana Gazette, 1/23/2007 Read Article