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Region G - Brazos
2005 Regional Water Plan Review
The following general review is based on the 2005 Initially Prepared Regional Water Plan (IPP).
Regional Facts
Major Cities | Abilene, Bryan, Temple/Killeen, Waco |
| Population: 2000 | 1,621,961 |
| Population: 2060 | 3,332,100 |
| Total Water Use: 2000 | 795,183 Acre-Feet |
| Total Water Use: 2060 | 1,145,488 Acre-Feet |
| Primary Rivers | Brazos |
| Major Aquifers | Seymour, Trinity, Carrizo-Wilcox |
| Annual Precipitation | 20-44 Inches |
| Net Evaporation | 24-56 Inches |
Basic Plan Facts
- Population is projected to more than double between 2000 and 2060
- Total capital cost of proposed water supply measures: Not available
- Two small reservoirs planned: Brushy Creek and Wheeler Branch off-channel.
What's at Issue?
Future demands in this region are due in part not only to a population increase, but they are also the product of the high per capita usage rates of some of the region's municipalities. In consequence, high demands are driving the need to develop unnecessary infrastructure. The region is also projecting to increase groundwater withdrawals from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. Many of the region's springs (there are over 130 know in the region), and numerous spring-fed rivers and streams in the region, are at risk of this increase in pumping. This region contains productive farmland and wildlife habitat that is home to nineteen species that are listed as threatened or endangered. These natural resources are also at risk from the proposed water supply strategies.
Action Items
Here are some of the items the Region G Planning Group must address.
 Conservation and Drought Management
For conservation and drought management, the plan needs to...
- The plan does not 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.
- Follow the proposed recommendations of the Water Conservation Implementation Task Force which recommend that all municipal water user groups strive to achieve an eventual water use rate of no more than 140 gallons per person per day. If the region did this, it may be possible to save an additional 59,181 Acre-Feet annually.
Environmental Flows
To secure the protection of flows for fish and wildlife, the plan needs to...
- Recognize environmental flows as a water demand and seek to provide reasonable levels of environmental flows.
- Quantitatively evaluate all alternative water supply strategies for affects on environmental flows.
- Designate stream segments in the region that meet the criteria as having "unique ecological value". No segments were designated in the plan. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends 12 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.
Groundwater Management
To ensure the long term viability of the state's groundwater resources, the plan needs to...
- State the management goals used to determine groundwater availability in the region.
- Have a goal of true sustainable groundwater management where average groundwater withdrawals do not exceed a rate which can be replenished through recharge on a continual basis while maintaining adequate spring flows. The plan currently allows for up to 200 to 250 feet of water level decline over the planning horizon in the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer.
Online Resources
Regional water plan documents can be located on the TWDB website.
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The Little River Reservoir - proposed to be built near Cameron in Milam County - would flood about 35,000 acres. Much of that land has been farmed and ranched by families for generations. The Little River Reservoir would dam up one of the few remaining free-flowing rivers in the state.
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Region G
