1 Raw Water Master Plan Update The last edition of the RWE Newsletter discussed the ongoing development of a Raw Water Supply Master Plan. The goals of the Master Plan are: 1) to estimate expected shortages and select appropriate strategies for providing raw water supplies required by Montgomery County and Highlands Raw Water Systems; and 2) to develop an overall plan for timely and economically delivering future raw water supplies to the service area. SJRA has continued development of the Master Plan through August 2017, and is now evaluating Selected Strategies shown here. Technical memos were developed by the SJRA’s Project Consultant for each of the selected strategies which provide details for implementing the strategies, identify potential issues such as environmental constraints, and present estimated costs. These memos are currently in the process of being finalized. In order to engage interested stakeholders in this planning process, meetings involving representatives of local government agencies, utilities, economic development, and other groups, have been held to present progress results and these meetings will continue in the future. The next meeting is scheduled for October 10, 2017, at which SJRA’s project consultant will present the results of the technical memos they have created for each of the selected raw water supply strategies. The next and final step in the Master Plan process is development of a comprehensive 50-year plan for implementation of the most appropriate strategies. The final Master Plan document is scheduled to be completed in early 2018. In order to qualify for various low interest State funding options, projects must be included in the TWDB’s State Water Plan. Therefore, the final Master Plan will be submitted to the Texas Region H Planning Group for incorporation into the Region H Water Plan. Montgomery County Highlands Water Supply Transfer (via Pumping & Pipelines) from Lake Livingston to Lake Conroe Catahoula Aquifer Well Development Capture of Treated Wastewater that has returned to Natural Channels (Regional Return Flows) Enhancing Water Conservation Efforts SELECTED STRATEGIES Regional Return Flows Water Supply Transfer (via Bed and Banks) from Lake Livingston to Highlands Service Area Above: Strategies Selected for Detailed Evaluation
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Raw Water Master Plan Update
The last edition of the RWE Newsletter discussed
the ongoing development of a Raw Water Supply
Master Plan. The goals of the Master Plan are: 1)
to estimate expected shortages and select
appropriate strategies for providing raw water
supplies required by Montgomery County and
Highlands Raw Water Systems; and 2) to develop
an overall plan for timely and economically
delivering future raw water supplies to the service
area.
SJRA has continued development of the Master
Plan through August 2017, and is now evaluating
Selected Strategies shown here. Technical memos
were developed by the SJRA’s Project Consultant
for each of the selected strategies which provide
details for implementing the strategies, identify
potential issues such as environmental constraints,
and present estimated costs. These memos are
currently in the process of being finalized.
In order to engage interested stakeholders in this
planning process, meetings involving
representatives of local government agencies,
utilities, economic development, and other
groups, have been held to present progress results
and these meetings will continue in the future.
The next meeting is scheduled for October 10,
2017, at which SJRA’s project consultant will
present the results of the technical memos they
have created for each of the selected raw water
supply strategies.
The next and final step in the Master Plan process
is development of a comprehensive 50-year plan
for implementation of the most appropriate
strategies. The final Master Plan document is
scheduled to be completed in early 2018. In order
to qualify for various low interest State funding
options, projects must be included in the TWDB’s
State Water Plan. Therefore, the final Master Plan
will be submitted to the Texas Region H Planning
Group for incorporation into the Region H Water
Plan.
Montgomery County Highlands
Water Supply Transfer (via Pumping & Pipelines)
from Lake Livingston to Lake Conroe
Catahoula Aquifer Well Development
Capture of Treated Wastewater that has returned
to Natural Channels (Regional Return Flows)
Enhancing Water Conservation Efforts
SELECTED STRATEGIES
Regional Return Flows
Water Supply Transfer (via Bed
and Banks) from Lake Livingston
to Highlands Service Area
Above: Strategies Selected for Detailed Evaluation
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Highlands SCADA System Implementation: Moving into the 21st Century
Historically, all pumps and control gates for the
Highlands Division canal system have been
monitored and controlled manually. As customer
demands for water have increased in recent years,
monitoring and control of the system have
become more important to ensure that the
necessary hydraulic flow and
capacity requirements are
continually being met. There
are a variety of concerns with a
manually operated system. For
example, there are currently no
alarms or notifications to alert
staff of low levels in the canal or
that water in the canal may be in
danger of overtopping the
levee. To prevent these type of
operational irregularities from
occurring, the Technical Services
Department and the SCADA/I&C
Department are working with the
Highlands Division to develop a
SCADA system to provide these
improved functions.
Project Implementation Plan
This improvement project is scheduled
to be completed in four phases
spanning several years. Phase 0
involves four sites that will include the placement
of instrumentation to allow for flow and level data
to be collected and sent back to the Emergency
Operations Center (EOC). In Phase 0, this data
will be transmitted via cellular communications.
Phase 1 will include additional improvements to
the original four sites, and will add an additional
three sites. The particular equipment installed at
each location will address the specific operational
needs at that site. Also included in Phase 1, will
be a conversion from cellular communication to a
more secure radio communications protocol.
With the recent attacks from malware and
ransomware around the world, SJRA staff
recognizes that network security is of upmost
importance.
Currently, staff are working on both Phase 0 and
Phase 1 project. The ongoing work involves:
Acquisition of the necessary
property easements,
Erection of the shelters at the
site,
The construction of the
control panels,
The procurement and
installation of instruments,
The development of a secure
network, and
Programming of PLC’s and
the SCADA system software.
Construction plans for the
conduit placement, concrete pads, and
shelters was completed in August and
the Highlands Division staff will begin
construction of the concrete pads,
placement of conduit, and the erection
of the shelters in September.
SCADA staff is in the process of
completing surveys and acquiring the
metes and bounds for land that will be
required to move forward with Phase 1 of the
project. Although SJRA has easements for every
location where a siphon is located, not all areas
include enough space for placement of the needed
instruments, Programmable Logic Controller
(PLC) panel placement, and shelter. Additional
easements are also needed for any major
communications equipment built on the siphons,
including any larger antenna towers located
designed to withstand 129 MPH winds.
Flow Measurement
A new type of flow meter is going to be used in
the Highlands Division that has not been used in
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any other location in the SJRA. In most operating
plant environments, non-pressurized flows are
measured within a channel by utilizing a flume or
V-notch weir. However, this requires introducing
a head loss that is not desirable within the canal
system of the Highlands Division. The
instrument that is currently earmarked for use in
the Highlands is called an “Acoustic Doppler”
flow meter and is designed specifically for use in
large channels or canals.
This type of meter utilizes sound to determine the
speed of the water within the canal. A separate
tool (which can be moved and used at many
locations) is used to measure the cross-sectional
area of the canal. Those two pieces of information
together will provide a calculated rate of flow in
the canal.
Communications Network
For the communications system, necessary
cellular devices, servers, and network appliances
(routers and firewalls) will also be purchased for
the System.
SCADA software that is to be used in the
Highlands Division will be the Wonderware,
same software that is being used in the other three
SJRA operating divisions. The SCADA/I&C
Department is working closely with the
Highlands Division to ensure that the end product
is one that will meet the division’s needs and
expectations. Staff will ensure that the same
standards developed for other divisions will be
used in the Highlands project to allow for easy
development of databases and the user interface
screens.
Above: Flow Meter to be used in the Canal
Above: Servers to be transferred and reutilized
Above: Cellular Communication Device
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Invasive Vegetation Control in the Highlands
The Raw Water System in the Highlands includes
the Highlands Reservoir and approximately 27
miles of canals, all of which requires attentive
effort to minimize the growth of invasive aquatic
and shoreline vegetation along the System. The
Highlands staff are trained and licensed by the
State of Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA)
to properly use appropriate herbicides and other
specialized tools in their maintenance activities.
The Highlands staff diligently monitor, budget for
treatment, and ensure that maintenance to
eliminate or control the various species is
adequate to ensure the uninterrupted flow of
water supplies for this System. Through monthly
canal inspections, staff records all locations of
invasive species and areas requiring treatment.
Work orders are then issued to further address the
areas of concern. In order to prevent clogging at
the intakes of customers from the dead vegetation
and the change in water quality due to the
breakdown of the dead vegetation, staff must
ensure timely and open communication occurs on
scheduled application activities with industrial,
municipal, and irrigation customers.
Application Process
In order to obtain an approved herbicide license,
staff must pass several tests, including those on:
General Knowledge, Rules and Regulations,
Aquatic Herbicides, and Right-of-Ways. After all
tests are initially passed, staff must complete five
hours of continuing education yearly to maintain
their license. Additionally, the Highlands must
keep on file a specific and updated inventory of
all herbicides purchased and stored for future
application, a daily log of products sprayed, and
the specific location that spraying was required.
The responsibility to manage the availability of
the herbicide products and safe application lies
with the licensed staff members.
In order to properly apply aquatic herbicides, staff
must have access to the necessary application
equipment and proper personal protective
equipment. Depending on the particular method
of application used, staff must follow the
directions on the label for personal protection,
including wearing: long sleeve shirts, long pants,
hats, safety glasses, rubber aprons, and protective
rubber gloves. Application equipment includes:
an all-terrain vehicle equipped with a spray rig
and a hand spray nozzle, a broadcaster for
granulated formulations, and a boom sprayer that
will reach the side or rear to further distribute the
product.
Above: Product Storage area for the ongoing treatment of
invasive plant species along the Raw Water System
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Other equipment that may also be used includes
back-pack sprayers, hand-held pump sprayers,
and a trailer mounted spray rig for handgun
applications. Proper personal protective
equipment and application equipment allows for
a safe and more effective application in the
targeted areas.
Invasive Plants
There are several invasive plant species that are
located and treated along the Raw Water System.
Treatment for each species may vary and require
herbicides with different active ingredients or
methods for removal depending on the season
and location of the infestation. Some of the
species found along the System include:
Alligatorweed, Primrose, Hyacinth, Smartweed,
Hydrilla, American Pondweed, Coontail Moss,
American Lotus, Tallow Trees, Johnson Grass,
Bloodweed, Giant Reed (cane), Common
Duckweed, Cattails, Pennywort (Highlands
Reservoir area specifically), and other
miscellaneous grasses along the canal banks.
Commonly used products include: Rodeo,
Polaris, Streamline, Clearcast, Garlon 3A,
Turbulence (surfactant), Aqua-King (surfactant),
Droplex (drift control), Mystic Dye, Aqua Master,
Garlon 4 Ultra, Clipper, Fastbreak, Diluent Blue,
and Spike. Additives are incorporated for drift
control, anti-foaming, and dyes for visibility to
ensure the targeted area is achieved and over-
spray is minimized. Various surfactants are used
to enhance the product bonding to the surface of
the invasive vegetation. Each mixture is
comprised of different major ingredients. When
possible, blending of ingredients is required to
achieve the optimum desired results against some
vegetation. Products used for treatment along the
Raw Water System in the Highlands are
environmentally friendly and have been
designated in Texas for aquatic use. Careful
consideration for each application is given for the
appropriate method and substances utilized for
removal.
Past experience with invasive vegetation on the
Raw Water System has shown that other methods
beyond spray application must also be used to
achieve successful control, including: 1) the
Above: Licensed Herbicide Operator spraying a
fence line using a hand-sprayer from an all-terrain
vehicle
Above: Licensed Herbicide Operator spraying
the edge of the canal from the levee with a hand
sprayer
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introduction of biologically-modified grass carp,
and 2) the use of a drip-application system to
inject aquatic herbicides during periods when
cooler water temperatures exist. The drip-
injection method has been used for the north area
of the Highlands Reservoir, along with occasional
boom and nozzle spraying and the broadcasting
of granulated formulations. With assistance of the
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, grass carp
were recently introduced to help in the control of
Hydrilla, American Pondweed, and Coontail
throughout the System and these plants are now
under control. Staff carefully considers the
methods available and applies the most feasible
and cost-effective approach for targeting the areas
identified.
Cost of Control
Over the last decade, the average annual cost for
herbicides used along the Raw Water System in
the Highlands has been approximately $30,000.
For FY2017, $50,000 was budgeted for herbicides
and supplies for the management of all the
invasive species along the Raw Water System.
Training and improved resources have effectively
reduced the costs of herbicide for the System.
Through the procurement of specialized
equipment such as spray booms, the quantity of
herbicide utilized has been reduced compared to
using hand-held spray nozzles. Collaboration
with herbicide product representatives has
provided further guidance to staff to increase
their knowledge on more effective approaches
and the best use of appropriate herbicide products
at the various locations. Products procured and
used today are also of higher quality and have a
greater impact to the targeted areas.
After treatment occurs, staff must still monitor
and manage the impact of the applications. This
sometimes includes the removal of dead
vegetation that breaks loose and can potentially
be a risk for blockages at the headwalls of the
siphon structures. Depending on the size of the
infestation, decomposition of the dead vegetation
can have an impact on water quality. If localized
blooms are not spotted and treated quickly, the
amount of vegetation can increase geometrically
and create significant problems for our customers.
Through careful planning and diligent use of all
the control tools and resources, the Highlands
staff efforts will continue to provide safe and
reliable raw water supplies to all customers along
the System.
Above: Approximately 5,000 grass carp were released
into the System to help reduce the invasive vegetation
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Monitoring System Provides Dam Operators with Extra “ALERT’s”
In August, 2016, the SJRA, along with its partners,
the City of Conroe and Montgomery County,
received a grant of $460,000 for flood protection
planning and for improvements to the SJRA’s
flood early warning system along the West Fork
of the San Jacinto River in Montgomery County.
Texas. This is a 50% matching-funds grant with
50% to be provided by SJRA and its partners in
the project.
One important element of the project includes
enhancements to SJRA’s existing
hydrometerological monitoring network that
covers the Lake Conroe watershed and
immediate surrounding area.
The first step, completed in February, 2017, was
an engineering analysis of the network resulting
in recommendations for improvements which are
now underway and are further explained below.
SJRA has operated a radio-telemetry monitoring
network since the 1980’s which relied on
technology trademarked as “Automated Local
Evaluation in Real Time (ALERT)” protocol. This
system transmitted rainfall and related data from
sites located throughout the Lake Conroe
watershed to a control station at the Lake Conroe
dam for use by the SJRA operators to pass storm
flows safely through the spillway gates. Data
from this system is simultaneously repeated in
real time to a regional network of weather
monitoring partners that is managed by the
Harris County Flood Control District. This
ALERT system has performed its intended
function very well for over three decades but was
limited in its ability to expand its coverage of the
County and remain reliable. By converting to the
next generation of new and improved
transmission protocol, called ALERT2, the SJRA
has now gained significant advantages, including:
Improved the reliability of data capture
during high intensity events when the
frequency of transmissions is greatest
and the need for accurate data is most
important.
Greater room and abilities to
accommodate system expansion.
Faster transmission speed
Larger transmission packet size
Error detection and correction
The graphic below illustrates the proposed
architecture of the improved network.
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SJRA’s existing repeater tower has been
damaged over the years from freezing water
contained within the tubular tower structure.
Thus the tower, which was originally 100 feet
tall, had to be lowered several times to remove
damaged sections. By relocating the new
antennas to a 100-foot tall water storage tank
which is a part of the SJRA’s Groundwater
Reduction Program, the antennas’ elevation is
now some 100 feet higher than the previous
tower. This location also has fiber optic cable
running to the Lake Conroe campus making it
an ideal place to mount the receiving antennas.
With this new system in place, data
transmission can be sent via internet protocol
(IP) which is more reliable than radio. Backup
redundancy via radio signal will remain in
place in case of loss of internet service.
SJRA’s monitoring gauge network currently
consists of 11 field sites spread throughout the
Lake Conroe surrounding area. As part of this
enhancement project, SJRA will add 5
additional sites to the network and move two
existing sites to more strategic locations. These
enhancements will provide water surface
elevation (stage) data at 5 critical tributaries that
flow into Lake Conroe. This data will provide
Lake Conroe reservoir operators with
additional information as to inflows into Lake
Conroe. In addition, data from these stage
gauges can be used to calibrate the models that
will be run as a part of the Flood Protection
Planning Study. The figure below depicts the
geographical layout of the enhanced
monitoring network.
SJRA staff will soon install all of the necessary
equipment for the new stations and upgrade the
existing stations from the legacy ALERT protocol
to the improved ALERT2. If all work goes
according to plan, SJRA will be fully converted to
