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Texas State Water Planning Methodology
Runnan LiKatie Born
James Bronikowski
Water Planning Regions
The Process
16 regions of Texas develop their own
consensus-based regional plans for how to meet
water needs during times of drought
TWDB develops a comprehensive state
water plan
Every 5 years: At least 11 interest
groups must be represented by one or more representatives along with non-voting
members from federal, state, and
local agencies
Though liaisons from planning groups in adjacent regions are
present, there is no accountability for regions
coordinating with each other
Drought of record used
as benchmark,
with firm yield as a minimum planning
requirement
Recommended strategies that
involve interbasin transfers are a
source of potential conflict
Each step of the process is open to the public and provides
numerous opportunities for public input
An economically feasible water management
strategy to meet water supply needs cannot always be identified by the planning groups
Incorporating uncertainties of future conditions is a
huge challenge
There is no conflict resolution when
combining the regional level plans
Plan Considerations
● Climate
● Environmental Flows
● Demand Management
● Economic Incentives
Texas Climate
Texas Climate
Climate Divisions
Climate Impacts● Uncertainty and Risk in the Management of Water Resources
o Incorporating various sources of uncertainty into the regional water planning framework to analyze a range of scenarios and potential outcomes
o Focus on a benchmark risk instead of every possibility in planning
All groups are required to plan based on firm yield● Access global climate models suitability for use in Texas and methodology
for downscaling● Monitor climate science● Access changes predicted by climate models● Analyze and report data regarding climate variability
Environmental Flows● New concept ● Methodologies
○ Freshwater inflow: Early studies led to a series publications for all of Texas’ major estuaries in the 1980s, updated in the 1990s and 2000s
○ Instream flow needs: Consensus Criteria for Environmental Flow Needs (regional water planning)
● Standards are still in process of developing○ Senate Bill 2 (2001)-TWDB, TCEQ and TPWD work together to
develop appropriate methodologies for determining environmental flows needed to protect rivers and streams.
○ Senate Bill 3 (2007)-new approach in developing environmental flow needs.
Environmental Flows
● According to Senate Bill 3 requirements, the standards and rules have been set for several water flow systems in 2013 by TCEQ.
● BBEST- Bays and Basins Expert Science Team
Environmental Flows● Senate Bill 3 rules were not considered in development of 2012
State Water Plan. ● The new standards will be in place and will be incorporated within
the surface water availability models and be considered in 2011 to 2016 regional water planning cycle.
Demand Management
Population Projections● Info from Texas State Data Center, US
Census, and other federal & state agencies
● Projections for:○ County Level○ Cities (Pop. > 500)○ Water utilities (Usage > 250k
gal/day)○ County-Other
● Allows for comments/revisions as recommended by regional stakeholders
● On a state level, projections from the 2010 regional water plans were within 1% of the actual 2010 US Census results
Demand Management
Demand Considerations: ● Municipal● Manufacturing● Mining ● Steam-electric● Livestock ● Irrigation
Considerations are based on how much waterwould be needed during a drought of record
Economic IncentivesFederal & State governments have a vested interest in water planning and development.
State Revolving Funds - Established as part of Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act
SWIFT - State Water Implementation Fund for Texas● Low interest, deferred interest, state participation● 20% must go towards conservation and/or reuse projects
TWICC - Texas Water Infrastructure Coordination Committee● Collection of agencies that assist communities with finding
the most advantageous funding options available