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