Regional Water Planning
By Ric Jensen
Stakeholders constituting 16 regional water planning groups (RWPGs) that cover the State are engaged in a planning process to anticipate water demands and evaluate strategies to meet future water needs. The process is coordinated by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the agency charged with reviewing and approving plans developed in each region and compiled into a state water plan.
Water planning is important for Texas because the process identifies trends that can be acted upon to prepare for the future. The 2002 Texas Water Plan shows that overall water demands will grow from current levels of 15.7 million acre-feet (ac-ft) to more than 20 million ac-ft in 2050. Regional water studies identify changes that may occur in different water use sectors throughout Texas.
“Regional water planning groups are in the process of preparing their 2006 regional water plans,” said Kevin Ward, executive administrator of TWDB. “Better data, increased involvement with local interests, and the strong partnerships that have been developed since the first round of regional water planning will serve as a strong foundation for producing a comprehensive, viable 2007 Texas Water Plan.”
The cornerstone of current water planning efforts in Texas is Senate Bill 1, passed by the Legislature in 1997. This bill made significant changes to water planning in Texas, because it emphasized involving local stakeholders. Previously, water resources’ planning was largely carried out by TWDB staff and consultants, after obtaining input from citizens, agency personnel and technical advisory committees.
Senate Bill 1 is significant in that each RWPG is required to develop a plan to address water supply and demand issues for their region for the next 50 years. The first plans were approved in 2002 and address water needs through 2052. Every five years, a new plan has to be created for each region. The process allows stakeholders to decide how water supplies and demands will be balanced in their region. Financial assistance from TWDB can only be provided to projects that are consistent with recommendations in regional water plans.
In creating a regional water plan, stakeholders examine water demands, identify areas where there is a shortage or surplus of water and determine whether there are sufficient supplies during droughts.
Each plan must include specific strategies to meet future water needs and may identify ecologically important stream segments and proposes sites for future reservoirs. RWPGs are encouraged to consider coordinated water supply and demand management efforts that include cooperation with neighboring planning groups.
Regional water planning is now entering a new phase to develop revised plans by 2006. These plans will address water supply issues through 2055. Some of the changes in the planning process are being implemented due to Senate Bill 2.
- Water demand and population estimates are being revised using data from the 2000 Census.
- New groundwater and surface water availability models are being used to refine water demand and supply estimates.
- RWPGs are placing a greater emphasis on water conservation to reduce water demands and to assess how management measures may affect the environment.
- Recommendations are being sought regarding changes to Texas water policies and laws that may make it easier to meet future water needs.
Additional information about regional water planning is available from the TWDB website, http://www.twdb.state.tx.us.
