Introduction Texas is currently the second most populous state in the country and that size is expected to double within the next fifty years. As the population continues to grow, the demand for water will also increase dramatically. Unfortunately, the supply of water will not keep up. It is important when discussing water in Texas to make the distinction between groundwater and surface water. Surface water is far more regulated than groundwater. Going forward, it is important to consider not only innovative conservation ideas, but also to take care with respect to the impact we are having on the environment as well as other people who need the water we want to use.

Projected Population Growth in Texas Figure 1. The Population of Texas is expected to double within the next fifty years. Source: River Systems Institute

Water Supply Issues Without new water supply projects or management strategies, experience water shortages of 5.9 million acre-feet by 2030, increasing to 8.8 million acre-feet by By 2060, 85% of the state’s population is projected to have water deficits. Projected to cost businesses and workers approximately roughly $98.4 billion by Forgone state and local business taxes associated with lost commerce is projected to amount to $5.4 billion in Acre foot = 325,851 Gallons! Source : River Systems Institute 1997 – Texas Senate Bill 1 established comprehensive water planning process to assess current and future needs in state’s 16 water planning regions.

Future Demands As we gain more Texans, we will not only need more water, but will also need to generate more power. This also requires a great deal of water. The South Texas Project Nuclear Power Plant just outside Bay City is located on the Colorado River. It currently has 2 nuclear reactors that have been operating since the late 1980’s. The plant has recently applied for licenses for 2 new reactors. Obviously this will create a substantially larger water requirement for the plant. There is also a proposed new coal-fired power plant just a few miles away and across the Colorado River from the South Texas Project. It is estimated that this new plant ($2.5 billion White Stallion Energy Center) will require 7 billion gallons of water per year. That’s the close to the same contracted amount for the city of Leander (estimated population of 25000)!

Surface Water Vs. Ground Water Water Ownership In Texas Groundwater is privately owned: it belongs to the owner of the land above it and the owners may pump all the water they can from beneath their land regardless of the impact to nearby landowners. Surface water bodies are the property of the state but the right to use surface water for specific purposes such as irrigation or mining is a private property right. Unfortunately, these water rights are granted, essentially, in perpetuity. The state would have to take the rights holder to court and show just cause as to why the right granted should be revoked. Source : Texascenter.org

Water Planning Regions in Texas Source : Texas Water Development Board Figure 2.

Texas Groundwater Sources Source : Texas Water Development Board Figure 3.

Groundwater Figure 4. The majority of current water rights in the state are still held by agriculture, while the greatest demand for water lies within the municipal and Industrial/Commercial/Institu tional sectors, although this will begin to change rapidly. Source: River Systems Institute

Texas Surface Water Figure 5.

Solutions : Getting Water Where It’s Needed Inter-basin Transfers - the moving of surface water in one part of the state to thirsty cities in another. Problems Who actually owns the rights to that water? People in “water-rich” areas don’t want their water removed. What impact does the removal of unused water have on the environment and ecosystem from which it was removed? Due to Endangered Species Act, in-stream flows must be maintained. An in-stream flow is the amount of water needed to maintain a healthy ecosystem for a given species. Surface Water

Groundwater Water Marketing – emerging enterprise in which entrepreneurs buy or lease rights to underground water, or partner with water rights holders, and sell harvested water to cities or other buyers. Problems With Water Marketing Again, who owns the water rights? Injunctions have been filed against some well-known entrepreneurs (most notably T. Boone Pickens and former gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams).

Brush Control Another interesting solution for water conservation is brush control. It has been estimated that all the brush in Texas consumes as much as 3 trillion gallons of water per year. We must manage this process responsibly so as not disturb the natural habitats of the area. Texas Parks and Wildlife has put forth a set of guidelines for this process: The method of brush removal used should improve wildlife food supply and habitat - i.e. aeration vs. rootplowing. Plant Diversity and general health and vigor of the range should be increased. Removal of desirable plants species should be minimal. The amount and pattern of brush removal is critical. Extreme care should be taken to insure that too much wildlife cover is not destroyed - for example: drainages or sensitive habitats which support roost sites should always remain intact. Soil disturbance should not be applied to highly erodible sites. Any planned practices should consider topography and soil type. The program should be economically feasible and comply with the overall goals/objectives of the management program. Brush control programs should always consider prior mechanical treatments applied to the site. Brush management programs should plan for periodic maintenance of treated areas. Rarely, do any brush treatments completely eliminate brush, but rather they control it.

Some Endangered Species in Central Texas Above: Comal Springs Dryopid Beetle, Fountain Darter, Golden Cheeked Warbler, Tx. Blind Salamander Below: Comal Springs Riffle Beetle, San Marcos Gambusia (already believed extinct – not seen since 1982), Texas Wild Rice

Conclusion As Texas continues to grow, the demand for water will increase as well. There is only so much water we can pull out of our aquifers, rivers, and lakes. We need to find ways to conserve now and develop new ways of extracting and using water responsibly. It is also essential to protect the environment as we extract this most important resource so that we do not damage or deplete it beyond repair. Unfortunately, water sources are not replenished fast enough to make up for human error.

Sources Figure 1. : River Systems Institute “Water Supply Issues” : River Systems Institute “Surface V. Groundwater” : Figure 2. : Texas Water Development Board Figure 3. : Texas Water Development Board Figure 4. : River Systems Institute Figure 5. : Copyright Endangered Species Photos : Golden Cheeked Warbler Photo : “Brush Control” : axe.phtml axe.phtml “Future Demands” : colorado-river-power-plant-churn-opposition/ colorado-river-power-plant-churn-opposition/

Texas Water by: Eric Johnson