1. Brooke McGregor, Program Liaison, Watermaster Section
Watermasters in Texas

2. Watermaster Programs
Watermasters ensure compliance by monitoring stream flows, reservoir levels, water use, and coordinating diversions.
Current Watermaster Programs in Texas:
Rio Grande Watermaster
South Texas Watermaster
Concho River Watermaster
Brazos Watermaster

3. Watermaster Programs

4. Watermaster Rules and Statutes
Texas Water Code, Chapter 11, Water Rights
30 TAC Chapter 303, Operation of the Rio Grande
30 TAC Chapter 304, Watermaster Operations

5. Differences Between the Watermaster Programs
South Texas, Concho, and Brazos Watermaster
Prior Appropriation – water right holders take their permitted diversions or impoundments as water flows along the watercourses based on priority date.
Rio Grande Watermaster
Store and Release (for river segments below Amistad) – water is stored in Amistad and Falcon, and then released downstream when needed to support requests for water by water right holders.
All programs require prior approval from the Watermaster prior to any diversions.

6. Watermaster Programs
Funded with annual fees paid by the water right holders within the program jurisdiction.
Annual fees/budget must be approved by the Commission.
Hands-on monitoring of surface water rights.
Ability to enforce priority system of surface water rights resulting in protection of domestic and livestock rights and senior water rights.
Ability to quickly respond to complaints and inquiries.
Ability to facilitate negotiations between concerned parties to ensure equitable distribution of water (Run of the River systems).

7. Daily Activities AND Duties

8. Duties Within a Watermaster Program
Conduct river investigations.
Manage diversion requests.
Monitor stream flow, reservoir levels, and water use.
Respond to complaints and inquiries.
Enforce compliance with water rights.
Update ownership information.
Establish and collaborate with a watermaster advisory committee.

9. Conduct River Investigations
Day-to-day Investigations
Respond to Complaints

10. Monitor Stream Flows
Conducting flow measurements in the field

11. Monitor Stream Flows
Utilize USGS gages.

12. Monitor stream flows

13. Verify Pumps and meters
Meter must be inspected and verified by the watermaster program before it may be used to divert water.

15. Meters

16. pumps

17. Enforce Compliance
Ensure water right holders comply with terms of their permits and adjudications
Address non-permitted diversions
Issue Notices of Violation
In some cases, Notices of Enforcement –OR-
If applicable, issue a Field Citation
Response to complaints

18. Examples of Violations

19. Watermaster advisory Committee
9 to 15 members serve a 2-year term
Water right holders, such as water authorities/districts, cities, industries, and agriculture.
Meet at least 1/year
Provide input on the annual budget.
Provide recommendations to the E.D. regarding administration and distribution activities that would benefit water rights holders.
Perform other duties requested by the E.D. regarding watermaster operations or by water right holders that the WAC determines would benefit water rights administration.

20. Communication In-person questions during investigations
Watermaster staff often meet with diverters during day-to-day activities.
Respond to complaints and inquiries
Schedule meetings with water right holders and interested people

21. Training

22. Requirements for Diverters
Comply with the water right.
Divert water according to watermaster rules.
Install an accurate measuring device.
Before diverting, contact and receive approval from the watermaster.
After pumping, submit a report.
Pay annual fees based on authorized water right amount and use.

23. DOI Required

24. What makes the Rio Grande Watermaster Program Different?

25. Rio Grande Watermaster
Manages the US portion of an International Stream.
Purpose of Use Priority from Amistad to the Gulf instead of Priority Date.
1944 Treaty administered by U.S. IBWC and Mexico’s CILA.
Close relationship with U.S. IBWC.
Border security and safety concerns.

26. Rio Grande Watermaster
Store and Release (for river segments below Amistad) – water is stored in Amistad and Falcon, and then released downstream when needed to support requests for water by water right holders.

27. AMISTAD RESERVOIR

28. FALCON RESERVOIR

29. Rio Grande Watermaster
Allocations: How do they Work?
Starting with the total amount of water in storage for the U.S., as reported by the IBWC on the last Saturday of the month:
Deduct 225,000 acre-feet for the DMI reserve
Deduct 4,600 acre-feet for dead storage
Deduct an amount equal to the total balances of all Class A & B water right accounts (irrigation, mining)
Establish the operating reserve at 75,000 acre-feet
Allocate excess water to Class A & B accounts
-OR-
If needed, restore the operating reserve through negative allocations of Class A & B accounts.

31. Rio Grande Watermaster
Account Balance Summary
90 – 110% account usage charge (mandated conservation)
Account reduced to zero for non-use in a two year period.
Account reduced to zero for non-payment in a one year period.

32. Rio Grande Watermaster
Class A & B Conversions to DMI
Class A & B Water Rights can be converted to Domestic, Municipal, and/or Industrial use.
Class A rights have a conversion factor of 0.5 (Example: 1,000 AF of Class A converts to 500 AF of DMI).
Class B rights have a conversion factor of 0.4 (Example: 1,000 AF of Class B converts to 400 AF of DMI).

33. Watermaster Evaluations

34. Watermaster Evaluations
TCEQ’s Sunset Bill (HB 2694, 82nd Regular Session, 2011) directed the TCEQ to:
Evaluate each river basin or coastal basin that does not have a watermaster at least once every five years.
Assess whether or not a watermaster should be appointed in each basin.
Report findings to the Legislature.
Repeat the assessment in each basin at least once every 5 years.

35. Watermaster evaluations
First Five-year Cycle (2012 – 2016)
TCEQ Evaluated all river basins without a watermaster.
Each year, the Executive Director recommended that the Commission not move forward on its own motion to create a watermaster.
At a Commission Agenda each evaluation year, the Commission acknowledged receipt of the Executive Director’s report and recommendation that the Commission not move forward on its own motion to create a watermaster.

36. 2017 Watermaster Evaluations
Upper Brazos River, San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal, Colorado River, Brazos-Colorado Coastal, and Colorado-Lavaca Coastal Basins
On October 13, 2017 the Commission acknowledged receipt of the Executive Director’s report and recommendation that the Commission not move forward on its own motion to create a watermaster.

37. 2018 Watermaster Evaluations
Trinity River, San Jacinto River, Trinity-San Jacinto Coastal, and Neches-Trinity Coastal Basins
On August 22, 2018, the Commission acknowledged receipt of the Executive Director’s report and recommendation that the Commission not move forward on its own motion to create a watermaster.

38. 2019 Watermaster evaluations
Neches River and Sabine River Basins
Initial stakeholder letters were mailed on March 11, 2019.
Stakeholder meetings will be scheduled in June.

39. Future Evaluations 2020: Red River and Canadian River Basins
2021: Sulphur and Cypress Creek Basins
Cycle 3 Begins
2022: Brazos River Basin (Upper Only)
San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin
Brazos-Colorado Coastal Basin
Colorado River Basin
Colorado-Lavaca Coastal Basin

40. Questions? Brooke McGregor, Watermaster Program Liaison 512-239-2025