ReservoirDevelopment Update

Region K MeetingJuly 11, 2012

Karen Bondy, P.E.Manager of Resource Strategy

1

New Water Supply Goal

• 100,000 ac-ft/yr by 2017• Reduce interruptible demands on Highland

Lakes

• Improve agricultural water reliability

• Improve agricultural water efficiency

• Reduce risk of firm water curtailment

2

Development Strategy• 3 Critical Drivers

100,000 ac-ft/yrIn 5 yearsNo rate increase

• Effect on Development StrategyMaximize use of existing assetsMinimize construction of new facilitiesMinimize environmental and water rights

permitting

3

4

LCRA’s Current Water Sources

Total Conservation Capacity- 2.1 MafyMaximum Interruptible Water Supply- 1.5 Mafy

Existing LCRA Assets• Lower basin senior water rights• Irrigation division pump stations* and

canals• Baylor Creek land and storage rights• Excess flows water right (5731)• Pierce Ranch land option• Lake Bastrop land and groundwater

* May require substantial repairs/upgrades 5

Fayette Power Project — 38,101 AFY

Lakeside

Gulf Coast

Garwood

PierceRanch

Austin

Colorado River

Underground Services Markham12,327 AFY

Oxea3,222 AFYSTP

40,000 AFYRiver Pump StationFirm Customer(AFY = Acre-feet per year)

Environmental FlowCommitment (2010 WMP)33,440 AFY

Lower Basin MapLake Bastrop

1940 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 20100.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Total Combined Storage in Lakes Buchanan and Travis

Full Storage (2.01 MAF)

Average (1.67 MAF)

Combined Storage (MAF)

Sep 30, 1940 to Jan 28, 2011

Mill

ions

of A

cre-

feet

1957 FLOOD

1952 FLOOD

1991 FLOOD

1997 FLOOD

2002 FLOOD

2007 FLOOD

Sept. 1952

31% Full

Sept. 1964

32% Full

Oct. 1984

41% Full

Sept. 2009

39% Full

Water Availability Results • 100,000 ac-ft/yr available in lower basin• Requires diverting and storing to “firm up”• Adequate pumping capacity at Lakeside,

Garwood and Gulf Coast• ~70,000 ac-ft of storage required• New reservoirs can meet 100,000 ac-ft/yr

goal

8

Two Potential Configurations• Reservoirs in irrigation divisions only

2 to 4 reservoirsUtilize existing pumps and canalsRequires construction of reservoirs and outlet

facilities

• Baylor Creek plus irrigation divisionsRequires reservoirs and new pump station, pumps

and piping for Baylor Creek reservoirAlso requires water supply (water rights) for Baylor

Creek diversion9

STP Pump Station

10

Water Rights SummaryPermit Terms Baylor

Creek Lakeside Garwood Gulf Coast

Excess Flows(5731)

Muni, Ag and Industrial Use

Use Outside Division

Storage

Bed and Banks Transport

Available Water Supply

**

11

Permit Amendment Needed

Permit Terms Already in Place

**Need to amend downstream water right to add point of diversion at Baylor Creek

Next Steps• Optimize irrigation division reservoir size/location

• Develop construction requirements, capital and operating cost estimates for all options

• Determine if groundwater is cheaper alternative

• Develop water rights and environmental permitting strategies

• Prepare project recommendation for Board by end of year

12

Recap• Only source of water for new reservoirs is

LCRA’s lower basin water rightsWill require permit amendments

• Reservoirs can meet 100,000 ac-ft/yr goalGroundwater might be cheaper alternative

• Construction requirements:All options need reservoir and outlet facilitiesBaylor Creek also needs water supply, pump

station and piping to plant (~ 4 miles)13

14

Questions&

Discussion