Here is a press release from LCRA regarding management of the Colorado River:

TCEQ executive director recommends approval of LCRA's proposed Water Management Plan

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has finished its technical review of LCRA's proposed Water Management Plan for lakes Travis and Buchanan and TCEQ's executive director is recommending that the plan be approved.

LCRA is publishing notice in newspapers throughout the lower Colorado River basin that TCEQ's executive director is recommending approval.

The proposed plan offers more protection for LCRA's municipal and industrial firm customers and is more flexible than the current plan. The changes in the proposed plan include:

·         Using two trigger points during the year instead of one to determine how much stored water from the lakes Travis and Buchanan is available for agriculture, mostly downstream rice farming. One trigger point, Jan. 1, would be used for the first or main rice crop and a second, June 1, would be used for the second (or ratoon) crop season. The current plan contains only a Jan. 1 trigger point.

·         Eliminating "open supply," the practice of making unlimited water from lakes Buchanan and Travis available for downstream agriculture when the lakes are above a defined trigger point. In the future, the amount of stored water available from the lakes for downstream agricultural operations would have an upper limit at all times.

·         Asking firm water customers, mostly cities and industry, to reduce water use consistent with their drought plans only after interruptible water from the lakes for agriculture is restricted. Current practice can result in LCRA requesting firm customers implement voluntary conservation before agricultural water is restricted.

·         Incorporating new scientific studies that better reflect the conditions of the river and bay environment.

LCRA went through an 18-month stakeholder process when developing the plan that included representatives from all the major interests that depend on Highland Lakes water (municipal, industrial, agricultural, environmental and lakes area residents and businesses).

TCEQ's executive director is recommending approving all LCRA proposed changes to the WMP except LCRA's request for a “dry year exception.” This provision would have allowed LCRA's Board discretion to modify its WMP procedures under certain drought conditions without going to the TCEQ for approval.

Once the notice is published, the public and interested parties have 30 days to comment, protest or ask for a public meeting on the plan. If the plan is not protested, the earliest the TCEQ could approve proposed WMP amendments is likely 60 to 90 days.