Title
Approving a resolution supporting the application from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) for an emergency order from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding water releases for agriculture in 2013.
Summary
The City of Pflugerville along with a number of other municipalities and municipal/governmental water suppliers are considered firm water customers of the LCRA. Firm water users include the cities of Pflugerville, Austin, Cedar Park, Burnet and Lakeway, through a municipal utility district. This group supported the emergency drought order that LCRA obtained from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in late 2011 that allowed LCRA to deviate from the existing Water Management Plan. This deviation allowed the curtailment of water releases for interruptible customers downstream, thus helping to insure that adequate water supplies were available in Lakes Travis and Buchanan for firm water customers. Interrruptible customers are those using the water for agricultural use such as the rice farmers near the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. An adjudication order issued in 1989 states "The supply of stored water pursuant to non-firm, interruptible commitments should be interrupted or curtailed to the extent necessary to allow LCRA to satisfy all existing and projected demands for stored water purusant to all firm uninterruptible commitments." The firm water customers are concerned that the current level of the lakes, 880,000 acre feet, is not that much higher than the 850,000 acre feet that was part of the reason for the emergency drought order last year. Without further action, LCRA would be using the existing Water Management Plan and releasing 183,000 acre feet of water to the interruptible customers downstream. Again, firm water customers are concerned about the ability of the Lakes to sustain a level that would insure firm water commitments, should that amount be released.
There are a number of moving parts in this situation. The largest unknown is the probability and amount of rainfall in the watershed. Since October the chance of an El Nino weather pattern which would bring more rain to the region has decreased. Right now the LCRA is governed by a 2010 TCEQ-approved Water Management Plan although a proposed amended Water Management Plan is pending at TCEQ with different release parameters. The emergency drought order approved last year expires on December 31, 2012.
The firm water customers have been meeting for the last six months as a group to discuss strategies and efforts. At the last meeting, all members were urged to show support for an emergency drought order that would restrict the release of water to interruptible customers, based upon certain lake levels that would insure firm water supplies. The attached resolution expresses that support.
Status
The LCRA has stated that the Board will evaluate the latest information provided to them by their staff and consider how to proceed at their November 14, 2012, Board meeting. A letter sent to Ms. Becky Motal, LCRA General Manager, is attached.
Deadline for City Council Action
Staff would like to provide the approved resolution to the LCRA prior to their board meeting on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. City staff will be attending the meeting and can present it to them at that time.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
Staff Recommendation
Approve the resolution.
Drafter
Lauri Gillam
Assistant City Manager