Water Quantity- Chapter 1-Page 8

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Texas Environmental Almanac, Chapter 1, Water Quantity, Page 8

DO WE REALLY NEED MORE RESERVOIRS?
Do we really need more reservoirs? A look at the decision-making process for two proposed reservoirs in Northeast Texas shows that the answer to this question depends on the assumptions about demand and relative priority a community gives to meeting that demand with newly developed supplies. Little Cypress Reservoir, proposed in the 1984 and 1990 Texas Water Plans, was intended to augment existing water supplies for the cities of Kilgore, Marshall, Shreveport, Louisiana and, mainly, Longview. Another project, Waters Bluff Reservoir, supported by the Sabine River Authority, was intended to meet future demands in the Upper Sabine Basin. Both proposals met fierce opposition from local and state environmental groups. The Water Bluffs Reservoir was controversial because in 1986 the Little Sandy Hunting and Fishing Club donated more than 3,800 acres of bottomland hardwood forest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the form of a Conservation Easement. Construction of the Waters Bluff Reservoir would flood 40,000 acres of Sabine River bottomlands, including the Little Sandy easement.(68) However, a Federal District Court in Texarkana upheld the Little Sandy environmental easement, and an appeal of the decision also failed, preventing development of the Water Bluffs Reservoir. About 15 miles upstream of Caddo Lake - Texas' only natural lake - the proposed Little Cypress Reservoir would flood approximately 14,000 acres of prime bottomland hardwood forest and agricultural land. The reservoir would also affect habitats downstream by changing the flow of Little Cypress Creek and ultimately, Caddo Lake. The reservoir was supported by both the Little Cypress Utility District and the Texas Water Development Board, since it would provide a sustainable yield of 129,000 acre-feet of water to cities in the area. However, voters in parts of Gregg and Harrison Counties rejected a major increase in their property taxes to help pay for the proposed reservoir, which has estimated capital costs of $300 million. While the 1990 Water Plan and 1992 update to the plan both make a case for further development in the area, local environmental groups like the Little Sandy Fishing and Hunting Club argued that Texas Water Development Board projections overemphasized future demands and ignored other available supply options, such as additional water from the Sabine River. Some of the cities that had initially planned to participate in the Little Cypress Reservoir development, like Kilgore, have since purchased water from the Sabine River Authority to meet future needs.(72) Also, actual water use in Gregg and Harrison counties totalled 122,000 acre-feet in 1990, far below previous Texas Water Development Board projections.(73) In February, 1993, the Little Cypress Utility District withdrew its application for a permit to construct a reservoir.

DO WE REALLY NEED MORE RESERVOIRS?

Do we really need more reservoirs? A look at the decision-making process for two proposed reservoirs in Northeast Texas shows that the answer to this question depends on the assumptions about demand and relative priority a community gives to meeting that demand with newly developed supplies.

Little Cypress Reservoir, proposed in the 1984 and 1990 Texas Water Plans, was intended to augment existing water supplies for the cities of Kilgore, Marshall, Shreveport, Louisiana and, mainly, Longview. Another project, Waters Bluff Reservoir, supported by the Sabine River Authority, was intended to meet future demands in the Upper Sabine Basin. Both proposals met fierce opposition from local and state environmental groups.

The Water Bluffs Reservoir was controversial because in 1986 the Little Sandy Hunting and Fishing Club donated more than 3,800 acres of bottomland hardwood forest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the form of a Conservation Easement. Construction of the Waters Bluff Reservoir would flood 40,000 acres of Sabine River bottomlands, including the Little Sandy easement.(68) However, a Federal District Court in Texarkana upheld the Little Sandy environmental easement, and an appeal of the decision also failed, preventing development of the Water Bluffs Reservoir.

About 15 miles upstream of Caddo Lake - Texas' only natural lake - the proposed Little Cypress Reservoir would flood approximately 14,000 acres of prime bottomland hardwood forest and agricultural land. The reservoir would also affect habitats downstream by changing the flow of Little Cypress Creek and ultimately, Caddo Lake. The reservoir was supported by both the Little Cypress Utility District and the Texas Water Development Board, since it would provide a sustainable yield of 129,000 acre-feet of water to cities in the area. However, voters in parts of Gregg and Harrison Counties rejected a major increase in their property taxes to help pay for the proposed reservoir, which has estimated capital costs of $300 million.

While the 1990 Water Plan and 1992 update to the plan both make a case for further development in the area, local environmental groups like the Little Sandy Fishing and Hunting Club argued that Texas Water Development Board projections overemphasized future demands and ignored other available supply options, such as additional water from the Sabine River. Some of the cities that had initially planned to participate in the Little Cypress Reservoir development, like Kilgore, have since purchased water from the Sabine River Authority to meet future needs.(72) Also, actual water use in Gregg and Harrison counties totalled 122,000 acre-feet in 1990, far below previous Texas Water Development Board projections.(73) In February, 1993, the Little Cypress Utility District withdrew its application for a permit to construct a reservoir.

ALTERNATIVE WATER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

What are the alternatives to traditional supply-side water development projects like reservoirs and conveyance systems?(74)

Demand-based Strategies

Water conservation. Conserving water by consuming less, wasting less or reusing some water helps reduce current costs, preserves future supplies and postpones or eliminates the need for expensive new developments. A modest conservation program that reduces municipal water demand by 15 percent would save $25 billion over the next 50 years.(75)
Waste prevention. By state law, when water is not applied to a specific beneficial use, it is a violation of the right to use the water. Waste is not a beneficial use. Assuring that faulty sprinkler heads, broken or leaky pipes or the over-application of irrigation water does not result in waste could be a part of the state's permitting process, or alternatively, could be encouraged through various incentives.
Cancellation of water rights. Water rights that are not being used or not being used in a "beneficial" way can be cancelled by the state and set aside for environmental use or for future demand. For example, a city which had set aside large amounts of water based upon future growth might have that right cancelled based upon its "wasteful" non-use of water. It is difficult to estimate how much water is available through the cancellation of water rights, since it has never been done in Texas. Inevitably, cancellation would likely be a time-consuming and costly process, involving extensive legal action.
Water Transactions and Banking. Water rights can be traded, sold or leased in Texas, though the state imposes limits on the free transfer and marketing of these rights. Water transactions have occurred in several recent water right amendment hearings before the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. In 1993, the Legislature charged the Texas Water Development Board with creating a "Water Bank" to facilitate the transfer of water between water right holders. Water right holders may "deposit" water rights into the Bank. The Texas Water Development Board can then help negotiate prices between the purchaser and depositor; maintain a clearinghouse of depositors and those needing supplies; encourage water right holders to implement water conservation practices by depositing the conserved water in the bank; and sell, buy and hold water rights itself. The Texas Water Development Board is currently developing rules to implement the Water Bank. Although the Texas Water Development Board must coordinate with both the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and Texas Parks and Wildlife, concerns have been raised about how impacts to the environment would be addressed by the bank and about the possible speculation by private entities who do not actually use the rights.

Non-traditional Supply Strategies

Conjunctive Use of Groundwater and Surface Water. One conjunctive use alternative involves injecting excess surface water into an aquifer for storage and subsequently withdrawing it during times of insufficient surface flows. The city of El Paso is currently injecting up to 10,000 acre-feet of highly treated effluent per year into the Hueco Bolson Aquifer for use in times of drought. The recharging of water prevents loss through evaporation and also avoids the environmental impacts associated with the construction of surface reservoirs. However, in some situations, it may not be desirable because it reduces wastewater return flows to rivers or streams.
Interbasin Transfer. Water rights may be transferred from one river basin to another, to help areas with high demand meet their supply needs.
Desalination. Desalination is the treatment of seawater or brackish groundwater by desalting the water and making it into fresh water. In 1992, there were 89 desalting plants in Texas, mainly for industrial use.(76) Desalting of saltwater is one recommended solution to meet the needs of coastal cities like Corpus Christi, while cities in the Lower Rio Grande Valley are considering desalting saline groundwater for industrial and municipal uses.

Texas Environmental Almanac, Chapter 1, Water Quantity, Page 8

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