Texas Water Matters


	Find Your Water Planning Region Region A Region B Region C Region D Region E Region F Region G Region H Region I Region J Region K Region L Region M Region N Region O Region P

Region H

2010 Initially Prepared Plan Information

Read the Initially Prepared Plan: http://regionhwater.org/downloads/planningdocs.html

Summary of the plan, prepared by the planning group: http://regionhwater.org/meetings/documents/20100407-Public_Hearing-Lone_Star_000.pdf

Comment Deadline: 5:00 PM June 8, 2010

Submit Comments:
Hon. Mark Evans
Chair, Region H Water Planning Group
c/o San Jacinto River Authority
P.O. Box 329
Conroe, TX 77305-0329

2005 Regional Water Plan Review

The following general review is based on the 2005 Initially Prepared Regional Water Plan (IPP).

Regional Facts

Major Cities	Houston, Galveston, Brazoria, Texas City
Population: 2000	4,848,918
Population: 2060	10,897,526
Total Water Use: 2000	2,087,409 Acre-Feet
Total Water Use: 2060	3,412,457 Acre-Feet
Primary Rivers	San Jacinto, Trinity, Brazos, Neches-Trinity, Trinity-San Jacinto, San Jacinto-Brazos
Major Aquifers	Gulf Coast, Carrizo-Wilcox
Annual Precipitation	40-60 Inches
Net Evaporation	16-28 Inches

Basic Plan Facts

Population in this planning area is projected to more than double from 2000 to 2060
Total capital cost of proposed water supply measures: Not available
One new major reservoir proposed in the region: Allen's Creek Reservoir which would inundate approximately 7,000 acres of land. Two additional reservoirs are included in the plan as "alternative water management strategies": Bedias Reservoir, and the on-channel Little River Reservoir which would be located outside the region in Milam County.

What's at Issue?

For a number of reasons, this region provides an example of tentative steps in the right direction. First, it was one of only a handful of regions that incorporated advanced conservation measures into their planning efforts. Despite this focus, there is still more room for conservation related efforts that should be associated with recommended interbasin transfers and during the potential conversion of irrigation water to meet municipal needs. Secondly, Region H is one of the only a few regions to designate stream segments with "unique ecological value." While seemingly a bold step for the protection of the region's natural resources, the designations seem to only include those segments that would not be adversely affected by proposed strategies. Lastly, this region was one of only a few to include serious discussions of the need for freshwater inflows into the bays and the only one that included actual proposed inflow amounts. The discussion included an overview of the necessary inflows for the Galveston Bay System. Unfortunately, the plan fell short when it came to evaluating proposed water supply strategies for effects on environmental water needs.

Action Items

Here are some of the items the Region H Planning Group must address.

Conservation and Drought Management
For conservation and drought management, the plan needs to...

Include conservation water management strategies for all recommended interbasin transfers.
Include drought management as a water management strategy. Each water user group with a shortage should use a drought management strategy derived from its drought management plan as a way to meet their water needs. The regional plans in the state are based on a drought of record and it only makes sense that drought management should play a large role in planning to meet the region's water needs during that drought period.

Environmental Flows
To secure the protection of flows for fish and wildlife, the plan needs to...

Evaluate proposed water supply strategies for affects on environmental flows. The plan recommends water management strategies that would result in the destruction of bottomland hardwoods, wetlands, and other important wildlife habitat and fails to consider the potential implications on oyster beds and productivity in the Galveston Bay system.
Reassess potential "unique stream segments" recommended by the TPWD for designation. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends 27 segments for designation in this region, while the regional plan only proposes six.

Wildlife Habitat and Farmland Protection
To avoid destroying valuable wildlife habitat and productive farmland, the plan needs to...

Avoid recommending construction of unnecessary reservoirs. While the group withdrew its recommendations to construct the on-channel Little River Reservoir and the Bedias Reservoir, they are still included in the plan as "alternative water management strategies."

Online Resources

Regional water plan documents can be located on the TWDB website.


		Region H was the only region to designate "unique stream segments" in their 2001 regional plan.


		Contact the Regional Group Member who represents your interest. Contact Your Group Member Attend a Region H group meeting. Times and locations are posted on the TWDB website. Attend a Region H Meeting Here are just a few things you can do.


		Conroe mayor proposes countywide 1-cent sales tax to fund surface-water plans Conroe Courier, 6/9/09 Read Article Water district hopes to set new rules for water usage Houston Chronicle, 9/10/2008 Read Article Water district to start conservation campaign Houston Chronicle, 4/08/2008 Read Article Climate Change Threatens Drinking Water, As Rising Sea Penetrates Coastal Aquifers ScienceDaily, 11/07/2007 Read Article That Sinking Feeling Texas Observer, 11/02/2007 Read Article Water Supplies At Issue As New Project Starts Tyler Paper, 10/30/2007 Read Article Dams on the Side Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, July 2007 Read Article Groundwater management group holds quarterly meeting The Courier, 8/23/2006 Read Article Montgomery County considers new sources for water, Houston Chronicle American-Statesman, 7/5/2006 Read Article Region H - Notice of Public Hearings for the Initially Prepared Regional Water Plan 6/2005 Read Article Groups want state to save water, thefacts.com The Bay City Tribune, 1/20/2005 Read Article County seeks freshwater protection for the bay The Daily News, 11/02/2004 Read Article Texas Bays and Wildlife Are at Risk: National Wildlife Federation Report Highlights Need for Changes in State Water Policy For Immediate Release: October 20, 2004 Read Press Release Drought continues but recent downpours have helped lake levels Big Spring Herald, 08/05/2004 Read Article