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Region C
2005 Regional Water Plan Overview
Regional Facts
Major Cities | Dallas, Fort Worth |
| Population: 2000 | 5,254,722 |
| Population: 2060 | 13,087,849 |
| Total Water Use: 2000 | 1,380,556 Acre-Feet |
| Total Water Use: 2060 | 3,311,217 Acre-Feet |
| Primary Rivers | Trinity, Red |
| Major Aquifers | Trinity |
| Annual Precipitation | 28-44 Inches |
| Net Evaporation | 24-44 Inches |
Basic Plan Facts
- Population in the 17-county area is projected to increase 250% between 2000 and 2060.
- Total capital cost of proposed water supply measures: Not available.
- Three new reservoirs are proposed for Region C: Lower Bois d'Arc Reservoir, Lake Ralph Hall, Marvin Nichols I, and Lake Fastrill. In addition, Marvin Nichols I, is proposed in Region D primarily to supply this region's projected needs.
What's at Issue?
Region C includes 12 of the 20 fastest-growing communities in Texas. This high rate of growth will put increasing pressure on the region's water sources. Another factor driving the high demands and projected needs for water resources is the region's projected high per capita use rates (some of the highest in the state). In addition, the plan currently proposes to supply 20% more than the projected 2060 demand (an excess of 810,000 Acre Feet.) To meet these inflated demands, four environmentally damaging and unnecessary reservoirs are proposed, for a cost of $4 billion.
Action Items
Here are some of the items the Region C Planning Group must address.
 Conservation and Drought Management
For conservation and drought management, the plan needs to...
- Recommend conservation measures as a management strategy to reduce high per capita use rates in the region. Region C has some of the highest municipal water use rates in the state. If the region focused on managing these demands, some of the most damaging proposed supply strategies, like the proposed Marvin Nichols I Reservoir in Region D, would not be needed.
- Include reasonably practicable conservation measures (required by law) for proposed 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...
- Include discussion of how current water development projects and existing permits affect environmental flows.
- Fully assess the incremental impacts of new projects, especially proposed reservoirs, on environmental flows.
- Consider the impacts of proposed strategies to springs in the region.
- Designate stream segments in the region that meet the criteria as having "unique ecological value". No segments were designated in the plan. In fact, the recommended Lower Bois D'Arc Reservoir would be constructed on a stream segment that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommended for protection. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends 10 segments for designation in this region.
Wildlife Habitat and Farmland Protection
To avoid destroying valuable wildlife habitat and productive farmland, the plan needs to...
- Avoid recommending construction of unnecessary reservoirs. With the implementation of better water efficiency and drought management measures, the projected supply would more than meet projected demands.
- Avoid the construction of the proposed Lake Fastrill. This reservoir is proposed for same reach as Upper Neches National Wildlife Refuge.
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Region C