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Region P - Lavaca

2001 Regional Water Plan Overview

Basic Plan Facts

Population growth is projected to be minimal between 2000 and 2050
Total capital cost of proposed water supply measures: $0
No new reservoirs proposed

What's at Issue?

Region P is the smallest of the planning regions. Its population and the water needs of the region are not expected to increase dramatically through 2050. The region intends to increase the development of their groundwater resources in order to meet the projected water needs. The current and projected groundwater withdrawal rates appear to be just slightly higher than the rate of recharge for the region's aquifer. If the region would incorporate conservation measures into their planning efforts instead of increasing withdrawal rates, Region P might be able to balance the water needs of the region with the region's available resources on a long-term basis.

Action Items

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

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

Assess current conservation levels.
Include conservation as a water management tool. Current and projected groundwater use appears to be just slightly above sustainable levels (see sidebar definition). If conservation measures are implemented, it's possible that withdrawal rates could be reduced to a level that would allow the aquifer to be recharged at a greater rate than it's depleted.
Identify drought triggers and develop a drought management plan.

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

Evaluate alternative water supply strategies for effects on environmental flows. In addition, the plan must discuss how these flows are affected by current projects and existing water permits. These include inflows to the Lavaca and portions of the Matagorda Bay systems, and instream flows in the region's rivers and streams.
Identify individual springs, the habitats associated with each, and include information on how short-term aquifer drawdown affects spring flows.
Designate stream segments in the region that meet the criteria as having "unique ecological value". No segments were designated in the 2001 regional plan. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends 5 segments for designation in this region.

Economics
To ensure that only the most economically sound water supply strategies are implemented, the plan needs to...

Compare the costs and benefits of the supply alternatives in a consistent and reasonable manner.

Additional Resources

The 2001 Region P Water Plan
TWDB Regional Water Planning Website

Analysis

The National Wildlife Federation analyzed the initially prepared plan using their Principles for an Environmentally Sound Regional Water Plan. Please contact us for more information about this analysis.