People from across the Lower Colorado River Authority service area gathered Monday at LCRA’s Southeast Austin service center to discuss the preliminary version of its 90-year Water Supply Resource Plan.
LCRA developed the plan from intense study and public input from 2008 and has put the plan up for public discussion at three public meetings, the last of which was held Monday.
“It’s been a very meaningful process for us here,” said James Kowis of the LCRA Water Supply Planning department.
Attendees discussed the three strategies LCRA has put forward for public input. The first strategy simply has LCRA maximizing its existing water rights. It is LCRA’s least expensive option, costing about $3 to $5 million, but the strategy does not allow the authority to meet firm (municipal and industrial) water needs up until the end of the 90-year planning period.
The second strategy utilizes the existing water rights, but adds significant additional conservation efforts. The strategy would cost between $225 and $525 million over 40 years, depending on the specific approach taken. Strategy two would, unlike strategy one, meet projected firm water demands until 2100.
The third strategy incorporates strategies one and two along with building new supplies. There are several options when it comes to building new supplies, including off-channel reservoirs, desalination, aquifer storage and recovery, and groundwater importation. These options could range in cost from $721 million and $1.6 billion. This strategy would meet projected demands until 2100.
There are many differences between the different building options, such as how long the implementation would keep agricultural water shortages at bay. LCRA spokespeople all said the agency was open to mixing and matching strategies to find the best mix. LCRA General Manager Tom Mason said LCRA is committed to finding the best plan to adopt.
“It’s going to pay long-term dividends not just for all of us in this room, but for generations to come,” he said.
To give input on the Water Supply Resource Plan, fill out a survey online before March 19 at www.lcra.org/watersupply.