The Delta Region Water Management Project Team is currently looking at several potential project sites that will capture and/or re-direct surface water runoff to existing or proposed facilities. These facilities will store and distribute water while providing:
- Flood Protection
- Opportunities for Educational Outreach
- Prospects for Economic Development
- Environmentally responsible solutions to meeting future water needs
We have received notice from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that the project involves non-jurisdictional waters.
The Delta Region Water Management Project Team is pursuing a state water right for the Project and has met with TCEQ to discuss the project and determine what issues might be of concern to TCEQ. Several Issues were identified including: inclusion of the project in the 2011 Region M Water Plan/2012 State Water Plan and determination of the amount of water available.
The Team is currently evaluating how much water will be available using TCEQ’s Water Availability Model (WAM). The team has a meeting with TCEQ on May 2, 2014 to discuss the WAM and how we make it work for the project. Once the WAM variables have been determined, the team will file a water rights application with TCEQ for a permanent water right to divert, store, and use state water from the Rio Grande-Nueces Costal Basin for irrigation, industrial, and municipal purposes.
The Team is also evaluating the use of reservoirs of other entities to store water from the Project. Under state law, you must have consent of the reservoir owner to store water in the reservoir. The team has been working with several irrigation districts regarding the use of their reservoirs. The team has prepared Memorandum of Understanding for each entity whereby HCDD#1 and Irrigation district agree that HCDD#1 may file an application with TCEQ that includes the Irrigation district’s reservoir as a storage facility. Currently the team has received signed MOU’s from Delta Irrigation and Engleman Irrigation.
We are currently collecting water samples from 13 sites. These water samples are being collected on a quarterly basis and analyzed for various drinking water constraints. We are evaluating the salinity of the water in the drainage system versus the salinity of the water currently being collected by the Irrigation Districts at the Rio Grande River. Water quality samples of the 13 sites have not been completed in the same month. In May, we will test all sites for comparison. From the tests collected to date the water quality in the drainage ditches fluctuate regularly. The drainage ditches waters have been evaluated using the Agrilife Extension Irrigation Water Quality Standards and Salinity Management Strategies. In August the drainage ditches Total Dissolved Solids placed the waters being Class 2 (Good), Class 3 (Permissible), and Class 4 (Doubtful) waters. In January the same drainage ditches all had Total Dissolved Solids that placed them in Class 5 (Unsuitable) waters category. We are also looking at the Chloride level within the water. In August the five drainage ditches waters had Chloride concentrations between 61.7-341 ppm. These values are below the maximum chloride concentration without loss in yield. In January the same five drainage ditches had concentrations between 729-1260ppm. These values exceed the maximum chloride concentration for some crops that are grown in the region (Example sugarcane 525 ppm). We are looking into possible treatment/blending methods that will allow us to normalize the dissolved solids and salinity values.
A Geotechnical Report was completed for the proposed La Villa Reservoir. Two piezometers were installed and groundwater measurements are currently being taken once a month to monitor groundwater level. The report indicates existing clay materials are suitable for construction of a proposed below existing ground reservoir.
We have developed a GIS web application for this project. Layers include: Irrigation and Drainage Districts, watershed, canal and ditch data. Also included are aerial, county road, ROW, and ownership information. The study area and proposed reservoirs can also be found. The site is secured by username and password. The GIS application includes links to the water quality analysis reports. A more user friendly application has also been created that can be accessed without a username and password.
A project website has been created that includes a project description, describes some of the process involved with the water management project and lists the goals and objectives. Linked from the website users can find maps that have been created for this project. The website has pictures and slide shows that show the floodway and drainage channels as well as educational literature regarding water quality and watersheds. Links to various water authorities are on the home page. Lastly, there is a contact page where constituents can provide comment that are directed to the project inbox.
Demonstration Project
The team has also evaluated various options for a demonstration project, which would also require a state water right. Two options are available to the HCDD1 to obtain water rights on a short-term basis (and more quickly than a permanent water right) for this project. Because Engleman Irrigation District has an existing water right which allows for the diversion of water from the drain, HCDD1 could develop a demonstration project using Engleman’s reservoir and water right. However, the water right diversion amount may be too small for the District’s purposes. The District could also obtain a temporary permit. TCEQ can issue temporary permits with a term of less than one year for 10 acre feet or less without notice and hearing. This type of temporary permit may not be sufficient for the demonstration project. For temporary permits for more than 10 acre feet of water, the permit application undergoes a more extensive review at the TCEQ and is subject to notice and a possible hearing. This type of temporary permit is available for up to 3 years. The team is currently evaluating which of these options is best.
