Consider and take appropriate action to approve the submission of a comment letter to the LCRA regarding their 2032 Water Management Plan. (Judge Brown & Commissioner Shea)

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) manages Lakes Travis and Buchanan under a state-approved Water Management Plan that governs operation of the Highland Lakes system to supply water to users throughout the lower Colorado River basin. During drought conditions, the plan requires LCRA to curtail or suspend interruptible stored water releases in order to ensure that firm water supplies remain available to meet the essential needs of cities, businesses, and industries, while also providing water to support environmental flows to the lower Colorado River and Matagorda Bay.<br id="isPasted"> <br>The plan establishes three sets of operating conditions that determine the availability of interruptible stored water, which is primarily used by agricultural customers in Colorado, Wharton, and Matagorda counties, and sets two annual determination dates (March 1 and July 1) for first and second crop allocations. The Water Management Plan is required by a 1988 court order resolving water rights in the Highland Lakes and lower Colorado River basin and has been approved and updated by the state multiple times since 1989, most recently in 2020.<br> <br>In 2025, LCRA initiated the required update of the Water Management Plan under the oversight of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). As part of this process, LCRA has engaged customers and other interested stakeholders, with related materials posted on the LCRA website. LCRA is accepting public comments on the proposed update through Tuesday, February 3, and plans to submit the updated plan to TCEQ for approval in 2026.<br> <br>The comment letter outlines issues and opportunities identified by Travis County Water Resource Protection staff, in collaboration with other local experts, for consideration of the LCRA for inclusion in their 2032 Water Management Plan.