Water Rights & Wrongs

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) projects that North Texas population and water demands will rise significantly between 2010 and 2060. During this period, TWDB calculates the North Texas population will increase approximately 98 percent and water demand 87 percent. Based on existing water supplies and unmitigated future demands, TWDB forecasts a water deficit of almost 2 million acre-feet by 2060. In an effort to avert an impending crisis, TWDB identifies a number of water management strategies that produce an additional 2.8 million acre-feet with a total capital cost of $13,405,196,095.

The selected water management strategies include (1) connection of Lake Fork Reservoir for Dallas water utilities adding 120,000 acre-feet by 2010; (2) an East Fork Reuse Project for the North Texas Municipal Water District adding 102,00 acre-feet by 2010; (3) a Tarrant Regional Water District Third Pipeline and Reuse for the Tarrant Regional Water District adding 188,765 acre-feet by 2010; (4) a Lower Bois d' Arc Creek Reservoir for the North Texas Municipal Water District adding 123,000 acre-feet by 2020; (5) a Marvin Nichols Reservoir for the North Texas Municipal Water District, Tarrant Regional Water District, and the Upper Trinity Regional Water District adding 489,000 acre-feet by 2030; (6) conversion of Wright Patman Lake flood storage to conservation storage for Dallas adding 112,000 acre-feet by 2040; (7) a Toledo Bend Reservoir strategy for the North Texas Municipal Water District and Tarrant Regional Water District adding 200,000 acre-feet by 2050; (8) a Lake Fastrill for Dallas adding 112,000 acre-feet by 2050; (9) increasing the conservation elevation of Lake Kemp and providing for a seasonal conservation pool for Archer, Clay, Wichita, and Wilbarger counties adding 21,950 acre-feet by 2010; (10) a Chloride Control Project strategy for Archer, Clay, Wichita, and Wilbarger counties adding 26,500 acre-feet by 2010; (11) direct reuse projects for the cities of Wichita Falls and Bowie adding 11,134 acre-feet by 2020; (12) and lining of irrigation canals operated by the Wichita County Water Improvement District No. 2 adding 14,607 acre-feet by 2040.

Combined, these water management strategies represent a comprehensive regional approach to solving future water supply shortages in North Texas. Yet despite an apparent path away from looming crisis, political wrangling over control of resources could derail efforts. In the upcoming legislative session, state regional water planning districts will be fighting water rich municipalities for more control over water resources. It is a case of regional planning versus city water rights. Essentially, Texas lawmakers will have to determine whether municipal water rights have precedence over regional viability. In light of a projected 2 million acre-feet water deficit, it is likely the Legislature will lean more toward supporting regional planning.