[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6620504,"mediaKeyId","2809088-9ee84f229752f20b5b8afeb4e045720f","parentId",2809088,"title","Central Texas Water Coalition urges LCRA to require outside users to follow Highland Lakes drought rules","audioSeconds",288,"startMs",37671,"endMs",326543,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809088-9ee84f229752f20b5b8afeb4e045720f&start=37&end=326","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809088-9ee84f229752f20b5b8afeb4e045720f/thumbnail_37671.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6620504/Texas/Central-Texas-Water-Coalition-urges-LCRA-to-require-outside-users-to-follow-Highland-Lakes-drought-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620504-5b9167de4ca7a058005f38e2cf8f4844/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110053&Signature=OQbZciu-tZl2MtILBVzGC7Siof9JUrSEgWlvtOB3Bbx9cNdtVuikXF0aeEsQn0vCSEHT0pgXPIn2iJP47qxjs3R9zQAXmXocufu6Klj12I6cam6JCv8A8SExws9oHN6wdMwOs-Qe914-uA-B7PuYP5ozBI8vP-l0FqfRdzCaNjPLJhPOszqbVQcYO9qKCTq0AbNSV9Z~MV8IBGnFeLVhxp2wum0jtONHA68ggzxdV50z-r5NBG1ZOuT-lOxnNSOAc-YbP0IVhYJeVjDH6yNfnH0B3m31P3fW4vgENWGnZpzHC6C4~qLXXdAU~R~HkMg7e-x-JDGJURYCN5-6PNSZ5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)","date","2025-03-28T14:09:34.457Z","article","Shannon Hamilton, executive director of the Central Texas Water Coalition, told the Lower Colorado River Authority board on March 26 that recent social-media posts about pipeline construction in Brushy Creek have renewed concern among Highland Lakes residents about transfers of water out of the basin to cities such as Round Rock, Leander and Georgetown.

Hamilton said the transfers are governed by laws enacted years earlier—she referred specifically to House Bill 1437—and asked the LCRA to use its authority to ensure cities that obtain water from the Highland Lakes follow the same drought-contingency plans and water‑conservation practices required of basin residents. \"How do we ask our residents to continue to conserve when others outside of our basin aren't?\" she said during the public‑comment portion of the meeting.

Hamilton told the board she has fielded calls, emails and interview requests after photos of pipelines in Brushy Creek circulated online. She said she also testified on behalf of the city of Georgetown at a recent House hearing about local watering rules, which Georgetown officials described as allowing residents to avoid fines for temporarily brown lawns. At that hearing, Hamilton said, Georgetown staff reported the city was returning toward twice‑a‑week outdoor watering, a trend she described as \"alarming\" for Highland Lakes residents who expect water supplies to be managed conservatively.

The board did not take a formal vote in response to Hamilton's remarks during the meeting. Hamilton recommended that LCRA require that \"all cities that are benefiting from water from our lakes follow the same drought contingency plans and water conservation practices and that they are at least as stringent as all of our residents are following.\" The transcript records her request and the board's acknowledgement but contains no subsequent motion or directive recorded in open session.

Hamilton's comments referred to state law and to local drought planning; the transcript records no board debate or action on the subject during the open portion of the meeting. The comment was made during the public‑comment period on March 26 and was recorded in the meeting minutes for the LCRA board.

The board moved next to other agenda items, including a staff basin‑conditions update and several contract approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","LCRA Board meeting March 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Shannon Hamilton, executive director of the Central Texas Water Coalition, told the Lower Colorado River Authority board on March 26 that recent social‑media posts about pipelines in Brushy Creek renewed concern about transfers of Highland Lakes water to growing cities and urged LCRA to require receiving cities to follow equivalent drought and conservation rules.","taxTitle","Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), Departments and Agencies, Executive, Texas","taxId",17433,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6620496,"LCRA board authorizes roughly $2.3 billion in contracts and contract increases for transmission, construction and equipment",450,1737600,2188065,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809088-9ee84f229752f20b5b8afeb4e045720f&start=1737&end=2188","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809088-9ee84f229752f20b5b8afeb4e045720f/thumbnail_1737600.jpg","/articles/6620496/Texas/LCRA-board-authorizes-roughly-23-billion-in-contracts-and-contract-increases-for-transmission-construction-and-equipment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620496-d56090c4508434ab6176ad8e8027140f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110052&Signature=QKfx8NBp0yUuEVPv--J1m8HMESXnxNIZ5F-wGHJs7HMYulCcRJq-JuodD8PcNPNXWaMK86AiJUpZrskqyd~UHoXS2Z6XnAZgbiGT2LO-lEL-JhFrWJKyRGnVjVUC7ObPqLOcSxgFC2~y6QIWf4Trgu03LNrnYwK8hhDi6MfQEkS-mDmU~GW6U519Vu3eoJTulKUpzmT4pZhfWndcGcJFuRhRTxRvZmPk9QSyQQoXMKhty-LTnD06mhJxdyo7AGKzkk3fyyHavyOwoELPL7oJS2r5g1VlejvsEeodldGqR1KU4LdgOanBpNicAQQFLJTX5c6JnnOGYpNOYpyMuM-NAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lower Colorado River Authority board on March 26 authorized the general manager’s designee to negotiate and execute nine contract awards and contract changes covering transmission and substation construction, an office building and equipment and services purchases.

Supply‑chain staff (presented by Mr. Chavez) said the authority conducted a competitive process for transmission line and substation construction services and selected Irby Construction, Power & Standard, Sabre Power and Burns & McDonnell as awardees. Staff said the aggregate not‑to‑exceed value across those four contracts is $2,000,000,000. The board also approved an award to LACK Reed Construction Company for a new 40,000‑square‑foot multi‑use office building at the Service Center with a not‑to‑exceed value of $25,000,000.

The board approved four contract changes requested by staff:

• An additional $90,000,000 for a steel‑lattice tower contract (bringing that contract’s total not‑to‑exceed value to $130,000,000);

• An additional $200,000,000 for a Hyundai Electric contract for power and autotransformers and an extension of the contract term (bringing the Hyundai total to $320,000,000);

• An additional $13,000,000 for Tesco (telecommunications equipment) to bring that contract to a $20,000,000 total; and

• An additional $10,000,000 for McGriff Insurance Services (property and casualty insurance brokerage) to bring that contract to a $44,000,000 total.

During discussion Director Cooper and others commented on supply constraints and the value of diversifying the vendor pool. Board members noted that the authority is spending at a high capital level—presenters and directors characterized the transmission program as the authority’s largest category of capital spend in recent years.

A board member moved and a second was recorded; the motion to authorize the general manager’s designee to negotiate and execute the described contracts and contract changes was approved in open session after trustees indicated assent. The transcript records “All in favor, say aye” and the chair declared the motion carried. No roll‑call vote with individual board member votes appears in the transcript.

Ending: Board recessed for lunch and moved into executive session after approving the contracts.","The LCRA board on March 26 authorized staff to finalize nine contract awards and contract changes, including four major transmission/substation construction contracts with an aggregate not‑to‑exceed value of $2 billion and multiple contract increases for towers, transformers, telecommunications and insurance.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6620500,"LCRA: Highland Lakes drier than last year; Arbuckle reservoir full and may be dispatched this summer",913,608055,1521200,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809088-9ee84f229752f20b5b8afeb4e045720f&start=608&end=1521","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809088-9ee84f229752f20b5b8afeb4e045720f/thumbnail_608055.jpg","/articles/6620500/Texas/LCRA-Highland-Lakes-drier-than-last-year-Arbuckle-reservoir-full-and-may-be-dispatched-this-summer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620500-b92d6b3b8103955647a12c101014ba05/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110052&Signature=hdf9n2BbLNA~BEU6ebEQu2K6qy7TLlLN0x45DXQ7EG1njmnjIBEbTWMXIvJ16~sCDPwDLRUkgfXCK26Y291xqZs92Rcav1pqwuC0V2EqNt0WUgnafZ-wXC0IWeQj6Mnn-0FPB9nhyAxDKjL8jsd5ELqmEppZEpeYl9~TQ8ytc6VyFoW~hnc9SLMHa~WfYVgD3EPvFq6vvbRiG4jYfd75F3S8brJcCZWZh4OIz8XApVzKBumKV6sFslOx~UaIbM69sNyvuwCSyesJNQoaekrPiE53q1qw4AYj-cPkTIHBm1zgRkGvXaFG96dtMlh7qRgrdGA3K~4DiBkVtn9rxAVZ4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kelly (LCRA staff) told the board on March 26 that drought conditions across Texas have worsened compared with 2024 and that the entirety of the LCRA basin is experiencing at least some level of dryness or drought.

Kelly reported that about 85% of Texas was in some level of drought as of the most recent monitor, with 13.7% of the state in \"exceptional drought,\" concentrated near the Austin–San Antonio area. For the LCRA basin, February inflow was a little over 8,000 acre‑feet, about 10.6% of the long‑term average for February. Combined storage in Lakes Buchanan and Travis was roughly 1,010,000 acre‑feet on March 1 and measured about 983,278 acre‑feet the morning of the meeting.

Because combined storage was below 1,300,000 acre‑feet on March 1, staff reported that \"interruptible stored water\" will not be available for the 2025 season for Gulf Coast, Lakeside and Pierce Ranch irrigation customers. Under the water‑management plan guidelines, Garwood retains its senior water right but staff said Garwood will be limited to 18,100 acre‑feet of interruptible stored water this year. Kelly said the LCRA has entered stage 2 of its drought‑contingency plan based on the inflows test and that firm customers were notified; the primary practical effect staff cited is a return to once‑a‑week outdoor watering for customers subject to the stage 2 requirements.

Kelly also reported that Arbuckle reservoir reached full pool at the end of February and is undergoing instrument testing while LCRA staff confirm performance. If tests confirm operational readiness, staff said Arbuckle could be used as part of the system as soon as this summer. Staff described Arbuckle as adding roughly 90,000 acre‑feet to the supply equation when viewed as part of the system of river flows, storage and water rights, while noting the reservoir physically holds a smaller amount and turns over multiple times per year. Staff said Arbuckle would allow quicker dispatch of water to lower‑basin industrial customers and provide additional flexibility for meeting environmental‑flow obligations without making distant releases from the Highland Lakes.

Projections presented at the meeting showed Lake Travis at 637.12 feet mean sea level on March 1 and 636.21 the morning of the meeting, with a range of future outcomes depending on spring rainfall; continued dry conditions could push levels into the low 630s by September, while above‑average rains could raise levels into the 650s. The Climate Prediction Center outlook at the time anticipated a shift toward ENSO neutral in April but forecast average to below‑normal precipitation for March–May and warmer‑than‑normal temperatures.

Board members asked questions about dispatch timing, throughput and how Arbuckle will be modeled in the water‑management plan update. Staff said the reservoir's modeled \"throughput\" assumed 90,000 acre‑feet available in the system; the physical storage number given in discussion was 40,000 acre‑feet with the reservoir turning over more than twice, producing system throughput near 90,000 acre‑feet in modeling scenarios.

No formal vote was required to report basin conditions. The board and staff discussed next steps for incorporating Arbuckle into the water‑management plan update and continuing testing.

Ending: Staff said they will continue instrument testing at Arbuckle and will include the reservoir in water‑management planning meetings that were scheduled to begin the next day.","LCRA staff reported worsening drought in the basin, low inflows and lower combined storage compared with a month earlier, moved to stage 2 of its drought contingency plan via the inflows test, and said Arbuckle reservoir has reached full pool and is being tested for possible dispatch to industrial customers this summer.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6620491,"LCRA board honors Carol Cowan on retirement after 25 years of service",389,215245,605010,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2809088-9ee84f229752f20b5b8afeb4e045720f&start=215&end=605","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2809088-9ee84f229752f20b5b8afeb4e045720f/thumbnail_215245.jpg","/articles/6620491/Texas/LCRA-board-honors-Carol-Cowan-on-retirement-after-25-years-of-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6620491-1509d5f46ebbd7f8bb6b87e4a6c2769b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110053&Signature=MG1w2iU7NXsM4Vfriu8wwGGS4bUwkWYVuYw1C2jLPCveJhB5-JR4okaKeUi3IJB0kV~qPYW9hzFquQ6gXwC7lU~pSH0t-uYi50EiuxhxEgreZgsMgzX9LECzx1p52llI0wY-7KCEy2W9MKM6NmUi4pF4JF6moKaLX7VHiWyrpeoUX3XT~B9yEctpLhxxteSJrJtHmJZFXJwc-WHOnqpQCTtwzCAIhRsKYIr7T~l3sqkZp8~KTxjJsh3QFJ37xIepGSsCNbWkEN5NdDeI2gWQsJxVR5ppMtSIbckYVReYHnhQAQB3v36aqrNiIIT7ODN3iwOr373rJ2D4gyuB5vwChQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lower Colorado River Authority board adopted a resolution on March 26 honoring Carol Cowan, a navigation and waterway management supervisor who retired in March 2025 after 25 years with LCRA.

The resolution recounted Cowan’s career at the authority, beginning in July 1999 as a lake‑patrol helper in environmental field services and including work in water‑service field operations and leadership roles in water‑service management. The text credited Cowan with developing hazard and navigation‑marking programs across the Highland Lakes, overseeing the installation of mile and channel markers and barrier float lines at dams and power‑plant cooling lakes, and increasing the number of navigation aids across the lakes.

Cowan spoke briefly and thanked the board and his colleagues. Cowan said he appreciated the organization’s focus on safety and the support of coworkers and noted plans to spend more time with family and volunteer activities in retirement.

The board approved the resolution in open session; the transcript records a motion, a second and the chair’s declaration that the motion carried. The resolution was read into the record and accepted by Cowan and members present.

Ending: Board members and staff thanked Cowan for his service and the meeting proceeded to the consent agenda.","The board adopted a resolution recognizing Carol Cowan’s 25 years with LCRA, citing his roles in navigation and waterway safety and his work installing navigation aids across the Highland Lakes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Central Texas Water Coalition urges LCRA to require outside users to follow Highland Lakes drought rules

LCRA board authorizes roughly $2.3 billion in contracts and contract increases for transmission, construction and equipment

LCRA: Highland Lakes drier than last year; Arbuckle reservoir full and may be dispatched this summer

LCRA board honors Carol Cowan on retirement after 25 years of service