LCRA updates water management plan for Highland Lakes to meet increased demand

The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Water Operations Committee met on June 18, 2025, to discuss critical updates to the water management plan that governs water supply for the region. A key focus of the meeting was the anticipated integration of the Arbuckle firm yield into the water supply equation, expected to be operational by the end of the year. This addition aims to enhance the water supply capabilities for both agricultural and environmental needs.

The committee provided an update on the ongoing water management plan process, which began in January 2025. This plan is essential for managing the water supply from Lakes Travis and Buchanan, ensuring that the needs of both firm customers and agricultural users are met while also protecting environmental flows to the Lower Colorado River and Matagorda Bay. The current plan, approved in February 2020, is being updated to reflect increasing firm customer demands projected through 2032.

The meeting highlighted that firm demands are expected to rise by approximately 19% by 2032, primarily driven by municipal and manufacturing needs. This increase necessitates adjustments to the supply of interruptible water available for agricultural use and environmental flows. The committee discussed the importance of maintaining a minimum combined storage level of 600,000 acre-feet in the lakes, as required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). However, initial modeling indicated that projected demands could drop storage levels below this threshold, prompting the need for strategic adjustments.

Several parameters were proposed to manage the supply of interruptible water more effectively during drought conditions. These include adjusting the maximum amount of interruptible water available, curtailing supplies at higher storage levels, and initiating drought conditions earlier. The committee also considered expanding the criteria for environmental flows to ensure that the ecological needs of the bay are met even during periods of low water availability.

In conclusion, the discussions at the LCRA meeting underscore the ongoing efforts to balance water supply demands with environmental stewardship in the face of increasing pressures on water resources. The updates to the water management plan are crucial for ensuring that the community's water needs are met sustainably, particularly as the region faces the challenges of climate variability and population growth. The LCRA is committed to keeping the public informed as these plans evolve and will continue to seek input from stakeholders throughout the process.