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City details Lake 7 reuse project; water-right permits secured, federal permitting next
Summary
City staff described Lake 7 as a reuse-fed reservoir included in the city's 100-year water plan; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality water-right permits are in hand and U.S. Army Corps 404 permitting is the next step.
City staff described Lake 7 as a key, long-term component of Lubbock’s 100-year water plan and said the lake will be replenished primarily with reused treated water, stormwater and industrial returns.
Wood Franklin (presenting on the city’s water plan) said Lake 7 — planned east of Loop 289 between the Loop and Buffalo Springs Lake — was added to the strategic water supply plan in February 2006. Franklin said the city received Texas Commission on Environmental Quality water-right permits in February 2024 and that an engineering contract was approved to begin the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 404 permitting process needed to impound water for the reservoir.
Why it matters: The project is intended to increase Lubbock’s water supply as the city grows. Franklin described Lake 7 as a reuse lake that will receive treated effluent from city treatment plants, stormwater from southwest Lubbock projects and industrial returns; he said Leprino will contribute significant flows and that the plant returns more water than it withdraws.
Key details - Permitting: TCEQ water-right permits received (Feb 2024), next step is U.S. Army Corps 404 permit to gain the right to impound water, city-approved engineering contract pending design and permitting work. - Sources of inflow: Treated wastewater from two treatment plants, stormwater investments in southwest Lubbock and industrial returns (including flows from Leprino). A presenter said Leprino’s return flow is “over a million gallons a day.” - Size and uses: City staff said Lake 7’s surface area will be about twice the combined surface area of Buffalo and Ransom lakes and will be included in parks planning with roughly 15 miles of bike and walking trails; the city also noted planned recreational access and proximity to the West Texas Veterans Cemetery under construction.
Statements and attribution - Wood Franklin presented the Lake 7 details, permitting status and inflow sources.
Context and next steps Franklin said securing the Corps 404 permit is the immediate next step; project timing for construction and impoundment will depend on completing federal permitting and final design work.
Ending City officials presented Lake 7 as a long-range supply and recreation project; no council vote on construction was recorded during the address.
