LCRA board sets separate Upper and Lower Basin reserves: 10,000 and 20,000 acre‑feet
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Summary
The LCRA board approved staff's recommendation to maintain a 10,000 acre‑foot Upper Basin board reserve and add a 20,000 acre‑foot Lower Basin reserve, while discussing the proposal's flexibility and staff reporting practices.
The Lower Colorado River Authority board adopted a bifurcated board reserve for firm water Nov. 12, approving staff’s recommendation to keep a 10,000 acre‑foot reserve in the Upper Basin and add a 20,000 acre‑foot reserve in the Lower Basin.
"Our recommendation today is for us to maintain the 10,000 acre feet in the Upper Basin and add 20,000 acre feet in the Lower Basin," Monica Masters, a staff presenter, told the board. Masters said staff will continue to track usage against each reserve as contracts come in.
Director Curtis said he wanted additional due diligence and suggested the board consider raising the Upper Basin reserve to about 12,500 or 15,000 acre‑feet before finalizing a figure. Staff responded that the reserve functions principally as a benchmark and does not legally prevent the board from approving contracts; the board retains discretion to draw on reserves.
Staff provided availability figures to frame the decision: about 37,000 acre‑feet in the Upper Basin and about 66,600 acre‑feet in the Lower Basin, according to staff comments. The board also clarified that contracts above roughly 1,000 acre‑feet require board approval, while smaller contracts are handled by staff with monthly reporting to the board.
After the discussion, a director moved to approve the staff recommendation; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff and directors emphasized the reserve may be adjusted in the future and that the action is intended to provide better visibility into basin‑specific commitments.