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Atascosa County backs Nueces River Authority's Harbor Island desalination plan
Summary
Atascosa County Commissioners voted to support the Nueces River Authority's Harbor Island seawater desalination project for the 89th Texas Legislature after a presentation outlining regional drought impacts and projected water deficits.
Atascosa County's commissioners on Nov. 25 voted to adopt a resolution supporting the Nueces River Authority's proposed Harbor Island seawater desalination project and related legislative efforts.
John Baum, executive director of the Nueces River Authority, presented the proposal and warned of an ongoing regional drought that has left local reservoirs far below normal levels. "We are proposing to build at least a 50 MGD plant on Harbor Island," Baum said, adding that current regional shortfalls amount to "about 235,000,000 gallons a day short of water supply" for present needs and that demand could grow to roughly 402,000,000 gallons per day by 2070. He also described larger proposals in the legislature for a 450 MGD plant tied to long-distance transmission lines.
The resolution read into the record notes the Authority's statutory history, the region's projected deficits, and the Authority's role in regional water planning. Commissioners asked whether the project would create county liabilities or cause local well impacts; Baum responded he did not foresee direct costs to the county and said the design calls for deep-water intakes and deep-water brine discharge to reduce environmental risk and to help stabilize surface and groundwater supplies.
Commissioner Gillespie moved to approve the resolution and Commissioner Riley seconded. The court approved the resolution by voice vote.
Why it matters: The endorsement signals local political support for a project the Authority says could provide large-scale, drought-resilient water supplies for South Texas. The resolution itself does not authorize funding or construction; it expresses Atascosa County's support for the Authority's efforts and for related legislative measures.
What comes next: The resolution will be signed and provided to the Authority; any construction, financing or permitting would require later approvals, intergovernmental agreements and, if pursued, legislative or funding actions outside the county's authority.
