LCRA to study potential off‑channel reservoir on Colorado County land it already owns

LCRA announced Feb. 18 that it will begin a feasibility study to determine whether land it already owns in Colorado County is suitable for a new off‑channel reservoir intended to add water supplies for the Lower Colorado River Basin.

"We're exploring building yet another reservoir to increase water supplies for our fast growing region," Mr. Wilson told the Water Operations Committee. He said the Colorado County property spans about 1,988 acres (purchased in 2015 for $6,000,000) and that the potential new reservoir "could hold between 48,080 acre‑feet of water." Staff said the site sits near an existing river intake and pump station and could use an existing canal to move water into the OCR.

Monica Masters and staff described next steps: a site assessment, preliminary design, evaluation of seepage control (Black & Veatch is assisting), and a permitting program that will include the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Directors noted the project may also require amending one of LCRA's water rights to accommodate impoundment and storage components.

Staff cautioned that such projects typically cost billions and can take one to three decades to implement; permitting timelines and customer demand would strongly influence construction timing. If feasible, the reservoir would add supply options in the lower basin and reduce pressure on Lakes Travis and Buchanan, staff said.

No formal approvals to build the reservoir were recorded in the committee; staff said the feasibility and permitting work would continue and inform any future board decisions.