FreshwaterFreshwater InflowsInflows toto thethe NuecesNueces EstuaryEstuary

BruceBruce A.A. MoultonMoulton FreshwaterFreshwater InflowInflow WorkgroupWorkgroup MeetingMeeting——AprilApril 6,6, 20062006 BackgroundBackground

•• ChokeChoke CanyonCanyon WaterWater RightsRights PermitPermit--OctoberOctober 12,12, 19761976

•• ConstructionConstruction CompletedCompleted 19821982

•• InundationInundation OccurredOccurred 19871987

•• LetterLetter ofof InquiryInquiry ReceivedReceived DecemberDecember 19891989 ““SPECIAL”SPECIAL” CONDITIONCONDITION 5.B.5.B.

•• ““FollowingFollowing completioncompletion andand fillingfilling ofof ChokeChoke CanyonCanyon DamDam andand Reservoir,Reservoir, scheduledscheduled releasesreleases shallshall bebe mademade fromfrom thethe reservoirreservoir systemsystem atat LakeLake CorpusCorpus ChristiChristi DamDam togethertogether withwith returnreturn flowsflows toto thethe estuariesestuaries forfor thethe properproper ecologicalecological environmentenvironment andand healthhealth ofof relatedrelated livingliving marinemarine resourcesresources therein.therein. WaterWater providedprovided toto thethe estuariesestuaries fromfrom thethe reservoirreservoir systemsystem underunder thisthis paragraphparagraph shallshall bebe releasedreleased inin suchsuch quantitiesquantities andand inin accordanceaccordance withwith suchsuch operationaloperational proceduresprocedures asas maymay bebe orderedordered byby thethe Commission.Commission. 5.B.5.B. (Cont.)(Cont.)

PermitteesPermittees shallshall provideprovide notnot lessless thanthan 151,000151,000 acreacre--feetfeet ofof waterwater perper annumannum forfor thethe estuariesestuaries byby aa combinationcombination ofof releasesreleases andand spillsspills fromfrom thethe reservoirreservoir systemsystem atat LakeLake CorpusCorpus ChristiChristi DamDam andand returnreturn flowsflows toto NuecesNueces andand CorpusCorpus ChristiChristi BaysBays andand otherother receivingreceiving estuaries.”estuaries.” Nueces River Watershed

Atascosa River

Frio River Choke Canyon Dam

Wesley Seale Dam Nueces River

Nueces Delta Nueces Delta and Estuary Aransas Bay

Aransas Nueces River Delta Pass Nueces Estuary

Nueces Nueces Redfish River Bay Bay

Corpus Christi Bay Corpus Christi

T E X A S Gulf Oso Bay of Mexico

Laguna Madre Highway 77

IH 37 MoPac Railroad

Rincon Bayou

Rincon Bayou

Nueces R. South Lake

Upper Nueces Nueces R. Bay

Nueces R. MoPac Railroad N IH 37 Kilometers 0 1 2 ExtremeExtreme AnnualAnnual VariabilityVariability

Nueces Estuary

3000000

2000000

1000000

Inflow Balance (ac-ft/y) 0

-1000000 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 FloodingFlooding FrequencyFrequency (Average(Average numbernumber ofof floodflood eventsevents perper year)year)

4

3 2.3 2.0 2

0.8 1

0 1940-1958 1958-1982 1982-1997 CommissionCommission ActionsActions

•• MayMay 1,1, 19901990——FirstFirst CommissionCommission OrderOrder

– Provided for Immediate Release of Specified Environmental Flows – Established Advisory Committee to: “…to assist the Commission with the formulation of a permanent operating procedure for the reservoir system.”*

* Advisory Committee Completed Their Assessment and Submitted Their Report to the Commission in August 1991. TACTAC RecommendationsRecommendations

•• ProvideProvide NotNot LessLess ThanThan 151,000151,000 acftacft W/97,000W/97,000 DeliveredDelivered toto NuecesNueces SystemSystem

•• MeasuredMeasured atat CalallenCalallen DamDam

•• CreditCredit forfor DivertedDiverted StormwaterStormwater RunoffRunoff

•• CreditCredit forfor ExcessExcess MonthlyMonthly FlowsFlows TACTAC RecommendationsRecommendations (Cont.)(Cont.)

•• DroughtDrought ContingencyContingency PlanPlan——ReliefRelief

•• ReliefRelief BasedBased onon BayBay SalinitiesSalinities

•• DevelopmentDevelopment ofof MonitoringMonitoring PlanPlan

•• CreateCreate OversightOversight CommitteeCommittee 19921992–– InterimInterim AgreedAgreed OrderOrder

•• ImplementedImplemented thethe InterimInterim ReservoirReservoir SystemSystem OperationalOperational PlanPlan forfor freshwaterfreshwater inflows.inflows.

•• CalledCalled forfor thethe CreationCreation ofof anan EstuarineEstuarine AdvisoryAdvisory CouncilCouncil ((NNuecesueces EEstuarystuary AAdvisorydvisory CCouncil)ouncil)

EstablishedEstablished to:to: “…consider“…consider suchsuch additionaladditional informationinformation andand relatedrelated issuesissues andand toto formulateformulate recommendationsrecommendations forfor thethe Commission’sCommission’s reviewreview andand action…”action…” 19951995--FinalFinal AgreedAgreed OrderOrder

•• KEYKEY changechange fromfrom 19921992 OrderOrder includedincluded aa switchswitch toto thethe “Pass“Pass--Thru”Thru” approachapproach (rather(rather thanthan releasesreleases fromfrom storage)storage) andand implementationimplementation ofof droughtdrought--contingencycontingency measuresmeasures •• ContinuedContinued thethe NEAC…toNEAC…to monitormonitor implementationimplementation ofof thethe OrderOrder andand toto prepareprepare recommendations,recommendations, asas needed,needed, relatingrelating toto anyany futurefuture changeschanges toto thethe OrderOrder AgreedAgreed OrderOrder

•• TheThe CityCity ofof CorpusCorpus Christi,Christi, asas OperatorOperator ofof thethe ReservoirReservoir System,System, shallshall provideprovide notnot lessless thanthan 151,151, 000000 acftacft ofof waterwater perper annumannum forfor thethe estuariesestuaries

>70%>70% storagestorage capacitycapacity——138,000138,000 acftacft targettarget >40%>40% butbut lessless thanthan 70%70%----97,00097,000 acftacft targettarget >30%>30% butbut lessless thanthan 40%40%---- 1,2001,200 acftacft target*target* <30%<30%---- TotalTotal suspensionsuspension ofof PassPass--thrusthrus**

** ImplementationImplementation ofof LawnLawn WateringWatering RestrictionsRestrictions TargetTarget f.w.f.w. InflowInflow RegimeRegime ((acftacft)) forfor thethe NuecesNueces EstuaryEstuary

MONTH >70% >40-<70% >30-<40% <30% January 2,500 2,500 1,200 0 February 2,500 2,500 1,200 0 March 3,500 3,500 1,200 0 April 3,500 3,500 1,200 0 May 25,500 23,500 1.200 0 June 25,500 23,000 1,200 0 July 6,500 4,500 1,200 0 August 6,500 5,000 1,200 0 September 28,500 11,500 1,200 0 October 20,000 9,000 1,200 0 November 9,000 4,000 1,200 0 December 4,500 4,500 1,200 0 TOTAL 138,000 97,000 14,400 0 FreshwaterFreshwater InflowInflow RecommendationRecommendation——SepSep 20022002 •• TPWDTPWD staffstaff recommendsrecommends asas aa FWIFWI target,target, thatthat aa totaltotal AprilApril thruthru JulyJuly cumulativecumulative monthlymonthly MaxMax HH inflow(inflow( 89,20089,200 acftacft)) bebe delivereddelivered duringduring thethe spring/summerspring/summer seasonseason (Apr.(Apr. thruthru Jul.).Jul.). InIn allall otherother months,months, MaxMax HH monthlymonthly targettarget flowsflows wouldwould bebe sufficient.sufficient. InflowInflow TargetsTargets (in(in AcftAcft))

Month Min Q-Sal Min Q Max H Jan 2,230 2,230 2,230 Feb 2,780 2,780 2,780 Mar 4,410 4,410 4,920 Apr 5,180 5,180 5,180* May 32,130 32,140 37,770* Jun 9,280 19,990 36,430* Jul 9,820 6,980 9,820* Aug 9,750 9,750 9,750 Sep 9,600 11,040* 9,600 Oct 4,380 8,690* 7,560 Nov 6,410 7,780* 7,780 Dec 4,670 4,670 4,670 Total 100,640 115,640 138,490 RinconRincon BayouBayou DemonstrationDemonstration ProjectProject

RestoringRestoring FreshwaterFreshwater toto thethe upperupper NuecesNueces EstuaryEstuary

U.S.U.S. BureauBureau ofof ReclamationReclamation RinconRincon BayouBayou DemonstrationDemonstration ProjectProject •• ToTo increaseincrease thethe opportunityopportunity forfor freshwaterfreshwater flowflow eventsevents intointo upperupper NuecesNueces DeltaDelta viavia RinconRincon BayouBayou •• RestoreRestore estuarineestuarine conditions,conditions, increaseincrease productivityproductivity Rincon Nueces Overflow Overflow Channel Channel AA PermanentPermanent DiversionDiversion ProjectProject •• FilledFilled inin FallFall 2000.2000. •• RebuiltRebuilt byby CityCity ofof CorpusCorpus ChristiChristi FallFall 20012001 forfor rulerule changes.changes. •• ConservationConservation groupsgroups tryingtrying toto buybuy land.land. •• NewNew monitoringmonitoring program.program. •• EcologicalEcological credits?credits? EnvironmentalEnvironmental FlowFlow ProtectionProtection inin TCEQTCEQ PermittingPermitting StateState RequirementsRequirements forfor ProtectingProtecting BaysBays andand EstuariesEstuaries

Beneficial inflows means a salinity, nutrient, and sediment loading regime adequate to maintain an ecologically sound environment in the receiving bay and estuary system that is necessary for the maintenance of productivity of economically important and ecologically characteristic sport or commercial fish and shellfish species and estuarine life upon which such fish and shellfish are dependent. Texas Water Code §11.147(a) StateState RequirementsRequirements forfor ProtectingProtecting BaysBays andand EstuariesEstuaries (continued(continued .. .. ))

For permits issued within 200 river miles from the coast, . . . the commission shall include in the permit to the extent practicable when considering all public interests, . . . those conditions considered necessary to maintain beneficial inflows to any affected bay and estuary system. Texas Water Code §11.147(b)

The statute goes on to list several factors that shall be considered by the commission in making this determination. StateState RequirementsRequirements forfor ProtectingProtecting BaysBays andand EstuariesEstuaries (continued(continued .. .. ))

Those factors include:

The need for freshwater inflows to preserve the sound environment of the bay or estuary;

The quantity of water and the needs of the applicant and those that would be served by the applicant;

The expected effects on the public welfare. This includes both the effects of not including some or all of the conditions in the permit and the effects of failure to issue the permit. How Does the TCEQ Staff Make Their Recommendations? StateState RequirementsRequirements forfor ProtectingProtecting InstreamInstream FlowsFlows

InIn consideringconsidering aa waterwater rightright application,application, thethe commissioncommission shallshall considerconsider thethe effecteffect ofof thethe permitpermit onon existingexisting instreaminstream uses,uses, fishfish andand wildlifewildlife habitats,habitats, andand waterwater quality.quality.

TexasTexas WaterWater CodeCode §§§§11.147(d)(e),11.147(d)(e), 11.150,11.150, 11.151,11.151, 11.15211.152 How Does the TCEQ Staff Make Their Recommendations? Instream Flow Studies Completed or in Progress 404 Permit ESA Response FERC License Water Right Ray Roberts Sulphur R Planning (TWDB) % # Possum Kingdom Limited Biology Little Cypress #% # % Paluxy River # Lake Granbury Lake Bosque# O.H. Ivie #

San Marcos #$# Canyon Dam %$ Allens Creek Comal # Cuero Cibolo Cr $ #$ Sandies Cr Goliad $ DefaultDefault MethodMethod –– LyonsLyons MethodMethod

•• BasedBased onon datadata andand relationshipsrelationships fromfrom mountainousmountainous westernwestern states.states. •• ValidatedValidated oror calibratedcalibrated onon thethe GuadalupeGuadalupe RiverRiver inin Texas.Texas. •• EstablishesEstablishes minimumminimum flowflow requirementsrequirements basedbased onon 40%40% medianmedian dailydaily flowsflows inin winterwinter monthsmonths andand 60%60% ofof medianmedian dailydaily flowsflows inin thethe summersummer months.months. •• UtilizesUtilizes historichistoric streamflowstreamflow datadata fromfrom subjectsubject site.site. AmendmentsAmendments thatthat don’tdon’t increaseincrease thethe amountamount oror raterate ofof waterwater diverted:diverted:

•• SubjectSubject toto meetingmeeting allall otherother requirementsrequirements ofof thisthis subchapter;subchapter; •• anan amendmentamendment shallshall bebe authorizedauthorized if;if; •• thethe requestedrequested changechange willwill notnot causecause adverseadverse impactsimpacts onon otherother waterwater rightright holdersholders oror thethe environmentenvironment ...... •• ofof greatergreater magnitudemagnitude thanthan underunder circumstancescircumstances inin whichwhich thethe permitpermit .. .. waswas fullyfully exercisedexercised accordingaccording toto itsits termsterms andand conditionsconditions asas theythey existedexisted beforebefore thethe requestedrequested amendment.amendment. AmendmentsAmendments thatthat increaseincrease thethe amountamount oror raterate ofof waterwater diverted:diverted:

•• SpecialSpecial conditionsconditions designeddesigned toto protectprotect thethe environmentenvironment onlyonly applyapply toto thatthat portionportion ofof thethe waterwater rightright thatthat isis beingbeing amended.amended.

•• ForFor example,example, onon anan amendmentamendment thatthat increasesincreases thethe amountamount ofof waterwater toto bebe diverted,diverted, thethe originaloriginal diversiondiversion amountamount wouldwould carrycarry thethe originaloriginal flowflow restrictions,restrictions, ifif any.any.

•• OnlyOnly thethe increasedincreased amountamount ofof waterwater wouldwould carrycarry aa newnew flowflow restriction.restriction. TheThe EndEnd

Questions?Questions?