Water Development

Water Development: To sensibly utilize the River

It is important that Kerr County have an adequate water supply and that water resources be sensibly developed. UGRA is part of a team effort to ensure that these goals are realized and plays an active role in the Plateau Water Planning Group. UGRA owns Guadalupe River Water Rights and plays an active role in the Texas Regional Water Planning Process.

Plateau Water Planning Group

Planning Purpose and Process

In response to the drought of the 1950s and in recognition of the need to plan for the future, the legislature created the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to develop water supplies and prepare plans to meet the state's future water needs. In 1997, the legislature established a new water planning process coordinated by 16 planning groups, one for each regional water planning area (map). The planning groups are each made up of about 20 members and represent a variety of interests. The planning groups conduct all functions at open meetings in an open and participatory manner.

The ongoing work of the regional water planning process consists of seven tasks:

describing the regional water planning area
quantifying current and projected population and water demand
evaluating and quantifying current water supplies
identifying surpluses and needs
evaluating water management strategies and preparing plans to meet the needs
recommending regulatory, administrative, and legislative changes
adopting the plan, including the required level of public participation

Once the planning group adopts their regional water plan, the plan is sent to TWDB for approval, who then compiles information from the approved regional water plans and other sources to develop the state water plan.

The Plateau Water Planning Region stretches from the Central Texas Hill Country westward to the Rio Grande and consists of Bandera, Edwards, Kerr, Kinney, Real and Val Verde counties (map).