SYSTEM OPERATION PERMIT AND WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN

On November 28, 2012, the Brazos River Authority delivered its Water Management Plan to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The WMP was developed as part of the BRA’s System Operation water right permit application. To view the complete Water Management Plan, click here.

System Operation represents a unique approach by the Brazos River Authority to address current and future water supply needs throughout the Brazos basin in a cost-effective and environmentally-sensitive manner. A permit application was submitted by the Brazos River Authority in 2004 and is moving through the state review and approval process.

If granted, the permit will appropriate a new, reliable supply of water for municipalities, industry, agricultural and mining interests within the Brazos basin without the costly and time-consuming construction of new reservoirs. The permit will allow the BRA to use naturally occurring flows in the basin and return flows from wastewater treatment plants in conjunction with the water supply in its 11 existing reservoirs.

In a normal year, approximately 5.8 million acre-feet of treatable water supply passes the furthest downstream monitoring gauge on the Brazos River into the Gulf of Mexico. Once this water enters the Gulf, the cost to treat and use this supply rises exponentially. The BRA's permit application seeks to gain access to a portion of these "uncontrolled" flows.

The Brazos River Authority recognizes that System Operation is a complex approach to water management. For this reason, a comprehensive Water Management Plan (WMP) must also be developed by the BRA and approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Commissioners before any water may be diverted as part of the pending permit. In January 2012, the TCEQ Commissioners directed the BRA to deliver the WMP to them by November 30, 2012.

During its preparation of the WMP, the BRA conducted an open stakeholder process including input from the public, collaboration with state agencies and an opportunity for a contested case hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings. The BRA held a series of nine meetings throughout the basin to allow for public input and participation in development of the plan.

The submission of the WMP to the TCEQ completes the stakeholder process. The BRA will no longer be accepting input, questions or comments on the WMP though this website.