Water School

The conservation pool of a reservoir is a specified amount of water dedicated to water storage. This water is to be used to meet water needs, including municipal, domestic, agricultural, industrial, and recreational.

To overdraft a reservoir, aquifer or basin is to withdraw water out faster than the water can be replenished by rain, runoff or percolation.  Overdraft may also refer to an use of the permitted yield of a reservoir.

A flood pool is a specified area within a flood control lake and the surrounding land that may only be inundated during periods of flooding. This allows the flow of waters to be regulated and released in a safe manner.

Evaporation is the process in the water cycle in which liquid water becomes water vapor.

This doctrine has its roots in the 1800s, when Texas officials determined riparian doctrine did not address the needs of more arid parts of the state. Since the late 19th century, land acquired from the state has used prior-appropriation doctrine instead of riparian when considering water rights.Under this approach, water rights are based on seniority.  In other words, one’s water rights are based on the date one applied for the right, with older claimants having seniority. However, those pre-e...

Water rights in Texas are complicated.  They date back to Spanish colonial law, but also include influences from English common law, a history of state legislation as well as judicial decisions. Water rights in Texas are further complicated because ground and surface water rights are approached differently. Generally, water rights law determine who can use water, how much may be used and for what purpose.