HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Water Resources Advisory Committee - 03/21/2013Minutes
Water Resource Advisory Committee
Thursday, March 21, 2013 — 2726 Holly Road, Water Utilities Building
Members Present: Don Roach, Lucia Sosa, Mark Scott, Jeff Edmonds, Michael Cox, Sally Gill,
Scott Kucera
Staff Members and Guests: Gustavo Gonzalez, P. E., Director of Water Services; Brent Clayton;
Joanne Salge; Debbie Lindsey -Opel, Three Dimensional Development; Mark Stroop, Deputy
Public Works Office, NAS -CC; Rocky Freund, Nueces River Authority.
Mr. Edmonds called the meeting to order at 11:40 a.m. followed by introductions. The minutes
of January 17, 2013 were reviewed and approved as written. Robert Kunkel made the motion to
approve and Mark Scott, second.
Review of Reservoir System Statistics: Brent Clayton reviewed the current statistics. A chart
documenting the past 13 years showed the combined lake level percentage of Choke Canyon
and Lake Corpus Christi. Another chart showed what the lake levels would be without water
supplied by the Mary Rhodes Pipeline over the past 13 years. Without that supply, the
percentage would be approximately 15% lower.
Review of Current Drought Status and Projections: The majority of the state is experiencing
drought conditions. Long range forecasts project hot and dry conditions. Short term projected
lake level percentages and long term demands were examined.
Update on Revisions to the Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan: Our current
plan is being divided into two plans: a conservation plan and a drought plan. Conservation
measures are year -round practices and include efficiency measures. The drought plan is short
term, painful and essential.
The conservation measures would include no watering between 10 and 6 (permanent), no
runoff into gutters and streets, and no irrigation spray directly on paved surfaces. Updates to
building codes will be analyzed to look at specific turf grass selections, rainwater harvesting,
condensate collection and Xeriscape landscape.
The proposed drought measures would allow for changes to the current lake level triggers and
restrictions to be more stringent. In Stages 1 and 2, sprinkler irrigation would be allowed once
per week based on trash pick- up day. Activities such as washing cars or filling pools would be
limited to designated watering day. Aesthetic ponds and water features would not be allowed
except to sustain aquatic life. Non - essential use of water will be prohibited.
Stage 3 would be the same as Stage 2 except that sprinklers and irrigation system use would
be limited to once every other week determined by your recycling day. Use of water for
constructions purposes from hydrants is discontinued. Irrigation of golf course fairways is
prohibited unless effluent is in use.
Stage 4 would include the measures of the previous stages and landscape irrigation would be
prohibited. No car washing would be allowed unless at a commercial car wash. Pools would not
be allowed to be filled or refilled.
Outreach Efforts: The conservation team has been aggressive in outreach efforts as well as
meeting with regional partners and stakeholder groups. Monthly informational meetings are
being held with good attendance.
Update on Mary Rhodes Phase II: The design phase of the Mary Rhodes Pipeline Phase II is
approximately 50% complete. The pipeline will be 41 miles long and will take about two years to
complete. Right of ways are being secured and pumps are scheduled to be ordered in the
summer.
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 11:00a.m. at the Water Utilities
Building. The meeting was adjourned at 1:13p.m.