Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Water Resources Advisory Committee - 04/18/2013 Minutes Water Resource Advisory Committee Thursday,April 18, 2013—2726 Holly Road, Water Utilities Building Members present: Jeff Edmonds, Robert Kunkel, Michael Cox, Scott Kucera, Sally Gill, Don Roach, and Mark Scott Staff members and guests: 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 11:32 am. The minutes of March 21, 2013 were reviewed and approved as written. Mark Scott made the motion to approve and Robert Kunkel second. Review of the Reservoir Systems Statistics: Brent Clayton reviewed the current statistics.The combined lake level is now below 35%and continues to drop. Lake Texana is at 87%capacity. Lake levels from the past 2 years were reviewed and the decline noted. Drought conditions are present across the state. The current Drought Contingency Plan/Water Conservation Plan is being revised to better promote water conservation and make it an every day practice, strengthen drought measures to reach goals for reduction, help reduce overall demand of water, and bring clarity to the Plan. Specific points of the plan were reviewed and discussed. The City plans to implement Stage 3 of the Drought Plan on May 16, 2013 and enforcement would begin on May 30, 2013.The measures in place during Stage 2 will continue and the additional measures of Stage 3 will be enforced. Some of the measures to be included will be: irrigation limited to once every other week, irrigation of golf fairways prohibited, and water from hydrants for construction will be discontinued. Currently, no changes to Stage 4 conditions have been proposed except to commercial allocations. The committee continued to discuss the issues and concerns of Stage 3 conditions and what support is going to be needed from the community. Outdoor water use is a concern of the citizens and is generating most questions. It was also noted that all City departments will need to be conscious of any non-essential water use.The committee also discussed future water needs, especially in consideration of new industry entering the region.The Water Department staff hosted an informational meeting on Wednesday,April 17 at City Hall and several industry partners and regional partners attended and voiced their concerns on water supply.The City continues to explore other water supply options for the future. The Drought Contingency Plan and the Water Conservation Plan are scheduled to go to Council on May 14.The Water Resource Advisory Committee will review and make any recommendations at the next scheduled meeting, May 9, 2013 at 11:OOam at the Water Utilities Building, Choke Canyon Room. The meeting was adjourned at 1:08 pm.