HomeMy WebLinkAbout021486 RES - 09/22/1992A RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT WITH THE LAVACA-NAVIDAD RIVER
AUTHORITY FOR JOINT SPONSORSHIP OF A
REGIONAL STUDY OF ALTERNATIVES FOR
TRANSPORTING WATER TO CORPUS CHRISTI.
WHEREAS, present water supplies are insufficient to meet the future needs
of Corpus Christi and surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, the health, welfare, and economic prosperity of our citizens
depends upon acquiring adequate water supplies; and
WHEREAS, acquisition of long-term water supplies is a lengthy process
requiring responsible and prudent planning and action by our citizens and elected officials;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Corpus Christi has the opportunity to secure options
on substantial additional water supplies and to participate in studies providing a sound basis
for future decisions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS:
The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute an agreement with the
Lavaca-Navidad River Authority for joint sponsorship of a regional study of alternatives for
transporting water to Corpus Christi, as set forth in the attached Exhibit A, incorporated
herein.
ATTEST:
i
City Secretary
MAY R ll
THE CITY6F CORPUS CHRISTI
APPROVED: II DAY OF 5 pi— , 19 1)
James R. Bray, Jr., City Attorney r
By g,
City Attorne
ORD5: 91183
021486
7
MICROFILMED
1
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066
Corpus Christi, Texas
7), day of C irK/-, ,I9 02—
The
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The above resolution was passed by the following vote:
Mary Rhodes
Cezar Galindo (0c )lJ
Leo Guerrero
Betty Jean Longoria
Edward A. Martin
Joe McComb
Dr. David McNichols
Clif Moss
Mary Pat Slavik
021486
AGREEMENT FOR JOINT SPONSORSHIP OF A REGIONAL
STUDY TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVES FOR TRANSPORTING WATER
TO CORPUS CHRISTI
This Agreement is made and entered into as of the _ day of , 1992
by and among the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority ("LNRA") and the City of Corpus Christi,
Texas ("Corpus Christi") referred to as the "Parties."
Recitals
1. The parties wish to cooperate in a joint study ("Study") to:
a. Define the need for additional water in an area generally including the
City of Corpus Christi and South Texas river and coastal basins;
b. define feasible altematives for the transport of water from other river
basins;
c. identify the cost of each alternative and the water produced; and
d. identify altematives for providing immediate water supplies to the City.
2. The Study will consist of tasks outlined in the Scope of Work (Attachment A),
exclusive of tasks related to the water requirements and future needs of the City of San Antonio
and surrounding areas, all of which are scheduled for completion by 12/18/93
3. LNRA is applying to the Texas Water Development Board ("TWDB") for loan
funds on behalf of the Parties, has agreed to serve as the contracting and coordinating agency
for the Parties, and to provide in-kind services.
4. The estimated cost of completing the Study is $475,000.00.
For and in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual benefits and obligations
provided herein, the Parties do contract and agree as follows:
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Agreement
Regarding the Study, the Parties agree as follows:
1. The Scope of Services shall be set out in Attachment A which is attached hereto
and made a part hereof for all purposes. Unless otherwise required by the TWDB, prior to any
change in the Scope of Work of the Study, both Corpus Christi and LNRA will agree to the
change or it will not be changed.
2. The Parties will mutually agree upon the selection of qualified consultants
("Consultants") to conduct the Study, and hereby agree upon HDR Engineering, Inc. as a
mutually acceptable and qualified consultant.
3. LNRA will serve as the contracting and coordinating agency. LNRA is
authorized to accept, hold, and disperse funds for the Study. LNRA is authorized to invest all
funds held for the Study and to use any income from the funds held to offset its direct expenses,
all of which shall be reimbursable from Study funds.
4. The funding for this study is as follows:
A. In accordance with a payment schedule to be agreed upon by LNRA,
Corpus Christi will pay $125,000, and TWDB will fund an interest free
loan of $350,000. Payments to LNRA by the Corpus Christi will be made
in a timely manner so that funds will be available when needed to meet
the Consultants' payment schedules. The parties are committed to the full
payment of their obligations. LNRA is also committed to the provision
of in-kind services.
B. This study is contingent upon receipt of a TWDB loan.
C. The TWDB loan will be repaid by future payments to LNRA of $350,000
from Corpus Christi. Such future payments will be made from City water
system revenues and do not represent a commitment of future tax
revenues. Payment from the City shall be due upon the earlier of (a)
implementation of a project identified by the Study, or (b) twenty (20)
years from the date of execution of this Agreement. For purposes of this
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provision, "implementation" means the earlier of issuance of bonds or
other indebtedness for the project, or initiation of construction contracts
of the project. If payment is triggered by implementation of a project, the
entire sum due the Board shall be paid within one month after project
implementation.
D. Financial obligations of Corpus Christi are limited to a total amount of
$475,000; absent further written agreement the City is obligated to make
no expenditure in excess of that amount, even if additional funds are
required for completion of the Study.
E. Corpus Christi agrees "at all times to maintain and collect rates and
charges sufficient to produce net system revenues in an amount necessary
to meet the payments required in this Contract and all other debt service
requirements for which such revenues are pledged.
5. The Parties agree that the Consultant(s) selected, its employees and
subcontractors, will be independent contractors and not employees of any of the Parties. A
contract with the Consultant(s) for the Study will be subject to approval by TWDB and each of
the Parties.
6. The final report and any data or product of such data will be the joint property
of all the Parties and any Party may utilize such report and data and product of such data in any
manner deemed necessary at that Party's sole discretion. Until the Study is complete, the Parties
must unanimously agree before any information or data that is developed in the course of the
Study is released to the public unless the disclosure is required by law or by the TWDB.
Ownership and use of any material by the TWDB which is produced in this study shall be
governed by the Agreement between LNRA and TWDB.
7. This Agreement may be amended by the mutual agreement of the Parties.
8. Duplicate original copies of this Agreement are being executed and shall be
effective upon signing. Each person executing this Agreement on behalf of a Party represents
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that he or she is a duly authorized officer of such Party with full power to execute this
Agreement on behalf of each Party.
9. The Parties agree to prepare and execute all documents necessary to effect the
terms of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.
ATTEST: LAVACA-NAVIDAD RIVER AUTHORITY
aC L�!/Yu BY: ///�.r�anZ
Name: Denise R General Manager
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Title: Assistant Gen. Mgr. for Adm. Emmett Gloyna
ATTEST: THE CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
BY:
City Secretary City Manager
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
BY:
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Nalu4: „,�4,' • g.
Title: City Attorney
ray 1 ?�,
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SCOPE OF WORK FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS STUDY
TRANS -TEXAS HATER PROGRAM
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Prepared by
The Texas Water Development Board
May, 1992
9 to
ftflAGMAlau1 A
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
I. Introduction 3
A. Study Objectives 5
B. Available Planning Data 7
C. Environmental Issues 7
D. Implementation Issues 8
II. Summary Program Description g
Phase I, Conceptual Plan 9
Phase II, Feasibility Studies 10
Future Phases 11
IV. Detailed Program Preparation 13
A. Phase I - Conceptual Plan 13
1. Planning Area 13
2. Data Collection 13
a. Water Demands, Rights and Supplies. 13
b. Conveyance Studies 14
c. Existing Facilities 14
d. Proposed Facilities 14
3. Identification of Alternatives 15
4. Draft Report Preparation 15
B. Phase II, Feasibility Studies 15
1. Agency/Public coordination 16
a. Sponsor Meetings 16
b. Agency Meetings 16
c. Meeting Records 16
d. Policy Management Committee 16
2. Planning Studies 17
a. Water Demands 17
b. Available Supplies 17
c. Water Quality 18
3. Environmental Analysis 18
a. Meetings 18
b. Environmental Baseline 18
c. Environmental Impacts 18
4. Preliminary Implementation Studies 19
a. Institutional and Legal Issues 19
b. Financing and Cost Issues 20
c. Scheduling and Phasing Issues 20
5. Report Preparation and Coordination 20
6. Schedule 21
This document presents the scope of work for the South -Central
Texas Facilities of the Trans -Texas Water Program. Two areas of
study will initially proceed concurrently: 1) The Southeast Texas
Work Plan will focus on development of facilities to serve the
metropolitan area of Houston; and 2) the South -Central Texas Work
Plan will evaluate the potential for providing additional water
supplies for areas west of Houston, including the metropolitan
areas of Corpus Christi and San Antonio.
A brief discussion of the study objectives and a description of
each task for Phases I and II of the study are included herein.
Completion of Phase I will result in a conceptual plan which
allocates of future water supplies to those regions which will have
the greatest water needs, and considering the timing of those
needs. Consideration will be given to currently available ground
and surface water supplies, potential new supply facilities, direct
inter -basin transfers and the potential availability of water
supplies through systems operating agreements among two or more
water supply agencies. Phase II will provide a study which
illustrates and compares the feasibility of various supply
scenarios which satisfy the conceptual plan. Sufficient
engineering and environmental information will be provided in Phase
II to support initial applications for Texas Water Commission (TWC)
permits and other associated state permits for future phases, if
such are required.
The study will be divided into two phases. Phase I will identify
available options, and provide a general assessment of the
economic, engineering and environmental advantages and
disadvantages of each, so that decisions can be made as to which
options should be pursued in more detail in Phase II. The major
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deliverable from phase I will be an interim report containing a
matrix which identifies available options for supplying water to
the planning area, summarizes the pros and cons of each, and
provides recommendations as to the most feasible alternatives.
Alternatives will be classified as short or long term, with
estimated times for completion. The policy management committee
will provide direction as to which options will be studied in more
detail in Phase II.
Phase II will examine the options selected during Phase I in more
detail and will result in a recommended plan of action for meeting
water demands in the planning area. Both near-term and long-term
recommendations will be identified, with estimated times for
development for each, clearly showing how water needs of the
planning area will be met, beginning immediately and continuing
over a 50 year planning period.
It is intended that one contractor will be selected for both Phase
I and Phase II. However, because the size and complexity of Phase
II is heavily dependent upon information to be obtained in Phase I,
firm fees for Phase I will be negotiated at study inception. In
addition, a budget estimate for Phase II fees wiil be included
based on the consultant's best estimate of the work necessary to
complete Phase II. The Consultant will clearly state the
assumptions used to establish the fees for Phase II. At the
conclusion of Phase I, after decisions are made as to the number of
options to be included in Phase II, fees for Phase II will be
adjusted, if the scope is materially different from the previously
stated assumptions. Prior to initiation of any subsequent phases,
beyond Phase II, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and
program sponsors will determine the future direction of the Trans -
Texas Water Program. Detailed task elements for future project
phases will therefore be determined following completion of Phase
II.
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Is expected that Phase I will be completed within six months of
notice to proceed, and that all work for both phases will be
completed within eighteen months.
A. STUDY OBJECTIVES
The selection of individual work tasks and the sequence for task
completion for the initial phase is based on a strategy which is a
function of several key elements:
• The size and phasing of conveyance systems from the Sabine
basin to the Houston metropolitan area can be affected by any
alternatives identified in this portion of the study that may
require transfer of additional water from the Sabine basin to
river basins west of Houston as part of a systems operating
scheme. Accordingly, this program must be closely coordinated
with the Southeast portion of the overall program.
♦ The study will focus on meeting the water resource needs of
the Corpus Christi and San Antonio metropolitan areas, in both
short and long-term planning periods. While the demands of
the Corpus Christi area have been substantially defined, those
for the San Antonio region are in a state of flux, and are
dependent on the results of Texas Water Commission decisions
as to allowable pumpage levels from the Edwards aquifer and
the degree to which springflow augmentation can meet
environmental requirements. Negotiations on the pumpage levels
and a proposed study of springflow augmentation will likely be
proceeding concurrently with this study, and will require
close coordination. Since results of these two efforts may not
be available prior to the conclusion of the present study,
alternative values for several parameters, which will
encompass the range of likely results from the two studies,
will have to be estimated. In addition, definition of demands
and available supplies in intervening and downstream areas,
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for all usage sectors, will be necessary in order to insure
that meeting of demands in the targeted growth centers of San
Antonio and Corpus Christi will not deprive these other areas
and sectors of adequate water supplies to meet their needs.
Demands and supplies for these intervening areas will only be
established at the county level, using currently available
data from the TWDB. Demands will be based on TWDB high case
with conservation.
♦ Environmental implications of this project will be
significant. There is considerable potential for adverse
impacts on both the local and ecosystem scale. Therefore, the
overall program strategy involves identifying and
investigating issues on those two scales during the initial
phases of the work. In -stream flows and inflows to estuaries
are important environmental demands on water that must be
estimated and incorporated into planning and alternative
assessment in phase I. Environmental impacts of structural
development must also be incorporated into the initial phases
of the work. Minimizing adverse environmental impacts, and
where possible, enhancing environmental benefits will be an
important focus for phase II of the project. Although this
study will not encompass formal environmental reviews as
defined by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
general procedures of the federal environmental review
processes will be used to ensure that an open, public method
is used to document project impacts, and to maximize the
usefulness of environmental information in any subsequent NEPA
and/or state processes.
♦ Because of its magnitude and complexity, this program will
require detailed implementation studies which addresses
institutional/legal issues, and environmental and engineering
concerns. Debt financing and project scheduling issues will
need to be developed fully within the implementation studies.
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_t
Successful completion of a regional project of this type
requires that a range of project feasibility issues be
resolved to satisfy potential participants of the integrity of
the project. The implementation studies should provide
information which assist the sponsors in assessing project
feasibility.
B. AVAILABLE PLANNING DATA
There are a number of planning reports for the south-central
planning area available. Some are regional studies sponsored by the
TWDB. Others were prepared by the cities of San Antonio and Corpus
Christi, the Lavaca-Navidad, Guadalupe -Blanco and Nueces River
Authorities, the Edwards Underground Water District and others. It
will be the responsibility of the selected consultant to research
and analyze these existing studies to glean as much relevant
material as possible. Results of a survey of the major river
authorities regarding available supplies, reservoir yields,
existing contracts and inter -basin transfers will be made available
to the selected consultant by the Texas Water Development Board. It
is anticipated that significant additional research, data
acquisition and modeling on these subjects will also be required.
It is expected that TWDB planning data on population and water
demands, supplemented by local information where appropriate, will
be used to project future water needs of the various areas and
usage sectors. TWDB demands for high population projections, with
conservation will be used.
C. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
An environmental analysis will initially be developed which will
provide information on the planning, environmental, and engineering
aspects of the project. Information initially obtained in the
environmental analysis will influence each aspect of the project.
Initial planning study information will be included in the
analysis, and applications for amendment to the TWC water rights
permit, if required, will be based on the information developed in
7
the environmental analysis. This information will also be used in
to facilitate continuing negotiations between the City Of San
Antonio and the Texas Water Commission, regarding water rights and
the Edwards Underground River.
To acquire federal permits, and potentially state permits, a more
detailed environmental study will be prepared, in future study
phases. Final project design will be a result of either a formal
environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.
Therefore, in order to minimize duplication of effort, the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process will be followed to the
greatest extent possible in Phases I and II.
The type of federal environmental permit(s) pursued should be
determined. Determination of the appropriate process will be a
function of the viability of the entire Trans -Texas Program, the
viability of the Southeast and South -Central Projects, and the type
of potential environmental impacts.
D. IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
As a part of project development, implementation studies are
proposed to provide necessary details regarding a number of
important issues. These issues include:
♦ institutional/Legal factors created by the requirements of the
proposed project or action and by the need for long term
contracts regarding facility usage and debt retirement.
♦ Financial/Cost considerations of the proposed plan including
financing alternatives and the resulting pricing requirements
for users of the water. A comparative cost of alternatives
will be calculated and presented, where appropriate.
♦ Schedule/Phasing considerations for implementing the
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preconstruction and construction phases, including staging
options for construction. Consideration shall be given to the
need for scheduling projects to meet both short- and long-term
water needs of the planning area.
Each issue will require evaluation and input by project
participants. The goal of the implementation studies is to
establish strategies which address participant concerns and
establishes a realistic schedule of critical events necessary to
accomplish program goals. Refinement of the implementation plan
will be required as each program phase progresses.
V
Two distinct phases of activity are included in the Work Plan for
this program. A brief overview of each of these phases is provided
below:
♦ Phase I - Conceptual Plan Preparation
♦ Phase II - Feasibility Studies
Phase I - Conceptual Plan Preparation
Several different studies have been conducted to identify and
evaluate alternatives for supplying water to the targeted study
area. Therefore, this initial phase of work will compile the
results of the previous studies, coordinate with the on-going
southeast study and update the costs and other appropriate factors
identified in these studies. In addition, new concepts for water
supply will be developed and included with the previous proposals
to establish a summary "conceptual" plan identifying the range of
possible inter -basin transfers and local projects necessary to meet
the short- and long-range needs of the areas. A plan synopsis will
be prepared for distribution to all interested parties illustrating
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potential conveyance and storage facility sites and features,
environmental issues to be addressed, and order -of -magnitude costs
for the various alternatives.
One of the alternatives to be included in the conceptual plan will
consist of a water rights/supply transfer plan. This alternative
will consists of allocating water rights to optimize efficiency of
delivery through a system operations approach using appropriate
contractual arrangements between various suppliers and users.
Particular emphasis will be placed on analysis of water rights
within the basins and on available supplies near the demand
centers. Major water user categories (municipal, industrial, etc.)
will be defined as a part of this process.
Phase II - Feasibility Studies
This phase will investigate in greater detail the engineering,
environmental and institutional components of the various scenarios
capable of supplying the water needed within the study area.
Coordination meetings with state and local agencies will be held to
allow review of the proposed program and to discuss issues and
concerns of each group. A primary component of this phase is
completion of an environmental assessment which can be used as a
basis to request TWC permit amendments, if required. The
environmental assessment will evaluate the engineering and
environmental impacts of the various alternatives. Preferred
options which are the most viable alternatives will be identified.
This phase culminates in the development of a "Preliminary
Implementation Plan." The goal of that plan is to provide an
initial schedule and comprehensive list of activities for the
remainder of the program and to establish costs and
legal/institutional issues with enough detail to allow potential
participants to make decisions as to whether or not to proceed with
permit requests and /or construction. Some of the important issues
10
to be resolved during this phase include:
♦ Goals, objectives, and concerns of all major potential
participants.
♦ Service area/water customers for the new water supplies
required.
♦ Availability of groundwater and availability of water rights
associated with surface waters planned to meet the projected
demands.
• Treatability and water quality concerns of the available
supplies.
♦ Feasible routes, component sizing, phasing options, etc. to
achieve the proposed objectives.
♦ Environmental
conveyance and
project.
• Advantages and
facilities.
issues and impacts associated with any
storage alternatives and with the overall
disadvantages of using existing available
♦ Initial construction and operational cost estimates.
• Legal/institutional issues.
♦ Debt financing and pricing alternatives available to the
participants.
♦ Schedule/phasing considerations, both before and after
construction.
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♦ Ownership and operational issues to be considered by the
participants.
♦ Cost estimates of preferred alternatives.
Future Phases
The following phases are dependent on the results of the first two
phases, and are described here only to better define the preceding
phases. They will not be a part of this study.
Phase III - Preliminary Design/State and Federal Permitting
During this phase, the preferred alternatives will be further
analyzed and a final alternative selection process will be
accomplished. Issues which were initially identified in Phase II
will be thoroughly analyzed during Phase III. A detailed
environmental information document will be completed and submitted
to the Texas Water Commission and appropriate Federal agencies.
Remaining regulatory permits and institutional/agency contracts can
also be developed. Finally, a detailed implementation plan will be
developed.
Phase IV - Property Acguisition/Final Design
This phase incudes two major elements: property acquisition and
final design.
Property Acquisition will include survey and property owner
description services and, if necessary, professional and technical
assistance during property negotiations and acquisition. Final
Design includes survey and geotechnical services, final engineering
design, preparation of detailed plans and specifications, and
contract documents for construction purposes.
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Phase V - Erolect Construction. Start -Un and Overation
This phase consists of assistance during the bid phase and
construction management services during the construction phase of
the project. Also included are initial start-up and operational
services during the first year of service.
A. PHAGE I - CONCEPTUAL PLAN PREPARATION
Phase I of the Work Plan includes the following major elements:
♦ Data collection
♦ Identification of alternatives
1. PLANNING AREA
The planning area for this study will encompass the lower portions
of the Brazos, Colorado, Lavaca, Navidad, Guadalupe, San Antonio
and Nueces River basins, generally south and east of a line
extending from Houston to San Antonio to Corpus Christi, but
including the San Antonio and Corpus Christi metropolitan areas.
Attachment "A" shows the planning area. The primary focus of the
study will be meeting the needs of the primary demand centers of
San Antonio and Corpus Christi, but the needs and available
supplies for the remainder of the planning area will need to be
quantified. One of the major elements to be addressed will be the
inter -basin availability of water through systems operating
agreements among the river authorities. Accordingly, it will be
necessary to establish demands and supply availabilities for the
entire river basins, to the extent that such data may impact lower
basin supplies.
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2. DATA COLLECTION
a. Water Demands. Rights and Supplies
Collect information from the TWDB regarding the location and nature
quantity, quality requirements, etc.) of existing and projected
water demand. Assess demand on a county level within each river
basin (municipal, industrial, agricultural, and irrigation).
Identify the demand centers within each basin. Collect and
summarize information from the TWDB and TWC on firm supplies and
on adjudicated rights for water in the Brazos, Colorado, Lavaca,
Navidad, Guadalupe, San Antonio and Nueces basins. Include general
assessments of the quality of the potential supplies and the
locations within each basin where such supplies are likely to be
available.
b. Conveyance Studies
Collect information from relevant existing planning and engineering
studies regarding any feasible routes, costs, and impacts for
various conveyance facilities.
c. Existing Facilities
Collect information for existing conveyance facilities which could
be used to meet water transfer needs in the South -Central planning
area. Information to be collected includes ownership, condition,
capacity, and availability for alternative uses.
d. Proposed Facilities
Using the TWDB 1990 Water Plan and other relevant planning studies,
collect information on costs, capacities and impacts for various
conservation and re -use scenarios, reservoirs, and recharge dams
which have been proposed to serve the water needs within the basins
included in the study area. New options which have potential for
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meeting water demands, including inter -basin transfers and systems
operating agreements, should also be identified and included in the
analysis.
3. IDENTIFICATION OF ALTERNATIVES
Feasible alternatives for supplying the identified water demands
with available ground and surface water will be illustrated and
then compiled for inclusion in the conceptual plan. Capacity and
cost data (capital and operations and maintenance) will be updated
to reflect present day conditions and the probable extent of
potential environmental impacts for each alternative will be
identified, along with estimated mitigation costs.
4. DRAFT REPORT PREPARATION
At the end of Phase I, a draft report will be prepared summarizing
the data collected and alternatives identified. An overall
conceptual summary of options will be prepared as a starting point
for consideration in Phase II of the program. Review meetings to
discuss the alternatives and make modifications as appropriate to
reflect the project sponsor input will be conducted as required.
B. PEASE II_- FEASIBILITY STUDIES
Phase II of the Work Plan includes the following major elements:
♦ Agency/Public Coordination
• Planning Studies
• Environmental Analysis
• Preliminary Implementation Studies
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♦ Draft and final report preparation and coordination
A brief description of each work plan element is discussed below.
1. AGENCY/PUBLIC COORDINATION
a. Sponsor Meetinas
Meet regularly with the City of Corpus Christi, City of San
Antonio, Lavaca-Navidad River Authority, Texas Water Development
Board, the Texas Water Commission, the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department and other sponsors, if any, to discuss the approach,
major issues, design considerations, fiscal issues and permit
requirements.
b. Agency Meetings
Meet with the San Antonio, Guadalupe -Blanco, Brazos, Lower Colorado
and Nueces River Authorities and other appropriate federal, state,
and local agencies to discuss the study and elicit questions,
comments, and concerns.
c. Meeting Records
Record the content of the agency meetings to chronicle agency
coordination efforts.
d. Policy Management Committee
Assist the program sponsors and the TWDB to establish and
coordinate a Policy Management Committee (PMC) representing the
TWDB, Texas Water Commission, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
and program sponsors. The PMC will meet monthly to coordinate
administrative, technical, and informational matters associated
16
with the study, approve study parameters and approve draft and
final reports. The PMC will also meet periodically with sponsors of
the eastern study to coordinate between the east and south-central
portions of the trans Texas water program. Subcommittees, which
will include representation from technical and environmental
organizations, will be established by the PMC to provide technical
advice and assist the PMC in analyzing study issues. Technical and
other advisory committees will be organized on a subject matter
and/or geographic basis, and will be the primary avenues for public
input into the planning process. Technical and other advisory
committees will hold regular public meetings to receive public
input, discuss issues and formulate recommendations to the PMC on
environmental, financial and engineering issues. Periodic joint
meetings with the PMC will also be scheduled.
It is intended that the South -Central Texas Water Resources
Planning Council, recently established by the TWC, will serve as an
advisory committee to the Policy Management Committee, so that
recommendations resulting from the Council's activities may be
included in the program resulting from this study.
2. PLANNING STUDIES
a. Water Demands
Existing and future municipal, industrial, agricultural and
irrigation water demands will be determined for the year 2040,
using TWDB projections for high population growth, with
conservation. Environmental demands for in -stream flows and bay
and estuary needs will be estimated using simplified assumptions to
be coordinated with the TPWD, TWC and TWDB. The resulting demands
for environmental purposes shall be considered , along with the
TWDB demand projections, in determining availability of water from
streams and reservoirs. Assess the impact of conservation measures
and re -use on the projected water demands, instream flows, water
rights and return flows for bays and estuaries. Determine measures
17
7
necessary to achieve conservation reductions.
b. Available Supplies
Acquire data on existing and planned ground and surface water
supplies available to meet water demands in the individual river
basins and the demand centers. Analyze existing water rights in
the Lavaca-Navidad, San Antonio, Guadalupe -Blanco, lower Brazos,
Lower Colorado and Nueces River Basins. Develop potential systems
operations schemes for supplying water to the demand centers in the
study area, considering current, as well as future availability.
Based on this information, determine the quantities of water
required to meet projected unserved water needs in these basins.
c. Water Duality
Acquire existing water quality data for groundwater and water from
rivers which might be mixed with the water from other rivers.
Suitability of potential water supplies for displacement of, or
exchange between usage categories, such as irrigation and
municipal, will be assessed. Review existing surface water
treatment processes in the intended service areas and develop
preliminary conceptual designs and costs for modifications needed
to treat groundwater, surface water or mixed waters.
3. ENVIRONNANTAL ANALYSIS
a. Meetings
Assist the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority plan and conduct
coordination meetings on environmental issues. Meetings will be
held with local, state, and federal governmental agencies and
public interest groups in the environmental community.
r
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b. Environmental Baseline
Review previous studies of water delivery to demand centers in the
study area, and note alternate routes. Collect and review all
pertinent existing environmental data. Use available information
to identify potential environmental concerns along potential
routes.
c. Environmental Impacts
Prepare an environmental analysis report which contains information
on known or potential environmental impacts resulting from the
identified alternatives. Alternate water supply options, including
conveyance routes, will be studied and the preferred options will
be identified. This report may be used to support a TWC water
rights amendment application. This analysis will contain:
♦ Project purpose and needs
♦ Conceptual conveyance route engineering design
♦ Environmental impacts analysis of aquatic and terrestrial
impacts, to include negative and positive impacts on wetlands,
in -stream flow maintenance, bay and estuary salinity
gradients, fish, wildlife and water quality.
♦ Conveyance alternatives screening analysis
♦ Cost estimates for environmental enhancements and mitigation,
including both capital and operation and maintenance costs.
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4. PRELIMINARY IMPLEMENTATION STUDIES
a. Institutional and Legal Issues
Evaluate institutional and legal issues likely to arise, including
the following:
♦ Water rights issues
♦ Construction -related legal requirements
Environmental and regulatory permits
Utility and construction easements
Land and right-of-way acquisition
♦ Long-term contractual requirements
Water purchase agreements
Existing facility usage agreements
Operation and maintenance agreements
b. Financina and Cost Issues
Based on the preliminary estimate of capital costs previously
developed, make a more detailed evaluation of costs for the
preferred alternative. This evaluation will include the following:
♦ Preliminary financing plan
♦ Estimate of operation and maintenance costs
♦ Pricing policies for water supplies resulting from
alternatives.
c. Scheduling and Phasina Issues
Develop an overall schedule for the project, including the
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following:
♦ TWC permit application
♦ Options for project phasing
♦ Preconstruction schedule
♦ Construction schedule
5. REPORT PREPARATION AND COORDINATION
At the completion of Phase II, the draft report prepared in Phase
I will be revised as needed, and expanded to reflect the additional
analysis performed during Phase II. Summaries of alternatives
evaluated, relative costs and benefits of each, and a recommended
alternative or group of alternatives will be presented. A final
draft will be prepared and coordinated with sponsors and advisors,
prior to final publication of the final report. 25 copies of the
final report will be provided.
6. SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETION
Work under phase I should be completed approximately 180 days after
notice to proceed. Phase II should be completed approximately 240
days after notice to proceed. Attachment "B" is a tentative
schedule for the study.
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