Transcript The Basics - AP Environmental Science at Westlake / FrontPage

By
Eugene McKee, Nick Mills, Tyler
Richter, Blake Burch, Wyatt Smith, &
Richard Nauert
The Basics
• The counties of Region K include Mills,
San Saba, Llano, Burnett, Blanco, Hays,
Travis, Gillespie, Bastrop, Fayette,
Colorado, Wharton, and Matagorda.
• Major water supplies are the Colorado
River, which flows through the middle of
Region K, and the Trinity, Edwards, Gulf
Coast, & Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifers.
WATER OVERVIEW
Major Cities
Austin
Population:
2000
1,132,228
Population:
2060
2,713,905
Total Water
Use: 2000
1,004,335 Acre-Feet
Total Water
Use: 2060
1,301,682 Acre-Feet
Primary Rivers
Colorado
Major Aquifers
Trinity, Edwards , Carrizo-Wilcox, Gulf Coast
Annual
Precipitation
24-48 Inches
Net
Evaporation
20-44 Inches
The table to the left shows
information about water use as of
2000, and projected water needs for
2060
A visual for the previous slide shows that with increased water
conservation and efficiency, demand for water doesn’t have to rise as
fast as population.
2005 Regional Water Plan Review
•
•
•
•
Population is projected to more than double between 2000 and 2060
Water use is projected to increase by 30%
Total capital cost of proposed water supply measures: $256 million
Two minor reservoirs proposed: Goldthwaite Channel Dam and Offchannel Reservoir
• A major diversion project of 150,000 acre-feet/year and four "ring
dike" reservoirs proposed to meet needs in Region L (San Antonio)
• Transfer of 25,000 acre feet of water out of basin to Williamson
County annually
- From Texas Water matters
The mindset
As far as Texas goes, Region K is reasonably well to do water
wise. Having immediate access to the Colorado River and Trinity,
Edwards, Gulf Coast, & Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifers protects most residents
of region K from experiencing first hand, the consequences of severe
water shortage. That said, the average resident of region K has a more
liberal mindset about water use compared with people in drier parts of
the state. While cities in region K do have water conservation programs
such as watering plans, and many people who realize the impending
danger of water shortage, the overall mindset for most, is that for the
immediate future there will be enough water for their long showers, car
washes, and green lawns. It is hard for many region K residents to take
water shortage too seriously because of the close proximity of the
Colorado river and its seemingly vast reservoirs.
What people do with the water
• Because Region K runs along the banks of the Colorado river,
and encompasses many of its lakes and reservoirs, recreation
on the water is common. Lake Buchanan, Lake Travis, and
Lake Austin, just to name a few, all have significant boat
traffic, and fishing isn’t uncommon at least in the first two. In
addition to recreation on the water, commodities like
Swimming pools, hot tubs, and water features aren’t terribly
uncommon, simply because the water is usually available.
People aren’t all that conservative with their domestic uses of
water, because the price is generally cheap, and people
interpret that to mean that there is enough to go around.
Rice
The lower Colorado River basin is home to a variety of
economic activity, ranging from the high tech industry in the
greater Austin area, to the agriculture on down the river.
The largest use of water in the lower Colorado is the rice
farming in south Texas, which is a major economic
endeavor. The rice is a particularly thirsty crop because to
grow rice, you must flood fields, so that the rice is actually
growing in water. It is interesting that the largest single
water user in region K is able to acquire its water at literally
the price it takes to harness it, due to current water use
policies regarding agriculture.
Other economic endeavors
Besides agriculture, there are the previously mentioned high
tech and computer industry, The business of generating
hydroelectricity, and an industry centered around
petrochemicals, and manufacturing of equipment for the
petroleum business. The use of dams for generating
hydroelectricity is the most obviously and directly dependant
on water, however manufacturing also requires a fair amount.
Something else of economic relevance is the price of water in
region K. From an economist standpoint, Cheap water bills
leave more money in the pocket of the consumer, but they
certainly don’t promote conservation.
Consequences of falling water
Even if we can stretch water to meet our needs, there are still
ecological concerns. If water demand increases and water
levels go down it effects aquatic communities who’s species
need a certain level of water to spawn and to thrive. Many of
these species are important to us for food sources, water
detoxification, or because of their status as a indicator
species. An example would be the Barton Springs
Salamander, who could become more threatened if levels of
the Edwards aquifer become too low due to over withdrawal.
The issue at Matagorda
• The Matagorda bay estuary is at risk
because the fresh water from the Colorado
river is its only source of fresh water
inflow, and if the flow decreases or
ceases, the region’s wildlife and coastal
economy will be devastated
Sources cited
• http://www.texaswatermatters.org/region_k.htm
• http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/wrpi/rwp/k.htm
http://www.lcra.org/
• http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/