Scope of Work and Technical Specifications for RFP 8953

2. Scope of Work

Scope of Services

Water Availability ModelingServices

General Statement of Work

The scope of services for Water Availability Modeling will be to provide services for the use, application, analysis, and interpretation of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Water Availability (WAM) WRAP models. These services will be provided to Water Resources Management (WRM) and to the River Operations Center (ROC). The use of the WAM models will be in support of LCRA’s current and future water rights permit and amendment proceedings at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), LCRA Water Management Plan amendments, water availability modeling, update of the LCRA Water Supply Resource Plan, Lower Colorado River Regional Water Plan, and other projects.

Facilities Description

Surface Water Rights. LCRA hasthe rights to more than 2.1 million acre-feet of water per year. These rights, based mostly on surface water permits issued by the State of Texas , include the right to divert and use up to 1.5 million acre-feet per year from lakes Buchanan and Travis and636,750 acre-feet per year under downstream run-of-river water rights from the Gulf Coast, Lakeside, Garwood and Pierce Ranch irrigation operations. Including all water supply sources such as groundwater, LCRA has an estimated system firm yield of approximately 600, 000 acre-feet per year. With these sources LCRA supplies drinking water for more than 1 million people, as well as water for industry, energy and recreation; for irrigating rice and other crops; and for preserving a healthy environment along the lower river and in Matagorda Bay.

Water Contracts. LCRA sells water to customers through contracts and resolutions approved by LCRA's Board of Directors. By obtaining a contract from LCRA that is based on the system firm yield, cities, industries and homeowners in thelower Colorado River basin may secure a supply of firm water that is available even during dry periods that are equal to the worst drought on record. LCRA also contracts interruptible water, but this water is subject to curtailment. LCRA has over 4,000 raw water customers, including domestic and temporary contracts.

Water Management Plan. The LCRA Water Management Plan governs operation of the Highland Lakes to meet the needs of major water users throughout the lower Colorado River basin. Specifically, the Water Management Plan prescribes how to allocate water during water supply shortages. During severe drought, the plan directs the curtailment (or cutback) of Highland Lakes water for downstream agriculture so that water will be available for the basic needs of cities, businesses and industries. Under the plan, LCRA and its customers take actions at designated points, known as "trigger points," as water storage levels drop. The plan also prescribes how LCRA must provide water from the lakes to help meet the environmental needs of the lower Colorado River and Matagorda Bay at these various trigger points.

Groundwater. LCRA is authorized to pump 10,000 acre-feet of water a year during times of drought in Bastrop County (based on conditions on Jan. 1) and 5,000 acre-feet of water a year in other years. The water will be pumped from five proposed wells located on LCRA property at the Lost Pines Power Park in Bastrop County. LCRA also owns and operates groundwater wells that are specifically used by the irrigation divisions, and LCRA retail utilities and are not consider in system yield calculations.

Irrigation Divisions. LCRA Irrigation Division facilities consist of nine major pumping plants that supply water through a 1,100-mile network of irrigation canals in portions of Matagorda, Wharton, and Colorado counties. The facilities, organized into three service areas, Gulf Coast, Lakeside, and Garwood, are capable of transporting water to up to 91,500 acres. LCRA also owns the water rights to the Pierce Ranch irrigation area and provides interruptible water under contract to farming operations in the Pierce Ranch.

List of Services

1