Amy Settemeyer, Manager, Watermaster Section Watermasters in Texas

Watermaster Programs Watermasters ensure compliance by monitoring stream flows, reservoir levels, water use, and coordinating diversions. Current Watermaster Programs in Texas: Rio Grande Watermaster South Texas Watermaster Concho River Watermaster Brazos Watermaster There are currently four successful watermaster programs in the state which were created by various methods. The Rio Grande program was established by court action. The South Texas program was established in response to a declared water division. The Concho River program was established by both a petition of at least 25 water right holders who successfully proved at a hearing that their water rights were threatened and by legislative action. The Brazos program was established by a petition, through a hearing process, and the Commissioners’ directing the ED to appoint a watermaster.

Watermaster Programs

Watermaster Rules and Statutes Texas Water Code, Chapter 11, Water Rights 30 TAC Chapter 303, Operation of the Rio Grande 30 TAC Chapter 304, Watermaster Operations

Differences Between the Watermaster Programs South Texas, Concho, and Brazos Watermaster Prior Appropriation – water right holders take their permitted diversions or impoundments as water flows along the watercourses based on priority date. Rio Grande Watermaster Store and Release (for river segments below Amistad) – water is stored in Amistad and Falcon, and then released downstream when requested by water right holders according to their allocations of available water. All programs require prior approval from the Watermaster prior to any diversions.

Watermaster Programs Funded with annual fees paid by the water right holders within the program jurisdiction. Annual fees/budget must be approved by the Commission. Hands-on monitoring of surface water rights Ability to enforce priority system of surface water rights resulting in protection of domestic and livestock rights and senior water rights. Ability to quickly respond to complaints and inquiries. Ability to facilitate negotiations between concerned parties to ensure equitable distribution of water (Run of the River systems).

Daily Activities AND Duties

Duties Within a Watermaster Program Conduct river investigations. Monitor stream flow, reservoir levels, and water use. Enforce compliance with water rights. Respond to complaints and inquiries. Establish a watermaster advisory committee. Manage diversion requests. Update ownership information.

Conduct River Investigations Day-to-day Investigations Respond to Complaints

Monitor Stream Flows Conducting flow measurements in the field

Monitor Stream Flows Utilize USGS gages.

Monitor stream flows Setting a stream flow marker.

Verify Pumps and meters Meter must be inspected and verified by the watermaster program before it may be used to divert water.

In the field, deputies (watermaster specialists) fill out a meter information sheet, then take it back to the office to enter into the TXWAS database.

Meters Examples of meters (these photos are from the Brazos program): Top left: Hour Meter.JPG is one of the more convoluted types of meters; there are two of them in my area. Use is calculated from max pump rate and run time rather than actual volume of water. Top right: SCADA system for municipality – more sophisticated (MORE EXPLANATION) Bottom left: Annubar.JPG is an unusual measuring device that NRG @ Limestone uses. It connects electronically to an electronic meter inside the plant (electronic meter.JPG) which gives the totalizing number. Bottom right: Meter for a Water Supply Company

pumps Examples of pumps: Left: MeterInSitu.jpg is a small pump set up where they are pumping ~40gpm into a drum to gravity feed to crops nearby. Top right: Golf course pump Bottom right: Pump and DP.JPG is a portable pumping system that a lot of folks seem to have, especially on those rivers that rise rapidly! The portable pumping systems also allow them to use it for several diversion points, rather than have a separate system for each pumping location.

Enforce Compliance Ensure water right holders comply with terms of their permits and adjudications Address non-permitted diversions Issue Notices of Violation In some cases, Notices of Enforcement –OR- If applicable, issue a Field Citation Response to complaints

Examples of Violations -Unauthorized impoundments -Unauthorized diversions

Identifying Current Owners When conducting our daily activities, if we identify potential new owners, staff will research records and potentially send a letter to the “possible” owner similar to what WRCAT sends. WRCAT should be copied on this letter.

Watermaster advisory Committee 9 to 15 members serve a 2-year term Water right holders, such as water authorities/districts, cities, industries, and agriculture. Meet at least 1/year to provide input on the annual budget. Provide recommendations to the E.D. regarding administration and distribution activities that would benefit water rights holders. Perform other duties requested by the E.D. regarding watermaster operations, or by water right holders that the WAC determines would benefit water rights administration.

Communication In-person questions during investigations Watermaster staff often meet with diverters during day-to-day activities. Respond to complaints and inquiries Schedule meetings with water right holders and interested people Communication is key to the watermaster program’s success. Staff often communicate with water right holders and the general public on issues related to water rights.

Training Training is an important to the program: -Streamflow – Sontech, Q-boat -Doppler -HAZWOPER -Confined Space -Bi-annual section training

Requirements for Diverters Comply with the water right. Divert water according to watermaster rules Install an accurate measuring device. Before diverting, contact and receive approval from the watermaster. After pumping, submit a report. Pay annual fees based on authorized water right amount and use.

DOI Required When someone calls the office to request a diversion, the request is written on a DOI form an entered into the TXWAS database. The watermaster will determine if the request can be approved, or rather needs to be adjusted or denied. A hard copy of the form is mailed to the diverter so they can complete the actual diversion information once it is completed.

What makes the Rio Grande Watermaster Program Different?

Rio Grande Watermaster Manages the US portion of an International Stream. Purpose of Use Priority from Amistad to the Gulf instead of Priority Date. 1944 Treaty administered by U.S. IBWC and Mexico’s CILA. Close relationship with U.S. IBWC. Heavy stakeholder involvement.

Rio Grande Watermaster Store and Release (for river segments below Amistad) – water is stored in Amistad and Falcon, and then released downstream when requested by water right holders according to their allocations of available water.

AMISTAD RESERVOIR

FALCON RESERVOIR

Rio Grande Watermaster Allocations: How do they Work? Starting with the total amount of water in storage for the U.S., as reported by the IBWC on the last Saturday of the month: Deduct 225,000 acre-feet for the DMI reserve Deduct 4,600 acre-feet for dead storage Deduct an amount equal to the total balances of all Class A & B water right accounts (irrigation, mining) Establish the operating reserve at 75,000 acre-feet Allocate excess water to Class A & B accounts -OR- If needed, restore the operating reserve through negative allocations of Class A & B accounts.

Rio Grande Watermaster Account Balance Summary 90 – 110% account usage charge (mandated conservation) Account reduced to zero for non-use in a two year period. Account reduced to zero for non-payment in a one year period.

Rio Grande Watermaster Class A & B Conversions to DMI Class A & B Water Rights can be converted to Domestic, Municipal, and/or Industrial use. Class A rights have a conversion factor of 0.5 (Example: 1,000 AF of Class A converts to 500 AF of DMI). Class B rights have a conversion factor of 0.4 (Example: 1,000 AF of Class B converts to 400 AF of DMI).

Watermaster Evaluations

Watermaster Evaluations TCEQ’s Sunset Bill (HB 2694) directed the TCEQ to: Evaluate each river basin or coastal basin that does not have a watermaster at least once every five years. Assess whether or not there is a need to appoint a watermaster in that basin. Report our findings to the Legislature. Repeat the assessment in each basin at least once every 5 years. House Bill 2694, TCEQ’s Sunset Bill, requires us to evaluate each river basin in the state that does not have a watermaster program at least once every five years. We are required to determine whether a watermaster should be appointed, report the findings, and make recommendations to the Commission. The agency’s findings and recommendations are also to be included in the TCEQ’s Biennial Report to the Legislature.

2012 Watermaster Evaluations Brazos and Colorado River Basins and Brazos-Colorado and Colorado-Lavaca Coastal Basins Received Commission feedback. Evaluated priority calls, complaints, history of petitions. On October 31, 2012, the Commission acknowledged receipt of the Executive Director’s report and recommendation that the Commission not move forward on its own motion to create a watermaster.

2013 Watermaster Evaluations Trinity River, San Jacinto River, Trinity-San Jacinto Coastal, and San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basins On September 4, 2013, the Commission acknowledged receipt of the Executive Director’s report and recommendation that the Commission not move forward on its own motion to create a watermaster.

2014 Watermaster Evaluations Sabine River, Neches River, and Neches-Trinity Coastal Basins On August 20, 2014, the Commission acknowledged receipt of the Executive Director’s report and recommendation that the Commission not move forward on its own motion to create a watermaster.

2015 Watermaster Evaluations Canadian and Red River Basins On August 19, 2015, the Commission acknowledged receipt of the Executive Director’s report and recommendation that the Commission not move forward on its own motion to create a watermaster.

2016 Watermaster Evaluations Sulphur River and Cypress Creek Basins On August 24, 2016, the Commission acknowledged receipt of the Executive Director’s report and recommendation that the Commission not move forward on its own motion to create a watermaster.

2017 Watermaster Evaluations Upper Brazos River, Colorado River, San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal, Brazos-Colorado Coastal, and the Colorado-Lavaca Coastal Basins Initial stakeholder letters mailed March 3, 2017 Stakeholder Meetings will be held throughout the applicable basins late May and early June.

Future Evaluations 2018: Trinity and San Jacinto River Basins and the Trinity-San Jacinto and Neches-Trinity Coastal Basins 2019: Sabine and Neches River Basins 2020: Red and Canadian River Basin 2021: Sulphur and Cypress Creek Basins

Questions? Amy Settemeyer, Watermaster Section Manager 512-239-2588 amy.settemeyer@tceq.texas.gov