1. Amy Settemeyer, Manager, Watermaster Section
Watermasters in Texas

2. 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.

3. Watermaster Programs

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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).

7. Daily Activities AND Duties

8. 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.

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

10. Monitor Stream Flows
Conducting flow measurements in the field

11. Monitor Stream Flows
Utilize USGS gages.

12. Monitor stream flows
Setting a stream flow marker.

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

14. 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.

15. 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 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. Examples of Violations
-Unauthorized impoundments
-Unauthorized diversions

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

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

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. What makes the Rio Grande Watermaster Program Different?

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. AMISTAD RESERVOIR

29. FALCON RESERVOIR

30. 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.

32. 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.

33. 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).

34. Watermaster Evaluations

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 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.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. 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

43. Questions? Amy Settemeyer, Watermaster Section Manager 512-239-2588