Chapter 2 Regional Summaries - Texas Water Development Board

2 Summary of
Lower Colorado (K) Region
The Lower Colorado Regional Water
Planning Area is composed of all or parts
of 14 counties, portions of 6 river and
coastal basins, and Matagorda Bay.
The Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Area is composed of all or parts of 14 counties, portions of 6 river
and coastal basins, and Matagorda Bay (Figure K.1). Most of the region is located in the Colorado River Basin.
Major cities in the region include Austin, Bay City, Pflugerville, and Fredericksburg. The largest economic sectors
in the region include agriculture, government, service, manufacturing, and retail trade. The manufacturing
sector is primarily concentrated in the technology and semiconductor industry in the Austin area. Oil, gas,
petrochemical processing and mineral production are found primarily in Wharton and Matagorda counties
near the coast. The 2011 Lower Colorado (K) Regional Water Plan can be found on the TWDB Web site at https://
www.twdb.state.tx.us/wrpi/rwp/3rdRound/2011_RWP/RegionK/.
PLAN HIGHLIGHTS
• Additional supply needed in 2060—367,671 acre-feet per year
• Recommended water management strategy volume in 2060—646,167 acre-feet per year
• Total capital cost—$907 million
• Conservation accounts for 37 percent of 2060 strategy volumes
• One new major reservoir (Lower Colorado River Authority/San Antonio Water System Project Off-Channel)
• Reuse accounts for 21 percent of 2060 strategy volumes
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Chapter 2: lower colorado (k) region summary
WAT E R FOR TEXAS 2012 STATE WATER PLAN