Project Goals/Objectives: To protect the Texas Lower Colorado River watershed by providing education, technical assistance, and financial incentives to landowners through LCRA’s Creekside Conservation Program. Assess nonpoint source (NPS) pollutant load reductions resulting from the program as well as educate agricultural producers and local stakeholders on abatement of NPS pollution through implementation of conservation practices and promotion of Water Quality Management Plans (WQMPs). All of these objectives will be achieved through collaboration with the TSSWCB, local soil and water conservation districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the USDA Agricultural Research Service and others.
Project Background: The LCRA is a conservation and reclamation district created by the Texas Legislature in 1934. The State of Texas gives LCRA responsibility for protecting the waters of the lower Colorado River basin. LCRA manages water supplies for cities, farmers and industries along a 600-mile stretch of the Texas Colorado River between San Saba County and the Gulf Coast.
LCRA operates six dams on the Colorado River that form the Highland Lakes: Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls, Travis, and Lake Austin. Downstream of that Highland Lakes, the Colorado River winds through several counties and eventually feeds into Matagorda Bay.
LCRA regulates water discharges to manage floods, and releases water for sale to municipal, agricultural and industrial users. It works with communities to plan and coordinate their water and wastewater needs. LCRA also operates an environmental laboratory and monitors the water quality of the lower Colorado River. It enforces ordinaces that control illegal dumps, regulates on-site sewage facilities, and reduces the impact of NPS pollution from major new construction along and near the lakes.
Project Location: Colorado River Basin in Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Colorado, Fayette, Lampasas, Llano, Matagorda, San Saba, Travis and Wharton counties
Project Website: https://www.lcra.org/community-services/land-conservation/Pages/default.aspx
Project Costs:Federal ($472,900); Non-Federal ($405,000); Project Total ($877,900)
Project Participant(s): TSSWCB, Lower Colorado River Authority, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Agricultural Research Service.
Project Workplan: 18-04
Project Final Report: 18-04