SAWS reservoir not for recreational use
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Fishing, water skiing and boating would not be allowed on a storage reservoir that LCRA/ SAWS project officials plan to build on the Pierce Ranch.

Lower Colorado River Authority officials said this week the lake would be closed to the public.

"The holding basin is not intended to be a recreational lake," said Merrell Foote, senior communications specialist for the LCRA.

"Water levels in the basin will rise and fall significantly, depending on the rate of water being pumped in and out of the facility. This creates unsafe conditions for water recreation."

LCRA announced last week it has signed a preliminary agreement to purchase 4,200 acres on the Pierce Ranch for the reservoir. The basin will store excess surface water flows from the Colorado River. Those flows would later be transported via pipeline to San Antonio as part of the Lower Colorado River Authority/ San Antonio Water System project.

The LCRA/SAWS project calls for the transport of 150,000 acre feet of Colorado River water to San Antonio annually. In return, the money the Alamo city pays for the water will fund conservation methods and the development of new water sources in the lower Colorado basin.

Project officials initially considered six potential sites for the holding basin. The Wharton County site was said to be ideal, with few environmental concerns and a willingness by property owners to sell.

How much of the 4,200 acres would be needed for the reservoir has not yet been determined, LCRA's Foote said, adding water availability studies are under way to determine how much water is actually available from the Colorado River.

"After we complete those studies, we will begin designing the holding basin," Foote said. "A preliminary estimate of the size of the holding basin indicates the footprint could be about six or seven square miles."

Foote said a 150-foot "buffer" will likely be established around the perimeter of the reservoir. This area could be used for wetlands mitigation. A portion will also accommodate an intake structure, pump station and pipelines needed to move the water from the river to the reservoir. It's estimated to cost $97 million for this construction.

SAWS would cover those expenses, along with the overall project study costs of $47.9 million. Part of that cost includes roughly $4 million that would be earmarked for required permits. LCRA intends to file an application next year with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"The permitting process could take several years from start to finish. The Corps follows a very thorough process to evaluate the proposed project, especially its impact on wetlands and the environment," Foote said.

"If the permit is denied, LCRA and SAWS must go back to the drawing board."

LCRA further plans to build eight additional "regulating reservoirs" as part of the project's agricultural conservation study. These would be used to store irrigation water for local agricultural needs, officials said.

"These conservation ponds would be located in LCRA's three irrigation divisions and could range in size from 40 to 120 acres," Foote said.