1. Public Meeting
April 4, 2014
Durant High School
1www.LakeTexomaOnline.com Office phone: 580-564-2334

2. Lake Texoma Association
 The Lake Texoma Association (LTA) is celebrating our 60th year of promoting
and protecting Lake Texoma in 2014.
 LTA is a nonprofit organization with the mission of preserving and protecting Lake
Texoma, as well as, promoting the entire Texoma region, both Oklahoma and Texas,
for private and business interests alike.
 The LTA organization is run by a full time Executive Director and Office Manager, as
well as the volunteer support of a Board of Directors and members.
 Importance of Economy and Jobs
 Pew Research Center surveys, businesses and the public have clearly indicated
that the economy and jobs trump all other policy priorities.
 Strengthening the nation’s economy and improving the job situation stand at the top
of the public’s list of domestic priorities for recovering from the recession over the
next several years.
 Federal, state and local legislators , government officials and others are increasing
emphasis on the economy and jobs.
 Lake Texoma’s Regional Economic Engine is focused on Recreation and
Tourism and has a critical and significant impact on the regional economy, jobs,
and the quality of life of Southern Oklahoma and North Texas.
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3. What is the economic impact of recreation and tourism?
 Regional Recreation and Tourism have a variety of economic impacts.
Tourists , boaters, fishermen and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts
contribute to sales, profits, jobs, tax revenues, and income in the area.
 The recreation and tourism industry, in turn, buys goods and services from
other businesses in the area, and pays out most of the income as wages and
salaries to its employees. This creates secondary economic effects in the region.
 Lake Texoma Regional Economic Impacts by Tier:
 Tier -1 occur along the lakeshore.
 Tier -2 occur within 30 miles of Lake Texoma
 Tier -3 ranging up to 300 miles or more such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma
City, Kansas and West Texas add greatly to the economic multiplier effect.
 Example of Tier -3 : Fishermen, boaters, campers and tourists visit Lake Texoma on
several weekends , a few days or weeks for their primary recreation and for vacation.
They purchase boats, engines, fishing and camping equipment, motor homes and travel
trailers and spend travel funds that all contribute to the regional economy and jobs.
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5. General Outlook 2014 and Beyond
 Lake Texoma normally attracts more than 6 million visitors and generates more
than $600 million per year in Tier 1, 2 and 3 economic benefits.
 Lake Texoma started the 2013 summer season with some temporary relief from the
ongoing drought since 2011. The summer and fall have been hot and dry seasons.
 Lake levels have decreased rapidly due to drought, high temperatures, evaporation
and increased fall and winter hydropower generation.
 The Lake Texoma elevation decreased below 612 msl in December 2013 and now is
approaching 608 msl, greatly increasing safety hazards, closing several boat
launching ramps and may continue to cause an increase in the loss of regional
visitors.
 Most lake area businesses have reported 20 to 40% reductions in revenue during
previous droughts. Drought intensity outlooks are increasing.
 $120-140 million revenue loss / per year
 Over 2,700 Oklahoma and Texas jobs at Lake Texoma are being affected to
varying degrees as well as the overall regional economy. Types of regional
destinations, businesses and tourism/recreation follow.
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6. Lake Texoma Regional Issues
 According to the interagency National Drought Resilience Partnership to Help
Communities Prepare for Drought and reduce the impact of drought events on
livelihoods and the economy "The impacts of drought can be devastating to
local communities and economies and don't end with the onset of fall and
winter."
 Lake Texoma surface elevations have rapidly decreased from the normal
conservation pool elevation of 617 msl in June 2013 to the first serious alert point
of 612 msl on 10/30/2013 identified in PUBLIC LAW 100-71, JULY 11, 1987. Lake
elevations are currently hovering around 608 msl and may continue to decline.
 Major seasonal rains and inflows from the Red and Washita Rivers into
Lake Texoma are critical to restore lake levels.
 The water demand for the cumulative hydroelectric power generation,
water supply, and evaporation combined with the drought outlooks from
the National Weather Service for several months in 2014 indicate critically
low lake elevations and severe regional economic impacts will be reached
in the near future.
 Moreover, severe regional droughts have repeated every 15 to 20 years since 1895
according to USDA’s Annual OK Precipitation History.
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7. Water Demand Usage on Lake Texoma Evaporation – Currently THE highest factor for water usage
 Hydroelectric Power Generation by SWPA
 Near and long term problems associated with Lake Texoma water levels are increased from
hydropower generation by the federal Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) that points
to Texas market energy increasing demands with limited supply and the associated pricing
spikes.
 ERCOT the Texas electric market have become increasingly volatile, which creates recurring
peak demands and pricing. As such, SWPA co-op customers reportedly cannot afford
purchasing alternative power for their consumers which necessitates the need for Lake Texoma
hydropower.
 Power generation from Lake Texoma to fulfill energy contracts for Texas customers is rapidly
depleting the critical water reserves of Lake Texoma, and with current regulations allows SWPA
to take up to three feet of surface elevation per month.
 Water Supply
 With current water permits, the North Texas Municipal Water District and Greater Texoma
Utility Authority are able to remove up to 2.5 feet of surface elevation per year. This water
demand includes that associated with the new pipeline, as well as, the Sherman Panda Energy
plant, both projected to begin using water as soon as June 2014.
 Future Lake Texoma and Red River potential water demand and supplies face
serious challenges for residential and commercial interests ,especially
in the DFW metroplex, as well as, agricultural interests. 7

8. Worst Case Lake Texoma Water Annual Loss and
Lake Elevation Changes Summary
 Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) Hydroelectric power generation: up to 3
feet/month, or up to 36 feet, per year in a 86,000 acre reservoir. This is a potential major
increase over generation in recent years.
 North Texas Municipal Water District and Greater Texoma Utility Authority water
supply removal: up to a future 2.5 feet per year according to their existing Texas State
Water Permit.
 Evaporation during hot drought conditions: 6 feet+ per year based upon past experience.
 Current federal laws and regulations essentially allow total cumulative decreases
that could potentially take Lake Texoma elevation down to the bottom of the
conservation pool of 590 msl.
 The National Weather Service Drought Seasonal Outlooks for Lake Texoma and the
Upper Red River Watershed indicate drought persisting or intensifying in the watershed.
 NWS Long Term Climate Influencing Factors graphics indicate that current variations in
global Sea Surface Temperatures support long term Texas and regional drought
conditions.
 Lake Texoma elevations can decrease rapidly from Drought Level 2 at 612 msl, causing
major negative economic impacts. Impacts increase exponentially in a severe extended
drought.
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9. What does all this mean?
 Lake Texoma water resources are critical to the OK & TX social and business environment.
Unfortunately, they are also scarce and have to managed with the utmost care and concern to preserve
those resources, now and well into the future:
 Hydropower
 Water supply
 Watershed management / reservoir sustainability
 Increased uses for water in the future to keep up with growth and development in both states.
 States in the US, generally to our west, which are experiencing severe drought persisting problems are
in a crisis management mode, with limited options.
 Within the Hydro-Illogical Cycle, Lake Texoma is not in panic mode. On Texoma still have options to
preserve our water resources and manage them for the risk that exists with the projected enduring
drought conditions in the Lake Texoma watershed.
 Lake Texoma Water Risk Management Plan:
 Change the law that governs the water usage out of Lake Texoma.
 Add Drought Control as a project purpose and implement an effective drought
management plan that preserves our water resource with stricter language and
tighter controls on water usage during ongoing periods of drought.
 Implement “best practices” for watershed management and reservoir sustainability.
 Hoping for rain will not maintain our water resource!
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10. Flood AND Drought Control is Required for
Lake Texoma Project Purposes
 Existing federal Drought Level actions in Public Law (PL) 100-71 are very limited
with advisories, notifications, daily/monthly generation limits and voluntary
controls by hydropower and water supply users affecting lake capacity reserves and
elevations.
 PL 100-71, enacted in 1987, does not provide adequate water conservation measures
to support millions of dollars of existing, planned and future economic development
and tourism / recreation revenues on Lake Texoma.
 Flood and effective natural/manmade Drought Controls are essential for modern
river watersheds and reservoirs and both should be project purposes.
 Many water reservoirs utilize drought management plans and water conservation
restrictions to conserve the available water supply in times of drought and emergency.
 Lake Texoma REQUIRES an effective Drought Management and Response
Plan that includes strict language on water usage, to include specific
percentages of conservation capacity, lake surface elevations as well as water
restriction stages.
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11. Lake Texoma Association Action Proposals
 Amend PUBLIC LAW 100-71, JULY 11, 1987 or enact other federal legislation to add
Drought Control as a key Lake Texoma Project Purpose.
 Support the LTA Petition on Change.org to change Public Law 100-71
 The federal legislation should include effective drought management plans ,
water/ hydropower conservation restrictions , and supply / demand pricing
language to conserve scarce reservoir water reserves in times of drought and
emergency.
 LTA is proposing SWPA obtain hydropower from the main SWPA OK/AR/MO
electrical network for their Texas electric co-ops using an existing unused SWPA 138
KV transmission line from the Denison Dam to grid network nodes in Oklahoma.
 Power could be used during drought conditions when the several other SWPA
hydropower lakes have adequate capacity, and the Lake Texoma watershed is in
serious drought conditions and very low Lake Texoma surface elevations exist.
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12. LTA Actions to Reduce Negative Impacts on Lake Texoma
 Proposed Red/Washita River s & Lake Texoma Watershed Sustainability Study / Plan
 Funded by multi-agency federal and states to address excessive siltation and nutrients that
cause increasing blue green and golden algae
 Providing research, content and wide distribution of water, watershed sustainability
and drought related issues pros/cons and alternative solutions
 Information sources are local, regional and national resources and areas
 Provided extensive information to concerned stakeholders
 Lake Texoma Region and other OK, TX and out-of-state stakeholders, national and regional
tourism/recreation/industry organizations, federal/state/local legislators and officials, and
federal/state/local biologists and conservationists
 Proposed federal legislation to Oklahoma and Texas federal and state legislators and
officials to amend or enact new legislation affecting Lake Texoma project purposes
 Added Drought Control and Conservation as Lake Texoma Project Purpose
 Includes effective legislative language and regulations for preemptive drought management,
conservation., and supply / demand pricing.
 Submit proposal to SWPA to provide power from the SWPA OK/AR/MO grid to their
Texas co-op customers via an existing 138 KV transmission line and new interconnect
to be used during Lake Texoma watershed extended drought conditions.
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13. Texoma Stakeholder Actions to Reduce Negative
Impacts on Lake Texoma – What can you do?
 Sign the LTA initiated Petition to change public laws affecting Lake Texoma
water usage at www. Change.org
 Search for Public Law 100-71
 Participate on Stakeholder Outreach Efforts cleaning up Lake Texoma
beaches
 LTA & USACE websites have copies of the regulations that must be followed
 Stay informed with factual material and data regarding Lake Texoma and
help others recognize the facts to reduce misinformation
 LTA website, www.LakeTexomaOnline.com, has information links off the
home page under Texoma News
 Share the LTA, USACE & SWPA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
 Join the Lake Texoma Association & participate in our meetings and events.
 Invite friends and family to enjoy Lake Texoma!
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14. Thank you for your
participation in this meeting to
understand the issues on Lake
Texoma and for your support to
Protect, Preserve, and
Promote Lake Texoma and the
surrounding region.
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15. Where to go for information:
 Lake Texoma Association Website
 www.LakeTexomaOnline.com
 Lake Texoma Association Facebook Page
 www.facebook.com/LakeTexomaAssociation
 Lake Texoma Association Petition
 www.Change.org -> Search for Public Law 100-71
 US Army Corps of Engineers
 www.swt.usace.army.mil/About.aspx
 Southwestern Power Administration
 www.SWPA.gov
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