The Lower Neches Valley Authority (LNVA) was created in 1933 to provide municipal, industrial, and agricultural water supply from the Neches and Trinity Rivers to several counties in Texas, and it works with the US Army Corps of Engineers to manage reservoirs like Sam Rayburn for water supply, flood control, and hydropower generation. The document discusses LNVA's response to the ongoing drought conditions through increased conservation efforts, modifications to existing water projects and operations, and identifying alternative water sources like extending the active pool at Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

1. MUNICIPAL • INDUSTRIAL • AGRICULTURAL WATER
LOWER NECHES VALLEY AUTHORITY

2. Created by the State Legislature in
1933 as a Conservation and
Reclamation District
Jurisdictional Area
 Tyler, Hardin, Jefferson and
portions of Liberty and Chambers
Counties
Services Provided
 Water Supply from Neches & Trinity Rivers
 Wastewater Treatment for industry
 Potable Water to Bolivar Peninsula
 Environmental Water Quality Testing
Partnership with USACE
 Sam Rayburn Reservoir
 Lake B.A. Steinhagen
 Neches River Saltwater Barrier

3. Our neighborhood

6. 300
Village Creek near Kountze, TX
Drainage Area 860 square miles or 8.8% of the Neches River Basin
Gage Record Established June 1, 1924
250
200
New Record Low Flow
10 cfs – October 24, 2011
150
Historic Low Flow
16 cfs - October 1-2, 1957
100
50
0
1-Jan-11 1-Feb-11 1-Mar-11 1-Apr-11 1-May-11 1-Jun-11 1-Jul-11 1-Aug-11 1-Sep-11 1-Oct-11 1-Nov-11 1-Dec-11 1-Jan-1
Historical Minimum Flow 2011 Observed Flow

7. Sam Rayburn Reservoir
Reservoir Pool Total Storage
Elev. 173 Acre-feet
Elev. 164.4 Flood Control 3,997,600
Conservation 2,898,500
Inactive Pool 1,452,000
Elev. 149
Inactive Pool At Elevation 150.79 feet on 11/17/11
Total Storage 1,584,800 acre-feet
Conservation 132,800 acre-feet
Elev. 105 Storage 9% of capacity
Conservation Pool for Water Supply and Hydroelectric Power Generation

8. Drought Contingency Plan
Original DCP in response to 1996 drought
Untested in Severe Drought
 30% reduction then no storage
Revised DCP
 Triggers at 1year, 6 months and 3 months
 Surcharge that increase as drought increases
 Trigger to curtail interruptible supply

9. Conservation Efforts
Saltwater Barrier operated in a salinity control
mode since Oct 2010
Coordinated Reservoir Releases with USACE
Required customers schedule water delivery
Municipal efforts – 20% reduction by replacing
leaking distribution system pipes
Industrial customers actively engaged
All irrigation is metered – 27% reduction

10. Alternate Water Supply
Extension of active pool at Rayburn
 Requires extension of erosion protection and
modification to the hydropower plant
Request to Sabine River Authority for an
additional supply from Toledo Bend
 SRA Board to consider later this month
 Requires IBT permit
 Goal to complete within 3 years

11. Summary
Two years of drought – call to action
Increased conservation efforts
Increased communication with stakeholders
Modification to existing projects/operations
Identified means to diversify water supply

12. Provide for the present and long Protect water quality in the Neches
term freshwater needs of River and coastal basin,
municipal, agricultural and
industrial customers, LNVA
Water for Today
Water for Tomorrow
www.lnva.org
Enhance the economic
Insure affordability of the water development in the Authority’s
supply, jurisdiction.