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Bureau of Reclamation
Great Plains Region
Oklahoma - Texas Area Activity Update
156th Committee Meeting
Oct. 17-19, 2006
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
The Oklahoma-Texas Area Office (OTAO) of the Bureau of
Reclamation is responsible for administering 11 reservoir projects and
associated water distribution systems in southern Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Reclamation works in conjunction with other Federal, state, Indian tribes, and
local entities in performing these responsibilities. Significant areas of
activity include providing oversight of operations and maintenance of existing
facilities and water resources planning assistance.
The purpose of this Activity Report is to provide a
selected summary of current and recent activities of the Area Office.
Status Ongoing
Description The Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer has been
designated a sole source aquifer by EPA. The health and economic future of a
large number of Oklahoma residents is dependent on protecting the quantity and
quality of water in the aquifer. The Arbuckle-Simpson is an important source of
water supply for the citizens of Ada, Sulphur, Mill Creek and Roff; the
Chickasaw National Recreational Area; and many farmers and ranchers owning land
overlying the aquifer. Contributions from the aquifer also provide the
perennial flow for many streams and natural springs in the area.
During recent years, a number of issues have emerged which
have caused concern about the utilization and continued health of the aquifer.
These issues include concern over water use, competition for water, pumping
water to areas beyond the recharge zones for the aquifer, and water quality. In
order to assure the future well-being of the aquifer, the Oklahoma Water
Resources Board entered into a cost-sharing agreement with the Bureau of
Reclamation to undertake a 5-year study of the hydrology within the aquifer to
include detailed assessments of the formation hydrogeology, water quality and
vulnerability, as well as groundwater-surface water interactions. The results
of this study will provide information that is intended for use in the
development of best management practices which will protect the integrity of the
aquifer, change land use and diminish related impacts, and assist in Tribal and
State water rights issues. The study is scheduled to be completed in 2007.
Fort Cobb Reservoir (OK), Alternatives for Conveyance System Expansion
Status Ongoing
Description Fort Cobb Reservoir serves the municipal and
industrial water supply needs of several communities in west-central Oklahoma.
Over the past several years, the Fort Cobb Master Conservancy District has begun
to experience periods of difficulty in delivering sufficient water through the
Anadarko Aqueduct to meet the peak demands of the service population. Although
the total demand has not yet exceeded the amount contracted to the member cities
and other water user entities, the actual total deliveries requested during the
summer months are approaching the physical limitations of existing aqueduct.
The purpose of this appraisal study is to evaluate alternatives that would
expand the capacity of the Fort Cobb Reservoir Master Conservancy District
conveyance system. The study is expected to be concluded early in 2007.
Lake Altus (OK), Water Supply Augmentation
Status Completed March 2005
Description The purpose of this Appraisal Report was to
analyze the nature of the water resource problems and needs confronting the W.C.
Austin Project, and to examine potential opportunities for water supply
augmentation. This study found that the primary problem now confronting the
Lugert-Altus Irrigation District is a decreasing storage capacity due to
sediment accumulation in Lake Altus. At present, the sediment in Lake Altus is
estimated to have replaced about 37 percent of the original conservation storage
capacity. By 2050, sediment is projected to account for over 60 percent of this
volume. This storage capacity reduction is intensified by other factors that
reduce net deliveries to farms. The aging delivery infrastructure experiences
problems such as excessive conveyance losses and other operational
inefficiencies during water deliveries.
Various alternatives were evaluated. Water supply
augmentation alternatives included reusing municipal wastewater for irrigation,
constructing a new reservoir upstream of Lake Altus to preserve existing project
benefits, and constructing a new reservoir downstream of Lake Altus to
supplement the irrigation water supply. Efficiency improvement alternatives
included restoring a hydrologic connection to the upper reservoir pool and
eliminating system wasteway diversions during irrigation deliveries. Although
each of the augmentation alternatives was rejected due to high costs, have poor
environmental acceptability and involve significant uncertainty, the efficiency
alternatives were found to be cost effective. The District has subsequently
implemented several of the water conservation measures identified.
Lake Thunderbird (OK), Water Supply Augmentation and Enhancement
Status Completed August 2005
Description This Appraisal Study assessed alternatives
and opportunities to meet future water needs of the service population of the
Central Oklahoma Master Conservancy District, which serves customers from the
Norman Project, Lake Thunderbird, and is a Reclamation project. Likely sources
of supplemental water were identified in southeastern Oklahoma, which would
require the use of Lake Thunderbird as a re-regulating facility. The study
found that the Norman Project could accommodate, and re-regulate, imported
surface water with additional infrastructure and Federal authority from
Congress. A feasibility-level investigation is currently being proposed by
project proponents.
Status Completed December 2005
Description The McPherson area of Kansas utilizes
groundwater from the Equus Beds Aquifer as their main source of water for rural,
municipal, and industrial needs at this time. This investigation identified and
evaluated alternatives to supplement water supplies for future growth and
development, including transportation schemes from adjacent local reservoirs
such as Kanopolis and Marion, groundwater recharge of the local aquifer with
water from the Little Arkansas River, re-use of treated effluent of the local
communities, and others. During the evaluation, emphasis was placed on assuring
recharge, or reuse, water meets water quality standards.
Status Ongoing
Description The purpose of this Special Study is to
assist the State of Kansas and the South Central Kansas Water Coalition counties
to address public water supply problems and opportunities in a comprehensive
manner. The Walnut and Lower Arkansas River Basins of Kansas have experienced
growth at an increasingly high rate over the last few years, resulting in
increasing demands being placed on existing water supplies. While surface and
groundwater supplies are available to meet current and future (2050) demands in
the area, they are generally of poor quality, or are not located in the
immediate area of demand. The primary objective of this study is to formulate
alternative plans to meet the future municipal and industrial demands within the
study area by investigating various supply sources and associated water
treatment and distribution alternatives.
Status Ongoing
Description The Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma has asked
Reclamation to provide an appraisal-level evaluation of alternatives to treat
and/or blend brackish surface water in Lake Texoma to meet regional needs in the
southern portion of the Chickasaw Nation. The water quality of Lake Texoma
varies by location, depth, and season, usually ranging from 500 (Washita River
Arm) to 1,700 (Red River Arm) ppm of TDS. The Tribe is interested in developing
additional water supplies to meet anticipated future demands in this area.
Current water needs are met by the local groundwater aquifer, but this resource
may not be adequate or cost-effective in meeting projected future water needs.
The study is expected to be concluded late in 2007.
Delaware Nation (OK), Needs Assessment
Status Completed in July 2005
Description The Delaware Nation of Oklahoma requested
Reclamation assistance with the development and enhancement of water
infrastructure associated with two parcels of Tribal land near Anadarko and
Hinton, Oklahoma. The preliminary engineering report of the Tribal water
distribution system will be used by the Tribe to seek grant money for
construction.
Status Ongoing
Description The Seminole Nation of Oklahoma has requested
that Reclamation provide design assistance in evaluating alternatives for the
replacement of pump house and system control alternatives. Reclamation had
previously (2001) provided recommendations based upon the urgency and necessity
of the repairs for the Sasakwa Rural Water District water system. This
assistance is expected to be completed in 2006.
Through the Water 2025 Challenge Grant Program, Reclamation
provides 50/50 cost-share funding to irrigation and water districts and states
for projects focused on water conservation, efficiency, and water marketing.
Projects are selected through a competitive process, based on their ability to
meet the goals identified in Water 2025: Preventing Crises and Conflict in the
West. The focus is on projects that can be completed within 24 months that will
help to prevent crises over water. More information about the Water 2025
initiative may be found on-line at
http://www.doi.gov/water2025.
Recipients of ongoing Water 2025 projects within OTAO
include:
- Harlingen Irrigation District (TX)
- City of McAllen (TX)
- Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2 (TX)
- Brownsville Irrigation District No. 2 (TX)
- Lugert-Altus Irrigation District (OK)
- Texas Water Development Board (TX)
Mark A. Treviņo
Area Manager
512.899.4150
James Allard
Deputy Area Manager
405.606.2900
Leon Esparza
Program Coordinator of Facilities and Operations
405.606.2905
Michael Irlbeck
Program Coordinator of Planning and Environmental Programs
512.899.4157
The Oklahoma City Field Office will be relocating the
office on November 6, 20006 to
5924 NW 2nd St., Suite 200
Oklahoma City, OK 73127-6514
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