Corpus Christi secures temporary halt on environmental reservoir releases to preserve water supply

Corpus Christi secures temporary halt on environmental reservoir releases to preserve water supplyThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has granted a temporary reprieve allowing the city to suspend pass-through flows from its Western Reservoirs until combined capacity recovers to 50%.

The TCEQ executive director approved a 180-day suspension of the 2001 Agreed Order, pending full commission review.

The city's Western Reservoirs are currently at 41% combined capacity.

Under the existing order, the city must release up to 138,000 acre-feet of water annually for environmental flows when storage exceeds 70%.

Corpus Christi Water plans to petition for the reestablishment of the Nueces Estuary Advisory Council to evaluate long-term changes to the release requirements.

The City of Corpus Christi has secured a temporary suspension of environmental water releases from its Western Reservoirs as it grapples with declining water supplies. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) executive director approved the city's application for a temporary reprieve, which took effect on August 25 and awaits final review by the full TCEQ commission. The suspension will remain in place for 180 days or until the combined capacity of the Western Reservoirs reaches 50%. According to City Manager Peter Zanoni, the reservoirs are currently sitting at 41% capacity. Nick Winkleman, Chief Operating Officer for Corpus Christi Water (CCW), told the city council that the original agreed order governing the releases was established in 1995 and amended in 2001. Under the current framework, the city is targeted to release 138,000 acre-feet of water per year for environmental flows when combined storage is at 70% or greater. When capacity falls between 40% and 70%, the targeted release drops to 97,000 acre-feet. The city submitted the suspension application on August 11 in partnership with the Nueces River Authority and the City of Three Rivers, both of which are co-signers to the agreed order. While the immediate focus is on preserving current water levels, city officials are also looking toward a permanent restructuring of the environmental release requirements. Winkleman noted that CCW is fully supportive of reestablishing the Nueces Estuary Advisory Council (NEAC) to reevaluate the entire agreement. "It's worth getting the group together and reevaluating the entire agreement," Winkleman said, noting that groups such as the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries program have expressed interest in shifting toward a more consistent flow model. The city manager confirmed that staff will bring a resolution to the city council in the coming weeks to officially request that the TCEQ reactivate the NEAC oversight group to begin discussions on long-term framework changes.