Public Meeting April 4, 2014

Durant High School

1www.LakeTexomaOnline.com Office phone: 580-564-2334

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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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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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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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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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

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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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!9

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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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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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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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!13

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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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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