Texas WatersTexas WatersWe All Live DownstreamWe All Live Downstream

What You Need to KnowWhat You Need to Know

• Conservation Core ConceptsConservation Core Concepts• How much water is there? How much water is there? • Where does your drinking water Where does your drinking water

come from?come from?• Will there be enough for the Will there be enough for the

future? future? • How can you make a difference?How can you make a difference?

Conservation Core Conservation Core ConceptsConcepts

• Fish and wildlife resources are a Fish and wildlife resources are a public trustpublic trust. . • Conservation and managementConservation and management of terrestrial and water of terrestrial and water

resources are essential to sustaining fish and wildlife, resources are essential to sustaining fish and wildlife, the outdoor landscape, and the quality of our lives. the outdoor landscape, and the quality of our lives.

• Understanding andUnderstanding and active participationactive participation in the in the stewardship and support of our natural resources is stewardship and support of our natural resources is key. key.

• Lawfully participatingLawfully participating in hunting, fishing, trapping, in hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, wildlife watching, shooting sports, and other boating, wildlife watching, shooting sports, and other types of resource-related outdoor recreation are types of resource-related outdoor recreation are important to conservation. important to conservation.

• Funding for fish and wildlife conservation depends on Funding for fish and wildlife conservation depends on public supportpublic support. .

How much water is How much water is there?there?

Water on Earth is a Water on Earth is a finite resourcefinite resource

Texas has nearly Texas has nearly 200,000 miles of 200,000 miles of streams and rivers streams and rivers and approximately and approximately 1.7 million acres of 1.7 million acres of reservoirs (lakes)reservoirs (lakes)

Where does your drinking Where does your drinking water come from?water come from?

Why do I need to know where my water comes from?Why do I need to know where my water comes from?We all live downstream…. You don’t want to We all live downstream…. You don’t want to inadvertently pollute your water source, someone else’s inadvertently pollute your water source, someone else’s water source or the aquatic habitat of wildlife.water source or the aquatic habitat of wildlife.

Two Sources of Fresh Two Sources of Fresh WaterWater

SURFACE WATER: SURFACE WATER: Rivers, Streams, & LakesRivers, Streams, & Lakes

(15 major Rivers)(15 major Rivers)

GROUNDWATER: GROUNDWATER: Rain seeps underground and Rain seeps underground and

is stored in Aquifersis stored in Aquifers(13 Major Aquifers)(13 Major Aquifers)

Will there be enough Will there be enough water in the future?water in the future? Experts believe we will haveExperts believe we will haveenough water for people to drink, enough water for people to drink, but not enough tobut not enough to

XX water our lawns water our lawnsXX allow sufficient water flowing in our allow sufficient water flowing in our streams to support fish and wildlife at streams to support fish and wildlife at current levels.current levels.

Texas Population vs Water Needs Population in Texas is expected to more than double between the years 2000 and 2060

The demand for water in Texas is expected to increase by 27 %

05

101520253035404550

2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060Demand for Water (millions of acre-feet)Texas Population (millions)

Future Water Needs for Future Water Needs for TexasTexas

4,500 water management strategies and 4,500 water management strategies and projects were identified, at an projects were identified, at an estimated cost of 30.7 billion dollarsestimated cost of 30.7 billion dollars

What if we do nothing?What if we do nothing?Water shortages occurring during drought, could Water shortages occurring during drought, could cost businesses and workers in the state about cost businesses and workers in the state about $9.1 billion per year by 2010 and $98.4 billion per $9.1 billion per year by 2010 and $98.4 billion per year by 2060.year by 2060.

As economic activity declines—the cost of doing As economic activity declines—the cost of doing business is either passed on to the consumer OR business is either passed on to the consumer OR the business moves away from Texasthe business moves away from Texas resulting in resulting in loss of jobs and tax base.loss of jobs and tax base.

How Can You Make a How Can You Make a Difference?Difference?ConserveConserve

Reduce water use insideReduce water use inside: : • Run full loads in the dishwasher and Run full loads in the dishwasher and

washerwasher• Turn off the water when brushing teethTurn off the water when brushing teeth• Take shorter showersTake shorter showers• Fix leaky faucetsFix leaky faucets

Keep water on your landKeep water on your land:: • Redirect gutter downspouts to vegetated Redirect gutter downspouts to vegetated

areasareas• Irrigate efficiently and avoid runoffIrrigate efficiently and avoid runoff• Minimize pavement to allow water to soak Minimize pavement to allow water to soak

into the groundinto the ground

How Can You Make a How Can You Make a Difference?Difference?ProtectProtect

• Stop the Grease BlobStop the Grease Blob• Don’t Flush Your MedsDon’t Flush Your Meds• Keep trash, leaves and Keep trash, leaves and

grass out of storm grass out of storm drainsdrains

• Scoop the Poop Scoop the Poop • Use organic yard Use organic yard

productsproducts• Maintain your car to Maintain your car to

prevent leaksprevent leaks• Don’t toss that buttDon’t toss that butt