Water Resources Commission Minutes - 03/27/2001MINUTES OF WATER RESOURCES COMMISS OC LEERRI'�PGOFFICE
March 27, 2001
Date 04—uo `D
The Water Resources Commission met on March 27, 2001 �t' 00 p m- rake- CiS�rieil �-
Conference Room of the Memorial Auditorium. Those in attendance were Water
Resource Members Charles Bentley, Charles Barr, and Chris Neeb. Also present were
Council Liaison James Esther, Staff Representative David Lehfeldt, Public Works
Secretary Gloria Dicken. Additional guests were Steve Chaney, Wichita County
Extension Agent, Councilor Bill Altman, and Tina Patel, Channel 3 Television Reporter.
Absent from the meeting was WRC Member, Liz Martin.
• Charles Bentley called the meeting to order. Minutes from the last Water Resources
Commission Meeting were passed out to those present. Chris Neeb made the
motion to accept the minutes as written, this was seconded by Charles Barr, and the
minutes were approved as written.
• Mr. Bentley asked David Lehfeldt to give an update on the projects concerning our
water situation. Mr. Lehfeldt started out by saying that Lake Arrowhead was at
79.8% capacity and Lake Kickapoo was at 94.6% capacity with the combination of
both lakes at 84.1 %. He went on to say that on April 9, 2001 there was going to be
a Hydrographic Study at Lake Kickapoo. This should take about a week, and then
they would go to Lake Arrowhead. In addition, there should also be a Water Shed
Evaluation Report in the near future. Mr. Lehfeldt then gave a brief talk on the
expansion of both Cypress and Jasper Water Treatment Plants. He also told about
the Pilot Program for the Lake Kemp water and that it may have to be relocated to
Lake Diversion because of problems with urban runoff on it's route to Wichita Falls.
• Steve Chaney spoke on the subject of water restrictions. He said that after the
restrictions were lifted, within just a few days, the citizens were already back to
using their sprinkler systems, even though it was not necessary. He thinks that
citizens believe the drought is over and there is no longer any need to conserve
water. He suggested putting some permanent restrictions on a new Ordinance,
such as prohibiting any outside watering from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This
recommendation and any other permanent restrictions should be done as soon as
possible. He also thinks that the public should continually be kept informed and
educated about their responsibility in conserving water.
• The question was asked about the types of grasses most used in the Wichita Falls
area and how long would they survive with no water at all. Mr. Chaney said that St.
Augustine grass would last for 30 days and Bermuda grass would last about 90
days. However, if you watered these grasses with a soaking of 1" just once a week
that would be sufficient to work.
• Mr. Lehfeldt made some suggestions about not wasting water, which included
having water audits irrigation systems for businesses such as the school systems
and hotels. Mr. Chaney suggested that an irrigation audit system be put into effect
for at least once a year. Mr. Lehfeldt stated that the community needs to become
involved in this system, because everyone needs to pitch in and help.
• Mr. Lehfeldt has also been in contact with the Rural Water Association and thought
that summertime rules needed to be implemented.
WRC Meeting
March 27, 2001
Page 2
• Mr. Bentley told the group that the City of Houston had received a grant from the
Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for a water conservation study. The City
of Houston will reduce their consumptions by 6 % -7% over a 5 -year period. Mr.
Bentley asked David Lehfeldt if he could get in contact with the TWDB to apply for a
grant for a Conservation Study on behalf of the City and the WRC. Mr. Lehfeldt said
that he was going to a Conference next week and he would have to opportunity to
talk to some people about the situation.
• Mr. Bentley then wanted to have a planning session for the future Ordinances
concerning water restrictions. Ms. Dicken passed out to those present the last
Water Restrictions Ordinance that went into effect on June 6, 2000. Councilor
Altman spoke up and had some recommendations on how to present the WRC
suggestions to the City Council. There was more discussion about the activation
and lifting of restrictions. (Section 5) It was determined that the City Council should
be in charge of putting on and taking off the restrictions with input and
recommendations from the appropriate Staff or Department. Mr. Bentley asked the
Commission about making plans for both a Long Term Ordinance and for an
Emergency Drought Ordinance.
• Mr. Bentley thought for the Long Term Ordinance, that putting everyone on a
twice a week program, like trash pickup, should be implemented. If that were to
take place, make a new zoning map would need to be a part of the ordinance.
Other restrictions were also mentioned, such as having a shut -off nozzle on
hoses when washing cars at home. Again, have no outside watering from 11:00
a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on any day. Mr. Bentley asked for everyone to think about
what else they would like to see on the Ordinance and bring their ideas to the
next meeting.
• For the Emergency Drought Ordinance, the percentage of the lake levels should
be the trigger point to restrictions. There was discussion about what percentage
level should emergency restrictions be put into effect. Some of the Commission
members thought that maybe something should be done starting at 60% instead
of 50 %. Mr. Lehfeldt spoke up and said that before we change the percentages,
we need to consider the availability of treated effluent and the Lake Kemp
waters. We will have more water available plus we will know the actual
percentage in the lakes from the Hydrographic Studies.
• Mr. Altman told the group that it was his belief that the Commission should look at
the permanent restrictions for the Long Term Ordinance for now and see how we
get through the summer. We would then have time to make recommendations at a
later date for the Emergency Drought Ordinance.
• There was also some discussion of the demand on our water system. When the
demand on the water system was so great, then there would be a recommendation
for emergency drought conditions. This is in our present Drought Contingency Plan.
• Mr. Chaney spoke again and said that he thought the WRC should make their
recommendations to Council as soon as possible. The summer months are coming
up and the citizens, already familiar to being under certain water restrictions, can
adjust before too much time passes.
WRC Meeting
March 27, 2001
Page 3
• The next meeting for the WRC was set for the next week, April 3, 2001, at 4:00 p.m.
in the Council Conference Room of the Memorial Auditorium. Mr. Lehfeldt said that
he would have a draft ordinance with possible restrictions for the Commission to
look at and discuss. He also asked the members to E -mail him if they have any new
ideas they want to be placed in the Ordinance.
• At 5:35 p.m., a motion was made by Mr. Bentley to adjourn the meeting. This was
seconded by Chris Neeb, and the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
harles Bentley, Chairman