Sixth Cycle of Regional Water Planning Documents: 2026 Regional Water Plans

Documents applicable to developing the 2026 Regional Water Plans are posted below. Additional documents will be posted as they become available. Dates listed on this webpage indicate the date the document was posted online, or if noted, the date the document was last updated.

• TWDB Communications
• Project Documents
• Contract Documents
• Administrative Documents
• Presentations

TWDB Communications on Plan Development

• Emails from TWDB regarding guidance on regional water plan development

Project Documents

Regional Water Planning Project documents will be organized by Scope of Work Task.

General Documents

• Sixth Cycle of Regional Water Planning Working Schedule (updated 3/6/23)

Task 1: Planning Area Description

• TCEQ Map of Priority Groundwater Management Areas

Task 2: Population & Water Demand Projections

• Projections Methodologies for the 2026 Regional Water Plans
• Draft Population and Municipal Water Demand Projections Data for the 2026 Regional Water Plans
• Draft Non-Municipal Water Demand Projections Data for the 2026 Regional Water Plans
• 2022 Mining Water Use Study

Task 3: Water Supply Analysis

• Surface water hydrologic variance request checklist (10/13/22)

Task 4B: Identification of Infeasible Water Management Strategies in the previously adopted 2021 Regional Water Plan

• Data to assist with identifying Infeasible WMSs in the 2021 RWPs
• Schematic for infeasible WMS process (09/8/23)

Task 5B: Evaulation and Recommendation of Water Management Strategies and Projects

• 1997 Consensus Criteria for Environmental Flow Needs
• Schematic for Task 5B Notice to Proceed process (09/8/23)

Task 8: Recommendations Regarding Unique Stream Segments and/or Reservoir Sites and Legislative & Regional Policy Issues

• Policy recommendations in the 2021 regional water plans

Task 10: Public Participation & Plan Adoption

Pre-planning and interregional coordination meeting supporting data:

• Recommended Water Management Strategies Serving Multiple Regions (6/21/21)
• Alternative Water Management Strategies and Projects (6/21/21)

TWDB Surface Water Related Studies

• Cumulative Effects of Recommended Strategies Tool (CERST)
• CERST User Guide
• CERST Tool

Contract Documents

• First Amended Scope of Work - 2026 Regional Water Plans (Exhibit A)
• Second Amended Scope of Work - 2026 Regional Water Plans (Exhibit A)
• First Amended General Guidelines for Development of the 2026 Regional Water Plans (Exhibit C)
• Second Amended General Guidelines for Development of the 2026 Regional Water Plans (Exhibit C)
• 2026 Regional Water Plan Exhibit C Tables (10/13/22)
• Summary of Major Changes in the 2026 Regional Water Plan Exhibit C as compared to the 2021 Regional Water Plans (10/13/22)
• Guidelines for 2026 Regional Water Plan Data Deliverables (Exhibit D) (2/21/23)
• TWDB Contracting Documents - FAQs and Helpful Contracting Documents

Administrative Documents

• Administrative Guidance for Regional Water Planning Group Sponsors (Designated Political Subdivisions) - An orientation to the responsibilities of acting as a regional water planning group sponsor (designated political subdivision),(updated October 2022)
• Regional Water Planning Group Member Overview - An orientation to the background of regional water planning, key roles and responsibilities in the planning process, funding of the planning process, regional water plan contents, and planning resources (updated September 2022)

Rules and Public Notice Tools

• Rules Pamphlet - Water planning rules and Texas statute reference pamphlet for regional water planning (updated May 2022)
• Regional Water Planning Rules & Statutes (31 TAC 355, 357 & 358; TWC Chapter 16)
• Regional Water Planning Public Notification Quick-Reference - Regional water planning activities and associated public notice requirements (updated May 2021)
• Regional Water Planning Public Notification Quick-Reference - Spreadsheet tool to assist RWPG Administrators with the scheduling of regional water planning public notice requirements (updated May 2021)
• Schematic for special RWPG meetings required prior to Technical Memorandum deadline (07/31/23)

Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act Resources

• Office of the Attorney General's Open Meetings Act Training
• Office of the Attorney General's 2020 Open Meetings Act Handbook
• Office of the Attorney General's Public Information Act Training
• Office of the Attorney General's 2020 Public Information Act Handbook

Plan Amendment Guidance

• Amending an Approved Regional Water Plan (updated 08/01/23)
• Regional Water Plan Amendment Flowchart (updated 09/01/22)

Contact Lists

• RWPG Members and Contacts
• RWPG Chairs Contacts Notification List (updated on an approximate bimonthly basis)
• Regional Notification List - TCEQ Water Right Holders (02/18/2020)
• Regional Notification List - TCEQ Public Water Utilities/General/Special Law Districts and River Authorities (02/10/2020)

Note: You may wish to contact the TCEQ's Water Supply Division/Water Availability Division (512-239-4691) for the most up to date version of their lists. The TWDB obtained updated versions of the Water Rights, Public Water Utilities lists and the General/Special Law Districts & River Authorities lists in February 2020.

Presentations

• Introduction to Regional Water Planning in Texas Presentation Slides

• 4/20/22: Regional Water Planning Contract and Payment Request Webinar Presentation Slides

• 1/26/22: 2026 Regional Water Plan Projections Methodology Overview Presentation from the January 26, 2022 RWPG Chairs Conference Call