Lane City Reservoir Project: An Innovative Approach to Water Supply Development
Project Summary:
The Lane City Reservoir Project includes the permitting, design and construction of a new 40,000 acre-foot off-channel reservoir located adjacent to the Colorado River in Wharton County. In November 2017, the Lower Colorado River Authority changed the name of the Lane City Reservoir to the Arbuckle Reservoir.The reservoir will be used to divert and store water from the Colorado River when available, and deliver water to customers in the Lower Colorado River Authority's water service area when needed. The water supply project includes three innovative components including a wave wall, chimney drain and river return system. The project provides examples of innovative approaches to the permitting, design and construction of a large off-channel reservoir. The project scope includes a guidance document describing the reservoir's permitting requirements, and a construction report summarizing the lessons learned during the design and construction phases.
- TWDB Contract Manager:
- Matt Webb
- Funding Recipient:
- Lower Colorado River Authority
- Project Administrator:
- John S. McLeod, P.E., Lower Colorado River Authority
- Project Start Date:
- July 10, 2014
- Project Completion Date:
- May 31, 2018
- Total Project Cost:
- $7,667,000
- TWDB Share of Project Cost:
- $2,411,432
- Benefits:
- The Lane City Reservoir is expected to add 90,000 acre-feet of water supply annually to the lower Colorado River basin, an increase of more than 15 percent to existing supplies for municipalities, industry, agriculture and the environment. The new reservoir will benefit the entire basin by helping reduce the amount of water otherwise required to be released from the Highland Lakes. The project also provides practical experience of permitting, designing and constructing a large off-channel reservoir for others considering similar projects. The project specifically addresses the benefits and lessons learned from incorporating three innovative reservoir components including a wave wall, chimney drain and river return system.
Project Details
Participants
Project Sponsors:
Texas Water Development Board
Matt Webb - Contract Manager
1700 N. Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78701
512-463-6929
Funding Recipient:
Lower Colorado River Authority
3700 Lake Austin Blvd.
Austin, TX 78703
512-473-3200
Project Manager:
Lower Colorado River Authority
John S. Mcleod, P.E. – Project Manager
3700 Lake Austin Blvd.
Austin, TX 78703
512-578-2573
john.mcleod@lcra.org
Project Milestones
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Announcement of Request for Proposals in Texas Register | February 28, 2014 |
| Initial Statement of Interest received by TWDB | April 30, 2014 |
| Study approved by TWDB Board | July 10, 2014 |
| Contract executed | December 30, 2014 |
Progress Reports
Project Photos
Courtesy of Lower Colorado River Authority, December 2016
