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
• Conservation Resources for 2026 Regional Water Plan Development - includes water loss audit data related to Task 1

Task 2: Population & Water Demand Projections

• Projections Methodologies for the 2026 Regional Water Plans
• Population and Municipal Water Demand Projections Data for the 2026 Regional Water Plans
• 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)
• Hydrologic variances approved for use in the 2026 Regional Water Plans
• Extended Naturalized Flow and Reservoir Evaporation Input Files for WAMs
• Projected Reservoir Rating Curves

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 4C: Technical Memorandums

• Technical Memorandums developed for the 2026 Regional Water Plans

Task 5 (A, B, C): Potentially Feasible WMSs and Projects; Evaluation and Recommendation of WMSs and Projects; Conservation Recommendations

• 1997 Consensus Criteria for Environmental Flow Needs
• Schematic for Task 5B Notice to Proceed process (09/8/23)
• List of entities required to submit DCPs (1/25/24)
• Drought Management Costing Tool (3/4/24)
• Drought Management Costing Tool User Manual (3/4/24)
• Uniform Costing Model (4/23/24)
• Uniform Costing Model User Guide (3/20/24)
• Conservation Resources for 2026 Regional Water Plan Development

Task 6: Impacts of the Regional Water Plan and Consistency with Protection of Resources

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

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

• Policy recommendations in the 2021 Regional Water Plans
• Interregional Planning Council Report to the TWDB (2024)

Task 10: Public Participation & Plan Adoption

• Process schematic for adoption and submittal of the IPP and final regional water plan. (10/7/24)
• Water Supply Planning County Summaries
• Rural Public Water Systems (3/11/24)
• 2022 SWP Recommended Water Management Strategies Serving Multiple Regions (6/21/21)
• 2022 SWP Alternative Water Management Strategies and Projects (6/21/21)

Contract Documents

• Second Amended Scope of Work - 2026 Regional Water Plans (Exhibit A)
• 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)
• RWPG Liaison Materials - Responsibilities and best practices for liaisons and Regional Water Planning Groups (updated April 2023)

Rules and Public Notice Tools

• IPP and Final Regional Water Plan Notice Summary - Summary of public notice requirements for the IPP and final regional water plans (updated 2/21/25)
• Rules Pamphlet - Water planning rules and Texas statute reference pamphlet for regional water planning (updated July 2024)
• 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 01/19/24)
• Regional Water Plan Amendment Flowchart (updated 06/26/24)

Contact Lists

• RWPG Members and Contacts
• RWPG Chairs Contacts Notification List (updated on an approximate bimonthly basis)
• Regional Notification List - TCEQ Water Right Holders (updated 12/13/2024)
• Regional Notification List - TCEQ list of Public Water Utilities, General and Special Law Districts, and River Authorities (updated 01/02/2025)

Presentations