AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMUNITY TASK FORCE May 14, 2024 --12:00pm Hybrid Regular Meeting Austin Permitting and Development Center Room 1405 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752 Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn-live For more information go to: Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. The first 10 speakers to register will be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns not on the agenda. To register, contact Emily Rafferty at emily.rafferty@austintexas.gov. The information required is the speaker’s name, item number(s) they wish to speak on if applicable, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). CURRENT TASK FORCE MEMBERS: Voting Members: Bill Moriarty Sarah Faust Hani Michel Perry Lorenz Madelline Mathis Todd Bartee Robert Mace, Vice Chair Paul DiFiore Vanessa Puig-Williams Jennifer Walker, Chair Ex Officio Non-Voting Members: Austin Water: Kevin Critendon Austin Energy: Kathleen Garrett Austin Resource Recovery: Donald Hardee Housing and Planning: Tymon Khamsi Office of Innovation: Daniel Culotta Office of Sustainability: Lucia Athens Parks and Recreation: Liana Kallivoka Watershed Protection: Katie Coyne AGENDA CALL TO ORDER – PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES April 25, 2024. DISCUSSION ITEMS 1. Review and approve the meeting minutes from the Special Called Task Force meeting on 2. Update on Lower Colorado River and Highland Lakes water supply conditions 3. Update on Single Family Residential Landscape Transformation Ordinances 4. Update on Water Forward 2024 Demand Management Strategies FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURN The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force Liaison, Emily Rafferty at 512-972-0427, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task …
Update on Lower Colorado River and Highland Lakes water supply conditions Highland Lakes Inflows Lakes Buchanan & Travis Combined Storage 1.4M ac-ft COA DCP Stage 1 0.9M ac-ft 0.75M ac-ft COA DCP Stage 2 COA DCP Stage 3 COA DCP Stage 4 U.S. Drought Monitor NOAA 3-month Outlook: June – August The seasonal outlooks combine long-term trends, soil moisture, and El Nino/Southern Oscillation. NOAA El Nino/Southern Oscillation Forecast 85% chance of a transition from El Niño to ENSO-neutral by April-June 2024 60% chance of La Niña developing by June-August 2024 Lakes Buchanan & Travis Combined Storage Projections COA DCP Stage 1 1.4 MAF COA DCP Stage 2 0.9 MAF COA DCP Stage 3 0.75 MAF COA DCP Stage 4 0.6 MAF Questions?
Landscape Transformation Activities Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force| May 14, 2024 K evin K luge, Wa ter C ons e r va tion D ivis ion M a na ger Why New Water Conservation Measures? Lakes are 50% full Highland Lakes inflow • 2022 - record low • 2023 – 4th lowest El Niño will shift to La Niña Drought Stage 2 restrictions Per-person use has declined but plateaued 2 Landscape Transformation Strategy From traditional landscaping to plants with reduced water needs New single-family residential Potential limits on turf and irrigation Savings goal of 2,490 AF (811 MG) by 2040 3 Public Engagement & Input Public and stakeholder meetings • February, May, June, & November 2022 • August 2023 Smaller stakeholder group meetings Speak Up Austin! page • 2 surveys (256 and 303 responses) • Majority of local responses favored regulating landscape transformation 4 Internal City Stakeholders Watershed Protection Department (WPD) Development Services Department (DSD) Austin Energy (AE) – Green Building Office of Sustainability Equity Office Planning and Housing Department Wildlife Austin (PARD) Austin Fire Department – (Wildland-Urban Interface) 5 Stakeholder Meetings Home Builders Association of Greater Austin (HBA) • Concern about project delays Central Texas Professional Irrigation Association - • Supported increased enforcement • Supported high-efficiency irrigation system components Association of Professional Landscape Architects Texas Nursery and Landscape Assoc. (TNLA – Region 8) (CTPIA) (ASLA) 6 Additional Meetings Other utilities in Texas • New Braunfels • Model homes with 50% turf reduction • Post-installation inspections (within 1-2 days) • City of Frisco • Irrigation check-up • Georgetown • Residential landscape ordinance 7 Steps to Transform Landscapes Build with savings Set customers up for success Encourage alternative water 8 Build with Savings Enhanced Soil Inspections • A minimum of 6 inches of topsoil • Topsoil mix composed of 20% compost • Estimated Water Savings: 10% reduction 9 Required residential plant list • Apply commercial plant requirements to residential • Grow Green Plant Guide as a model Build with Savings Limit irrigation area • Up to 50% of landscape area; front yard or back • Estimated Water Savings: 35% annually per home 10 Set Customers Up for Success Est. Water Savings Potential Cost 22% savings $543 plus labor 10% savings …
Update on Water Forward 2024 Demand Management Strategies 5/14/2024 Water Conservation Plan and Drought Contingency Plan Update Process May 2, 2024 Water Conservation Plan (WCP) and Drought Contingency Plan (DCP) approved by City Council Summer 2024 Austin Water will work with the WFTF and the community to identify specific water conservation measures to achieve five- and ten-year water conservation goals Early Fall 2024 Any resulting updates to the water conservation goals and measures will be included in Water Forward 2024 and the updated WCP and DCP November 2024 Austin Water will bring the 2024 Water Forward plan and updated DCP and WCP before Council for their consideration December 2024 Upon Council’s adoption of the updated DCP and WCP, Austin Water will resubmit the updated plans to the TCEQ and the TWDB 2 WF24 Historical and Projected Water Use by Sector 3 Water Forward 2024 Demand Management Strategies Utility-side Water Loss Control: Reducing leaks throughout the water distribution system Customer-side Data-Driven Water Use Management: Using Advanced Metering Infrastructure and water use benchmarking data with water use budgeting tools to reduce indoor customer water use Water Efficient and Native Landscapes: Setting requirements for landscaping and using irrigation systems for new single-family homes to reduce outdoor demands Reuse Strategies • Onsite Water Capture and Reuse • Centralized Reclaimed Water • Decentralized Reclaimed Water 4 Task Force Feedback Outdoor irrigation restrictions should be more restrictive throughout the plan. Increase community outreach for conservation programs and requirements during droughts, utilizing partnerships for promotion Enforcement should be more visible and more robust. Explore opportunities for water budgeting to be implemented or incentivized sooner, including overcoming the logistical barriers to adoption mentioned in the plan. Consider instituting new pool permit moratoriums in an earlier drought stage. Cut off all outdoor water usage at some point in extreme drought. 6 Summary of Task Force DCP Feedback Summary of Task Force WCP Feedback 7 Highlight water use reduction goals prominently in the 2029 WCP plan. Add definition of functional turf. Look into savings from limited hours at splashpads and consider removing restrictions if savings are not substantial. Additional wording and editorial feedback on plan language. Summary of Task Force WCP Implementation Feedback 8 Create an SOP for incentive program applications to streamline the process. Continue to discuss how (gallons per capita per day) GPCD is calculated and …
AUSTIN INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE PLANNING COMMUNITY TASK FORCE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, May 14, 2024 The Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force convened in a Regular Meeting on May 14, 2024, with Social Distancing Modifications. Chair WALKER called the meeting to order at 12:03 pm. Members in Attendance: Jennifer Walker, Chair Paul DiFiore Madelline Mathis Ex-Officio Members in Attendance: Kevin Critendon Members in Attendance Remotely: Hani Michel Todd Bartee Bill Moriarty Vanessa Puig Williams Perry Lorenz Robert Mace Austin Water Staff: Shay Ralls Roalson Teresa Lutes Kevin Kluge Marisa Flores Gonzalez Helen Gerlach Emily Rafferty Others in Attendance: Chase Bryan, COA Housing and Planning Jim Edwards The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please contact Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force liaison Emily Rafferty at 512-972-0427, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. Page 1 of 2 PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of the meeting minutes from the special called April 25, 2024, Task Force meeting. The minutes from the April 25th meeting were approved on Member DIFIORE’S motion and Member MATHIS’ second on an 9-0 vote. STAFF BRIEFINGS, PRESENTATIONS, AND/OR REPORTS 2. Update on Lower Colorado River and Highland Lakes water supply conditions The presentation was made by Emily Rafferty, Program Manager I, Austin Water. 3. Update on Single Family Residential Landscape Transformation Ordinances The presentation was made by Kevin Kluge, Division Manager, Water Conservation, Austin Water. 4. Update on Water Forward 2024 Demand Management Strategies The presentation was made by Teresa Lutes, Managing Engineer, Austin Water. VOTING ITEMS None Chair WALKER adjourned the meeting at 1:53pm. The minutes were approved at the June 4th, 2024, meeting on Hani Michel’s motion, Paul DiFiore’ second on a 7-0 vote with one vacancy. Task Force Member Perry Lorenz, Jennifer Walker, and Todd Bartee absent. The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days …
