Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 to Discuss Potential Shut Down of Water Irrigation Canal by TCEQ
According to a Notice of a Regular Meeting of the Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 5 p.m. at the District Office, located at 1622 Maverick Industrial Park Road (Radar Base), Eagle Pass, Texas, the MCWCID No. 1 Board will discuss “a plan in the event that the water decreases and TCEQ shuts down the canal” as part of Agenda Item No. 7 of the meeting agenda.
Maverick County farmers and ranchers who depend on the MCWCID No. 1 water irrigation canal for their livelihood are extremely concerned about the decrease of water allocations during the past year and the potential shutting down of the water canal by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in the immediate future due to the severe drought afflicting the Rio Grande River discharge area as well as the entire southwestern United States.
One local farmer noted that if TCEQ shuts down the MCWCID No. 1 water irrigation canal in the immediate future may mean disastrous losses as many crops and livestock depend on the water during the summer harvesting period and hot weather, including many pecan farms in Quemado Valley who require thousands of acre feet of water to harvest the 2022 pecan crop.
Another farmer stated that if water is reduced, his farm will have to sell and disperse his cattle herd due to the lack of water to grow hay and feed the cattle. Local farmers and ranchers are experiencing dire straits with their crops and livestock as a result of the reduced water allocations, particularly if TCEQ were to shut down the MCWCID No. 1 water irrigation canal.
The MCWCID No. 1 operates an hydroelectric water plant, known as the Travis D. Kelly Hydroelectric Power Plant, which requires irrigation water from the Rio Grande River to generate electricity and revenues for the local water irrigation district. In last month’s Board meeting, MCWCID No. 1 General Manager Brenda McCalip referred to the hydroelectric power plant as the “moneymaker” for the District. Generally, the hydroelectric power plant generates over $100,000 per month in revenues from the electricity generated by the plant, which helps to significantly subsidize the cost of water allocated to local farmers and ranchers and finance the overall operations of the District. If TCEQ shuts down the MCWCID No. 1 water irrigation canal due to the severe drought, MCWCID No. 1 will have to use funds from its over $5.2 million reserves to finance its operations, possibly layoff employees and reduce costs, and cause havoc and chaos to District members who rely on the water irrigation canal for their subsistence.
In addition, Agenda Item No. 6 calls for “discussion regarding TCEQ Monthly Irrigation Report to provide a better understanding on water allocations, storage balance, diversions, etc.” This agenda item will be most interesting and informative to local farmers and ranchers to learn why has TCEQ reduced the allocation of water to the MCWCID No. 1 during the past year.
The MCWCID No. 1 Board of Directors Meeting on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 5 p.m. is open to the public as well as all District members.
