Corpus Christi, Texas — Texas officials have released a draft state water plan that outlines $174 billion in projected investments over the next 50 years to address water shortages across the state as Corpus Christi and surrounding areas face critically low reservoir levels, rising demand, and ongoing drought conditions.
The Texas Water Development Board released the draft plan on Thursday, projecting major spending on water infrastructure, conservation, and supply projects as several South Texas communities report water sources below 10% capacity and local officials impose water-use restrictions.
The plan increases the estimated cost of statewide water projects from $80 billion in the previous plan to $174 billion.
Officials attributed the increase to inflation, delays in previously approved projects, expanded long-term planning through 2080, and higher costs for developing new water sources such as desalination and groundwater treatment.
The draft plan includes 3,000 water management strategies developed through 16 regional water planning groups across Texas. Conservation and water reuse account for about 40% of the projected future water supply strategies.
The plan also identifies major infrastructure proposals, including a $10 billion project to transport water from the Toledo Bend Reservoir on the Texas-Louisiana border to the Dallas–Fort Worth region. Other strategies include expanded use of desalination and brackish groundwater treatment, which together account for a small portion of projected supply increases.
Corpus Christi faces some of the most severe shortages under the current conditions, with officials reporting sharply reduced water levels in its main supply reservoirs. The city and nearby communities have implemented water restrictions as officials evaluate additional conservation measures.
Gov. Greg Abbott has said the state could intervene if local water conditions worsen significantly.
Megan Kimble, a political economy reporter for the Houston Chronicle and Hearst Texas newspapers, said inflation and long-term scarcity pressures have increased the projected cost of water infrastructure.
The Texas Water Development Board said projects included in the state water plan become eligible for state grants and revolving loan funding once they are formally listed in the plan.
The Texas Legislature allocated $20 billion for water projects over the next 20 years in the previous legislative session, though officials and analysts have said that amount may not cover projected needs outlined in the draft plan.
