Texas Waters We All Live Downstream

1
Texas WatersWe All Live Downstream
2
What You Need to Know

• Conservation Core Concepts
• How much water is there?
• Where does your drinking water come from?
• Will there be enough for the future?
• How can you make a difference?

3
Conservation Core Concepts

• Fish and wildlife resources are a public trust.
• Conservation and management of terrestrial and
  water resources are essential to sustaining fish
  and wildlife, the outdoor landscape, and the
  quality of our lives.
• Understanding and active participation in the
  stewardship and support of our natural resources
  is key.
• Lawfully participating in hunting, fishing,
  trapping, boating, wildlife watching, shooting
  sports, and other types of resource-related
  outdoor recreation are important to conservation.
  
• Funding for fish and wildlife conservation
  depends on public support.

4
How much water is there?

• Water on Earth is a finite resource
• Texas has nearly 200,000 miles of streams and
  rivers
• and approximately
• 1.7 million acres of reservoirs (lakes)

5
Where does your drinking water come from?
Why do I need to know where my water comes
from? We all live downstream. You dont want to
inadvertently pollute your water source, someone
elses water source or the aquatic habitat of
wildlife.
6
Two Sources of Fresh Water

SURFACE WATER Rivers, Streams, Lakes (15
major Rivers)
GROUNDWATER Rain seeps underground and is
stored in Aquifers (13 Major Aquifers)
7
Will there be enough water in the future?

• Experts believe we will have
• enough water for people to drink,
• but not enough to
• X water our lawns
• X allow sufficient water flowing in our streams
  to support fish and wildlife at current levels.

8
Texas Population vs Water Needs

• Population in Texas is expected to more than
  double between the
• years 2000 and 2060
• The demand for water in Texas is expected to
  increase by 27

9
Future Water Needs for Texas
4,500 water management strategies and projects
were identified, at an estimated cost of 30.7
billion dollars What if we do nothing? Water
shortages occurring during drought, could cost
businesses and workers in the state about 9.1
billion per year by 2010 and 98.4 billion per
year by 2060. As economic activity declinesthe
cost of doing business is either passed on to the
consumer OR the business moves away from Texas
resulting in loss of jobs and tax base.
10
How Can You Make a Difference?Conserve

• Reduce water use inside
• Run full loads in the dishwasher and washer
• Turn off the water when brushing teeth
• Take shorter showers
• Fix leaky faucets
• Keep water on your land
• Redirect gutter downspouts to vegetated areas
• Irrigate efficiently and avoid runoff
• Minimize pavement to allow water to soak into the
  ground

11
How Can You Make a Difference?Protect

• Stop the Grease Blob
• Dont Flush Your Meds
• Keep trash, leaves and grass out of storm drains
• Scoop the Poop
• Use organic yard products
• Maintain your car to prevent leaks
• Dont toss that butt