Update on TCEQ Agreed Order

City of Corpus Christi

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS (News Release) – Corpus Christi Water (CCW) is providing an update on the status of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Agreed Order and the City’s ongoing efforts to manage water resources responsibly during the current historic drought.

The TCEQ Agreed Order requires a specified monthly schedule of freshwater releases, known as “environmental pass-thru,” from the Wesley Seale Dam into the Nueces Estuary. These releases are intended to mimic the natural flow of the Nueces River and support the health of the downstream estuary when water is available.

As of today, the combined capacity of Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi (Western Reservoirs) is 15%. Under the Agreed Order, pass-thru releases are not required when the combined capacity is below 30%. As a result, the City is not currently required to make an environmental pass-thru release from the Wesley Seal Dam.

Any modifications to the Agreed Order require the approval of all Certificate Holders and the regulatory agencies. The City has retained the consulting firm HDR, Inc., to review and advise on the process, benefits, and drawbacks of requesting a restructuring of the Agreed Order.

CCW staff are also coordinating with TCEQ to request a temporary modification of the Agreed Order. The City is proposing to temporarily suspend pass-thru requirements until the combined capacity of the Western Reservoirs reach 50%. CCW will continue to provide updates to the public and the City Council as this request process progresses.