LAPOA President Todd Garrett and A.M.W.A. Executive Director Wylie Pirkle
On Saturday July 13, 2013, the Executive Director of the Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA), Wylie Pirkle, met with a group of approximately 60 LAPOA members to address concerns about low water levels. After an informative formal presentation, Mr. Pirkle answered questions from the floor and stayed on to talk with individual property owners.
Mr. Pirkle’s presentation, summarized below, addressed four main topics: the history and purpose of Lake Athens; AMWA’s role; the factors contributing to the lower lake level; and the purpose of the new and proposed wells. (Mr. Pirkle did not address any property tax related issues as that is not in any way under AMWA’s jurisdiction.)
Wylie Addressing LAPOA Members
In the 1950’s, the City of Athens requested and was granted permission by the State of Texas to condemn a large tract of land in order to build a dam and a “Public Water Reservoir”. The lake was created for the sole purpose of providing water to the City of Athens and only the people living within the city limits, the beneficiaries of the water, were taxed to pay for the construction of the lake. The lake is owned by the State of Texas and the City of Athens has a permit to take 8,500 acre-feet of water per year from the lake, but in fact has never taken more than ⅓ of that amount in any year.
When the lake was built, the Athens Municipal Water Authority (AMWA) was established by the State of Texas to manage the reservoir for the city. AMWA’s sole and only purpose is to provide clean water to the City of Athens. AMWA has no authority over how or by whom that water is used once it is delivered to the City. AMWA consists of a five member Board of Directors and one Executive Director. Of the five Board members, three own property on Lake Athens.
Member-to-Member
Chapters 49 and 54 of the Water Code of the State of Texas dictate specifically how AMWA must govern. AMWA has no direct control or jurisdiction over lake vegetation or lake dredging. Vegetation is governed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Dredging is controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers. Anyone who has a concern about vegetation or an interest in dredging should call Bill Magee, Lake Inspector, at 903-681-0016. Mr. Magee can assist them in the process of dealing with these two government entities.
Insufficient rainfall is the primary reason Lake Athens and every other lake in Texas is low. Average annual rainfall for Lake Athens is about 46 inches per year, but over the past three years we have had a combined deficit of about 49 inches of rain. Across the state, Texas reservoirs in aggregate are only 64% of capacity (as of July 13, 2013). Lake Athens is 82% of capacity (also as of July 13, 2013). Lake levels are monitored and analyzed by the state and can be followed on the Texas Water Development Board website.
The following is a breakdown of water loss and/or use for Lake Athens each year.
- 55 inches – the average amount of water lost annually to evaporation (according to the records of the Texas Water Development Board.)
- 18 inches – the approximate amount of water used annually by the City of Athens.
- 4 inches – (or 180 million gallons) – Mr. Pirkle’s estimate of the amount of water pumped annually by the 301 Lake Athens lakefront property owners.
- ½ inch – the amount of water pumped annually by the golf course.
- ¼ inch – (or less) the net amount of water used annually by the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center and Hatchery.
Water rationing rules for all reservoirs are established by the State of Texas and are not set by AMWA or other local water authorities. In early July, when Lake Athens officially became three feet low, voluntary water restrictions went into effect. Additional restrictions will go into effect if and when additional low water benchmarks are reached.
The State of Texas requires all water authorities to develop a drought contingency plan as well as a five year plan for additional water sources. As part of AMWA’s five year plan for more water potential for the City of Athens, AMWA considered building an additional reservoir as well as recycling waste water. Both options proved too costly. Instead, AMWA, with the advice of Austin based consultants, decided that ground water was their best source for future needs. AMWA plans to supplement the water supply for the City of Athens by drilling deep wells and pumping water directly into the water towers.
One well, which can pump 1000 gallons a minute, is completed and scheduled to become operational almost immediately. Cost per well to drill and complete is approximately $750,000. The annual cost to maintain each well is an additional $100,000. Plans call for eight more wells to be drilled over the next 25 years. While these wells will never pump water into Lake Athens due to the amount of water that would be lost to evaporation, they could, to some degree, decrease the demand on the lake by supplying additional water directly to the water towers. Again, only city residents are taxed to cover expenses related to the wells.