Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group

Stewards of Water Resources from Amistad to the Gulf

The Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group (Rio Grande RWPG) is one of 16 local bodies established under Senate Bill 1 to coordinate long-range water supply planning by bringing together stakeholders representing a variety of interests. The Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Area (also known as "Region M") includes Maverick, Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron counties. Regional Facts

Region M map

Region M Business Meeting

Region M will meet Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at 9:30 am, at the LRGVDC Main Campus, Ken Jones Executive Board Room, 301 W. Railroad St., Weslaco, Texas. Click here for more information.

2016 Rio Grande Regional Water Plan

The 2016 Rio Grande Regional Water Plan Volumes I and II are now available. Click here for more information and to download.

Region M Draft Initially Prepared Plan (IPP) available here.

Application for Regional Water Planning Grant Funding

A grant application for financial assistance has been submitted to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on behalf of Region M to carry out planning activities to develop the 2021 Region M Regional Water Plan in completion of the state's Fifth Cycle (2017-2021) of Regional Water Planning. Click here to see the application.

Notice of Application for Regional Water Planning Grant Funding

Notice is hereby given that the Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group will submit by 12:00 noon March 3, 2015, a grant application for financial assistance to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) on behalf of Region M, to carry out planning activities to develop the 2021 Region M Regional Water Plan in completion of the state's Fifth Cycle (2017-2021) of Regional Water Planning. Click here to see the full notice.

Regional Brackish Groundwater Deslination (BGD) Systems Deemed Best Option To Resolve Mounting Water Shortages in Lower Rio Grande Valley

A two-year study by the Rio Grande Regional Water Authority and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation with involvement from the Rio Grande Regional Water Planning Group recommends building three regional BGD systems in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties to produce 93,000 acre-feet of water per year (AF/yr) at a total cost of $494 million.  

Such action is necessary, says the study, to alleviate shortfalls caused by drought, reduced inflows from Mexico into the Rio Grande, population growth, and the impacts of climate change. The 2011 Rio Grande Regional Water Plan – which addresses long-term water supplies and needs – projected that population in Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo, Starr, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Webb, and Maverick counties will grow from 1.7 million in 2010 to 4 million in 2060 and that water supply shortages will reach a staggering 592,084 AF/yr.  

But the supply shortfall projected in the 2011 plan will actually be worse because of the impacts of climate change, according to the recently completed RGRWA and Reclamation basin study, which projects the deficit will grow by 86,438 AF/yr to 678,522 AF/yr.  

Click here for details on the study, completed December 2013.