Planning for Canyon Reservoir began in the 1930's. However, several severe floods in the 1930's, followed by the drought of the 1950's, made the project a necessity. Canyon Reservoir was completed in 1964 and has two main purposes: (1) It provides flood control to an area that is the sixth most flood-prone region in the nation; (2) It provides a dependable supply of stored water for municipal, industrial and agricultural uses throughout the Guadalupe River Basin - especially during droughts and periods of low river flows.
The Reservoir is created by an earthfill embankment dam located at mile 303.0 on the Guadalupe River. The dam is 224 feet high and 6,830 feet long.
- At Conservation Pool elevation of 909 feet mean sea level (msl), the Reservoir covers approximately 8,200 surface acres and impounds 378,852 acre-feet of water to a depth of 140 feet.
- At maximum Flood Control Pool elevation of 943 feet msl, the Reservoir impounds a total of 732,600 acre-feet of water.
- The Emergency Spillway is at 943 msl.
- Average Annual Net Evaporation is 2.43 feet or 29.2 inches (Texas Water Development Board).
Canyon Reservoir was built and financed through a partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and GBRA. The Dam and Reservoir are owned by the Federal Government -- which also owns the rights to the flood control portion of the reservoir (from elevation 909 up to 943 feet mean sea level). GBRA owns the right to the conservation storage portion of the Reservoir (the water stored at elevation 909 feet msl or below). Under its permit with TCEQ, GBRA has the right to store water in the Conservation Pool portion of the Reservoir for water supply purposes and to deliver that water to customers. GBRA pays about 35% of the debt on the Dam and Reservoir, as well as a portion of the annual operating expenses.
The 'flood control pool' is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This portion of the reservoir is usually kept empty to contain floodwater from heavy rainfall events upstream of the Reservoir. Releases of floodwater are made by the Corps as soon as possible, but at rates that do not contribute to downstream flooding. Corps regulations designate Gonzales, Cuero and Victoria as 'control points' with a maximum rate of 12,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). The Corps must make sure that the Canyon release rate, when combined with local river conditions, does not exceed 12,000 cfs at these locations.
GBRA is responsible for the stored water portion or 'conservation pool' of the reservoir. Under permits granted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), GBRA has the right to store water in the 'conservation pool' for water supply purposes and to deliver that water to customers. For many, this is their sole water source while others contract with GBRA to ensure a firm backup supply during drought. Releases from the conservation pool are based upon natural inflows, licensed flows for the project, senior water rights, contract releases from the conservation pool for cities, industries and other downstream users, and bay and estuary flow requirements.
The reservoir, at conservation pool elevation of 909 feet msl, covers approximately 8,200 surface acres and impounds about 378,852 acre-feet of water. An acre-foot of water is about 326,000 gallons.
The mean (average) flow of the Guadalupe River at Spring Branch, upstream of the Reservoir, is about 353 cubic feet per second (cfs). The median flow of the Guadalupe River at Spring Branch is about 150 cfs.
On August 3, 1978 the inflow was 160,000 cfs.
Inflows of zero cfs were recorded in August 1951, August 1952, July, August and September of 1954, July, 1955, and June through November, 1956.
Evaporation, and releases for environmental flows and contractual commitments cause the Reservoir to decline. Because of its flood control and water supply functions, Canyon Reservoir was not intended to be a constant-level Reservoir. Upstream floods, evaporation from the Reservoir, demands of downstream senior water rights, and releases for Canyon Reservoir customers all affect its level.
Downstream senior water rights, the needs of Canyon Reservoir customers and environmental flow requirements are all components used to determine the release rate.
September 8, 2009 at a level of 892.70 msl.
Since 1964, floodwaters have only overtopped the emergency spillway at elevation 943 msl once -- in July 2002.
The historical greatest known drought for the Guadalupe River Basin, which is referred to as "The Drought of the 1950's" occurred from 1947-1957.
Canyon Reservoir did not exist during the drought of record. It was completed in 1963 and began impounding water in 1964. However, GBRA studies inflows to the Reservoir during the 1950's drought as part of its yield calculations.
GBRA was established to develop, conserve and protect the water resources of the Guadalupe River basin and make them available for beneficial use. To accomplish this responsibility, GBRA conducts its planning and resource development efforts in conjunction with the broader consideration of regional and statewide water needs. GBRA's statutory district begins near the headwaters of the Guadalupe and Blanco Rivers, ends at San Antonio Bay, and includes Kendall, Comal, Hays, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Gonzales, DeWitt, Victoria, Calhoun and Refugio counties. Today, eleven divisions supply essential services including water and wastewater treatment, water quality testing, the management of water rights and delivery of stored water, the production of electricity from seven hydroelectric plants, and engineering and design support.
GBRA cannot levy or collect taxes or assessments or in any way pledge the general credit of the State of Texas. State and federal grants provide occasional funding for special projects. All other revenues for maintenance and operation are derived from the products and services GBRA provides to customers throughout the basin.
GBRA is governed by a board of nine directors appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Texas Senate. Each director serves a six-year term, with three directors appointed or reappointed every two years. Board committees meet prior to each regular monthly meeting to recommend and review policies, programs and actions for consideration by the board. The general manager and staff conduct management and administrative duties in accordance with policies established by the board.
