Regional Seawater Desalination 

Feasibility Study 

Response to Bureau of Reclamation Notice of 

Funding Opportunity No. R23AS00076 

WaterSMART: Water Recycling and 

Desalination Planning 

February 27, 2023 
Table of Contents 

Federal forms [to be filed electronically] .......................................................................................iii 

A. SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance..........................................................................iii 

B. SF-424A: Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs ..............................................iii 

C. SF-424B: Assurances for Non-Construction Activities .........................................................iii 

D. SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) ......................................................iii 

I. Technical proposal .................................................................................................................. 1 

A. Executive summary.............................................................................................................. 1 

a. Applicant identification ................................................................................................ 1 

b. Project summary........................................................................................................... 1 

c. Project duration............................................................................................................ 1 

d. Federal land .................................................................................................................. 1 

B. Project location .................................................................................................................... 2 

C. Project description............................................................................................................... 2 

a. Applicant Category ....................................................................................................... 2 

b. Eligibility of Applicant ................................................................................................... 2 

c. Goals ............................................................................................................................. 2 

d. Approach ...................................................................................................................... 3 

II. Responses to evaluation criteria............................................................................................. 4 

A. Evaluation Criterion 1 – Project planning and analysis (30 Points) ..................................... 4 

a. Subcriterion No.1a – Water Recycling Needs and Opportunities (15 Points).............. 4 

b. Subcriterion No.1b – Evaluation of Project Alternatives (15 Points) ........................... 9 

B. Evaluation Criterion 2 – Stretching Water Supplies (20 points) ........................................ 10 

C. Evaluation Criterion 3 – Environment and Water Quality (20 points) .............................. 13 

D. Evaluation Criterion 4 – Department of the Interior Priorities (15 points) ....................... 14 

E. Evaluation Criterion 5 – Watershed Perspective and Stakeholder Involvement (15 Points) 

17 

F. Evaluation criteria compliance summary .......................................................................... 19 

III. Project budget....................................................................................................................... 21 

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A. Funding plan....................................................................................................................... 21 

B. Budget proposal................................................................................................................. 21 

C. Budget narrative ................................................................................................................ 21 

D. Letters of funding commitment (if applicable).................................................................. 22 

IV. Required permits or approvals (recommended) .................................................................. 22 

V. Official resolution (recommended; will not count toward the page limit) .......................... 22 

VI. Letters of support for the project and letters of participation (recommended, will not count 

toward the page limit) .................................................................................................................. 22 

VII. Overlap or duplication of effort statement (recommended) ............................................... 22 

VIII. Uniform audit reporting statement (recommended)........................................................... 22 

IX. Conflict of interest disclosure statement (recommended) .................................................. 22 

X. References ............................................................................................................................ 23 

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Federal forms [to be filed electronically] 

A. SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance 

A fully completed SF-424: Application for Federal Assistance form signed by a person legally 

authorized to commit the applicant to performance of the project must be submitted with the 

application. The SF-424 must contain a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). See D.3 for additional 

information. Applications that fail to include a SF-424 will be considered ineligible and will not 

pass initial screening. 

If the request is more than $100,000 in Federal funding: must certify that all statements in 43 

CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying are true. The Authorized Official’s

signature on the appropriate SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form represents the 

entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A. 

B. SF-424A: Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs 

C. SF-424B: Assurances for Non-Construction Activities 

D. SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if applicable) 

If applicable, a fully completed and signed SF-LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form is 

required if the applicant has made or agreed to make payment to any lobbying entity for 

influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of 

Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in 

connection with a covered Federal action. This form cannot be submitted by a contractor or 

other entity on behalf of an applicant. 

A representative from the GCWA completed and signed a SF-LL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities 

form electronically in the grant application, as required. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

I. Technical proposal 

A. Executive summary 

The Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA or Authority) is a major water provider to municipal, 

manufacturing, and irrigation users in the San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal and Lower Brazos River 

Basins in Texas. GCWA operates three divisions that are responsible for providing water supply 

for industry, agriculture, and municipalities in Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Galveston Counties, 

located in the Greater Houston area. GCWA has recognized seawater desalination as a potential 

alternative for meeting current and future treated water needs within its service area. Also, 

because of the end-of-basin location of the Authority’sservice area and its wide network of water

transmission and distribution infrastructure, a large-scale of seawater desalination creates 

opportunities for leveraging existing water resources through conjunctive water resource 

management, which would further enhance the regional water supply portfolio. 

a. Applicant identification 

February 27, 2023. Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA or Authority), Texas City, Texas. 

b. Project summary 

GCWA’s goal is to ensure a drought-proof water supply portfolio that contributes efficiently to 

the region’s resilience against climate change driven droughts. Therefore, in this study the 

Authority proposes to define and assess the feasibility of implementing a large-scale seawater 

desalination project. The study will examine the potential regional impact such new supply would 

have when conjunctively managed with existing surface (river) water resources. 

The study will begin with a stakeholder process to gauge regional interest and receive input 

pertaining seawater desalination. Modeling of the existing water supply portfolio will be 

performed to determine the appropriate volume of seawater desalination and the timing for its 

implementation. A seawater desalination project will be formulated and compared against 

reasonable alternatives previously generated in local and regional water planning efforts. This 

information will serve as the basis for the Title XVI Feasibility Study Report. 

Regarding how the proposed study activities may contribute to accomplishing the goals and 

objectives of this funding opportunity, the purpose of the feasibility study is to evaluate the 

development of a large-scale regional seawater desalination supply which is consistent with the 

goals stated in the Notice of Funding Opportunity No. R23AS00076NOFO. 

c. Project duration 

The estimated time to prepare and deliver the feasibility study is 12 months. 

d. Federal land 

None of the anticipated facilities will involve Federal land. 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

B. Project location 

The Authority is a wholesale water provider for agriculture, industry, and municipalities in 

Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Galveston counties, which are in the Greater Houston area along the 

Texas Gulf Coast (Figure 1). The Authority’s headquarters are located in Texas City, TX. The 

proposed study will identify and evaluate potentially feasible locations for the seawater 

desalination facility within or in near proximity to the GCWA system service area. 

Figure 1 – Project Location, Gulf Coast Water Authority System Map 

C. Project description 

a. Applicant Category 

GCWA is seeking funding under the Funding Group I Category to conduct planning activities to 

define and evaluate the feasibility of a large-scale, regional seawater desalination project. 

b. Eligibility of Applicant 

GCWA is a water district in the State of Texas. 

c. Goals 

The goal of the proposed activities is to define a large-scale seawater desalination project, 

evaluate its feasibility, and chart a path for its implementation. If the project is determined to be 

feasible, GCWA anticipates pursuing financial assistance under the Water Infrastructure 

Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

d. Approach 

The approach to this study is to: 1) determine the scale of seawater desalination that would 

address water supply needs of the GCWA and the multiplying impact this new supply would have 

on the regional water supply portfolio; 2) select a site for a desalination plant and define the 

technical aspects of the desalination facility; 3) screen, update, and select competing water 

supply alternatives; and 4) prepare a report addressing Title XVI feasibility requirements. The 

study will address the following tasks: 

Stakeholder Outreach - GCWA will begin this project by convening a stakeholder outreach 

process to seek input, collaboration, and potential partners for developing a seawater 

desalination supply with a regional scope. Consultation sessions will be conducted throughout 

the planning process to engage stakeholders on the progress of the study. 

Water needs assessment – The study will assess water needs and explore the impact that a 

seawater desalination supply would have on the GCWA system. Specifically, the study will 

identify raw Brazos River water potentially made available to the region through the 

implementation of a desalination facility. The deliverable from this task will be a definition of the 

volume and timing for implementing the proposed seawater desalination supply. 

Seawater desalination facility – A site selection process will be conducted to identify and screen 

potential sites, select and evaluate candidate sites, and choose a preferred site. Site selection 

criteria will include technical, environmental, social considerations and permitting viability. Once 

the site is selected, the major components of the seawater desalination project will be 

determined, and a feasibility level life-cycle cost estimate will be prepared. 

Project Alternatives – The Region H Water Plan and GCWA planning studies, as well as others that 

might be identified in the stakeholder outreach process will be reviewed to identify alternative 

water management strategies that could potentially meet GCWA’s goal and specific objectives.

Competing alternatives will be selected through a screening process and their life-cycle costs 

updated to provide for a meaningful comparison with the seawater desalination project. 

Title XVI Feasibility Report – A report will be prepared to address the guidance and requirements 

of Reclamation Manual WTR 11-01. A workshop will be scheduled to present the draft report and 

solicit comments. The report will be revised as needed and a final delivered to Reclamation for 

review and approval consideration 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

II. Responses to evaluation criteria 

A. Evaluation Criterion 1 – Project planning and analysis (30 Points) 

a. Subcriterion No.1a – Water Recycling Needs and Opportunities (15 Points) 

i. Problems and needs 

GCWA is uniquely situated in a critical location for providing water supplies to a mixture of 

municipal, industrial, and irrigation demands in the Greater Houston metropolitan area. The 

Authority’s 315-miles of canals convey water from three diversion points along the Brazos River 

to provide the majority of the water supplied to meet demands across three counties. The lower 

Brazos River basin is subject to high levels of demand due to urban growth and extensive demand 

associated with the petrochemical industry in both Texas City and Freeport. 

The 2021 Region H Regional Water Plan projects nearly 36,000 acre-feet per year of supply deficit 

by the year 2070 within GCWA’s existing service area (Region H Water Planning Group, 2021). 

These needs are shown below in Table 1. At a regional level, approximately 228,305 acre-feet 

per year of unmet needs are projected to occur by year 2070 in river basins relevant to the GCWA 

service area (Table 2), part of which GCWA would be in a position to serve through their system. 

Figure 2 illustrates the Region H Planning Area and river basins relevant to the GCWA service 

area. 

Table 1 – Projected Unmet Water Needs for GCWA, 2021 Region H Regional Water Plan (Acre-Feet per 

Year) 

2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 

Industrial 632 9,654 10,127 10,307 10,520 10,769 

Municipal 2,809 11,496 11,800 15,251 18,430 24,926 

Total 3,441 21,150 21,927 25,558 28,950 35,695 

Table 2 – Projected Unmet Water Needs for River Basins Relevant to GCWA, 2021 Region H Water Plan 

(Acre-Feet per Year) 

River Basin 2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 

Brazos 1,840 19,173 20,876 24,528 29,455 34,955 

San Jacinto-Brazos 66,082 101,503 114,472 124,243 136,114 148,548 

Brazos-Colorado 21,910 28,713 30,732 33,983 38,442 44,802 

Total 89,832 149,389 166,080 182,754 204,011 228,305 

Over and above, these known demands, GCWA routinely receives requests for increased 

industrial water supplies that are limited by existing sources of surface water, indicating an even 

higher need for new water supplies. 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

Figure 2 – Region H Water Planning Area and River Basins Relevant to GCWA Service Area 

The Brazos River basin, which is historically impacted at times by both drought and flood, has 

suffered from increased stress in recent years due to climate shifts. A recent report completed 

for the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) cited observed increases in both temperature 

and evaporation rates in the Brazos River basin, which could continue to lead to water scarcity 

risks (Freese and Nichols, 2021). Due to the nature of the local geography, imports of water from 

eastern basins that are less impacted by drought are challenging due to the development of the 

urban area of Houston. 

Upstream of the GCWA diversion points, Brazos River water availability is also threatened by 

groundwater production from the Brazos Alluvium Aquifer. This groundwater formation, which 

has seen its use more than quadruple between 1980 and 2020, underlies the Brazos River and 

interacts closely with surface water. During low flows in the river, pumping from the aquifer 

provides further depletions from surface water, including both naturalized flows and firm water 

releases made in order to alleviate drought in the lower Brazos basin. Providing another source 

of water near the point of use and not subject to interception through groundwater pumping will 

further increase resiliency in the GCWA system. 

The traditional alternative to surface water in the region has been groundwater from the Gulf 

Coast Aquifer. However, large, historical withdrawals of groundwater have led to significant land 

surface deformation due to subsidence, such that the GCWA service area in Galveston County 

was converted to surface water beginning in the 1970s. 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

Due to these challenges, the need for an alternative water supply that does not impact 

subsidence and is drought tolerant is of the utmost importance for GCWA to allow for a resilient 

water supply for the growing region. Desalination provides a drought-resistant alternative to 

existing water sources for the GCWA service area, which is regional in nature. That is, 

development of water near the coast can be immediately translated to GCWA customers 

upstream in the canal system. Outside of the GCWA system an additional supply from desalinated 

water may be able to provide additional surface water availability in the Brazos River basin 

through either the use of GCWA water rights or the freeing up of Brazos River Authority (BRA) 

contract supplies that can be used elsewhere. GCWA is in the unique leadership position to 

provide coordination with its customer base and other stakeholders, the BRA, Dow Chemical, and 

others to fully explore a potential project to be utilized in a regional manner to help alleviate 

water shortages in the lower Brazos River basin. 

ii. Projected water supplies and demands 

The 2021 Region H Water Plan presents a 50-year plan for the Greater Houston area, which 

include the GCWA service area. This high-level analysis evaluated water supply availability from 

GCWA’s water rights and contract supplies on a monthly basis and assigns the resulting supply to

demands within the service area. The resulting supplies, demands, and needs for GCWA from this 

study are shown below in Table 3. 

Table 3 – Projected Demands, Supplies, and Unmet Water Needs for GCWA from the 2021 Region H 

Regional Water Plan (Acre-Feet per Year) 

2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 

Water 

Demands 

Industrial 104,353 113,347 113,794 113,948 114,133 114,356 

Municipal 126,678 135,318 135,578 138,981 142,110 148,556 

Total 231,031 248,665 249,372 252,929 256,243 262,912 

Water Supplies 227,590 227,515 227,445 227,371 227,293 227,217 

Projected Unmet Needs (3,441) (21,150) (21,927) (25,558) (28,950) (35,695) 

In addition to this high-level analysis, GCWA has also conducted its own modeling of their water 

rights and operations. Where the Region H analysis uses a monthly timestep to estimate water 

availability and needs, the GCWA Daily-Hydro model evaluates water availability and reliability 

of GCWA’s Brazos River water rights on a daily basis considering observed hydrologic patterns 

and demands of other water right holders in the lower Brazos River basin (Intera Geosciences & 

Engineering, 2012). The results from this daily model can be compared to GCWA’s existing and 

projected demands to calculate the potential quantities of additional water that GCWA would 

need to obtain to supplement its Brazos River supplies and meet the demands of all its customers. 

A recent version of the GCWA Daily-Hydro was simulated given current water supply options and 

management procedures utilized and available to GCWA, as well as GCWA’s current customer

demands. Results from the model indicate that the GCWA would experience multiple annual 

shortages of water given a repeat of historic hydrology. The maximum annual shortage is 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

estimated to be approximately 83,613 acre feet, which occurred during an extremely dry year 

(Intera Geoscience & Engineering, 2015). Annual shortages typically occurred after GCWA has 

exhausted its existing water rights, stored water supplies, and contract water supplies from the 

BRA. This shortage represents current conditions (e.g., current supplies and demands) and does 

not factor in potential drought periods worse than the drought of record. Thus, there is potential 

that this shortage could be greater when considering either greater demands or supplies that are 

lower due to more extreme climate-change driven droughts. Already, the State of Texas 

Climatologist and others noted that reservoir inflow and storage in the Brazos River has generally 

decreased, eutrophication generally increased, and water temperature has generally increased. 

These trends appear to reflect a combination of local human influence, changes in local 

hydrology, and long‐term climate trends (Nielsen‐Gammon, 2020). 

In summary, the 2021 Region H Water Plan and the GCWA Daily-Hydro model indicate that GCWA 

needs to develop alternative water supplies to reduce expected shortages in their system. The 

development of alternative water supplies that are not reliant on the Brazos River, their current 

sole source of water supply, would enable the GCWA to reduce their expected shortages as well 

as greatly increase the resiliency of their system during extremely dry periods. 

iii. Potential desalinated water uses 

The GCWA system provides a natural opportunity for regionalization without the development 

of extensive transmission infrastructure. Where many desalination concepts rely upon pipelines 

to connect potential users, GCWA’s regional canal system allows for the development of an

alternative water supply near the coast which, in turn, can free up existing Brazos River water for 

use by GCWA customers and others in the upper reaches of the system. Going a step further, a 

reduced demand on GCWA’s water rights from the Brazos River can allow for the contracting of

that water to other users along the river. Reduced or shifted demand may result in increased 

environmental flows. Increases in environmental flows would benefit environmental restoration 

efforts, coastal fish and wildlife that depend on those environmental flows, and recreational uses 

tied to coastal fish and wildlife such as recreational fishing. 

GCWA is also a key customer of the BRA system and has access to over 80,000 acre-feet of water 

backed by BRA-operated reservoirs. By providing an alternative water source, GCWA can make 

these contract supplies available to other users of the BRA system which include customers 

downstream of Possum Kingdom Lake, located nearly 600 river miles upstream of the GCWA’s

Shannon Pump Station in the Brazos River basin (Figure 3). 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

Figure 3 – Brazos Basin Region Downstream of Possum Kingdom Lake 

This planning effort will model the GCWA system to project the impact that varying volumes of 

seawater desalination would have on the water supply portfolio. By accounting for the largescale baseline drought-proof desalination supply at basin’s-end, the model will help determine 

the volumes of river water that can be stored upstream to help address projected water supply 

deficits within GCWA’s system and the region. Based on this modeling and analysis, a target 

seawater desalination volume and implementation phasing will be adopted. 

iv. Proposed source water 

In 2022, GCWA conducted a Seawater Desalination Business Case (Business Case) study that 

considered a seawater desalination production capacity of 40 million gallons per day (mgd) to be 

implemented in two 20 mgd phases. While 40 mgd is a good reference, determining the optimum 

capacity of seawater desalination that should be developed is one of the key issues to be 

examined and determined in this study. 

The Business Case identified a wide range of potential sites with varying feed water qualities that 

may be considered for the GCWA seawater desalination project. The sites included locations with 

access to the open ocean off the coast of Galveston with salinity in the order of 30,000 mg/l and 

a generally stable water quality which would be conducive to a conventional seawater 

desalination treatment process. Other sites considered would draw water from Galveston Bay or 

Dickinson Bayou. These sites are influenced by seasonal freshwater discharges and exhibit 

moderate to large swings in seasonal salinity ranging from highly brackish (10,000 mg/l) to near 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

seawater (26,000 mg/l); if selected, these sites would require a variable salinity desalination 

treatment approach. A demonstration of the feasibility of variable salinity processes was 

conducted in 2013 through a collaborative effort between Reclamation, the Texas Water 

Development Board, and municipal entities in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Bureau of 

Reclamation, Department of the Interior, 2014). 

As part of the plant siting process, this study will compile historical data collected by the Texas 

Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Surface Water Quality Monitoring Program to 

assist in the initial characterization of feed water quality. Once a preferred site has been selected, 

a 12-month Source Water Characterization Plan will be designed and implemented to provide a 

more accurate source water profile and inform the future design of the desalination treatment 

and discharge process. 

b. Subcriterion No.1b – Evaluation of Project Alternatives (15 Points) 

i. Project alternatives 

The GCWA is seeking to ensure a drought-proof water supply portfolio that contributes efficiently 

to the region’s drought resilience. As part of this study, GCWA will consider seawater desalination 

and other alternatives. These alternatives will be examined comparatively by considering their 

relative contribution to regional drought resilience, their potential economic viability, and 

potential long-term environmental sustainability. Hence, desirable alternatives would result in a 

substantive gain in regional resilience, are reasonable in cost and are environmentally 

sustainable. 

ii. Investigation of project alternatives 

Project alternatives will be developed primarily by reviewing planning reports generated by the 

regional water planning group (Region H) and the GCWA. Other alternatives might be identified 

through the stakeholder outreach process. A screening process to evaluate against the stated 

goals will be conducted to identify the most competitive option. The selected option(s) will be 

updated to draw an equitable comparison with the seawater desalination option. 

The potential alternatives include: municipal and irrigation conservation; water loss reduction; 

transfer of water from East Texas; development of backup groundwater wells; wastewater 

reclamation for municipal or industrial use; increasing or restoring on- or off-channel storage; or 

water right contract amendments. 

iii. Selected project 

This project envisions a structural component, the implementation of a large-scale seawater 

desalination facility, and a non-structural component, identifying and evaluating the 

compounded impact of seawater desalination that could be accomplished through conjunctive 

water resource management. 

As noted, the Desalination Business Case Study identified a conceptual 40 million gallon per day 

seawater desalination plant on Dickinson Bayou near Texas City. This proposed study will build 

on the initial Desal Business Case concept by modeling and examining water supply and demand 

projections and evaluating the impact that a large-scale seawater desalination supply would have 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

on the GCWA water supply portfolio. Stakeholder input would be sought regarding interest and 

willingness to participate in the project. This exercise will serve to determine the appropriate 

volume of seawater desalination that could be developed and the timing of its implementation. 

Once the size of the project is determined, a siting process will be conducted to select a plant 

location, characterize the treatment process, and estimate the life-cycle cost of the project. 

The end-of-basin replacement of river water use with desalinated seawater would allow for more 

river water storage in the existing reservoir and canal system. In times of drought, the stored 

water, along with the desalinated supply, would then be available to meet drought needs. This 

study will explore and incorporate in the cost analysis the cascading, upstream enhancement of 

water supply availability and environmental benefits that may be generated by the proposed 

shift in water resource management. 

iv. Preliminary schedule 

A preliminary schedule for the project is outlined in Figure 4. 

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4

Feasibility Funding

Project Definition and T XVI Feasibility Study

Project Financing (D-WINN and State)

Planning, Permitting, and Procurement

Design

Construction and Commissioning

Year 5 Activity Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10

Figure 4 - Preliminary Project Schedule 

B. Evaluation Criterion 2 – Stretching Water Supplies (20 points) 

i. Impact on development of non-desalinated water supplies 

The GCWA service area has experienced challenges due to the historic use of groundwater in the 

area. The development of water sourced from saline water will further the responsible use of 

fresh water sources, such as groundwater and prevent the risks of subsidence and saltwater 

intrusion along coastal areas. The development of desalinated water also has the potential to 

delay or eliminate the need for large surface water projects that have significant impacts that 

require mitigation. Allens Creek Reservoir in the lower Brazos River basin is one such project that 

has been identified for use in meeting the region’s growing water demands. Other surface water

development projects or interbasin transfers may also be delayed or avoided through the use of 

saline water obtained near the point of use. This benefit may be further extended through the 

regional nature of the GCWA system and the Brazos River basin, allowing for conserved surface 

water supplies near the coast to be used upstream for other customer needs. 

ii. Impact on existing water supplies 

GCWA owns three Certificates of Adjudication that grant rights to divert, store, and use water 

from the Brazos River basin. These three certificates provide the majority of water supply within 

GCWA’s canal system, including the American Canal, Briscoe Canal, and Juliff Canal. A pending 

water right amendment will allow the interchangeable use of these rights across these diversion 

points. GCWA’s existing water rights are summarized in Table 4. 

The availability of water from these rights is highly dependent upon hydrologic conditions in the 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

Brazos River and operation by GCWA. Of the permitted diversions described, approximately 

150,000 acre-feet per year were determined to be interruptible during the development of the 

2021 Region H Regional Water Plan using a monthly timestep analysis. On a daily timestep, this 

interruptible portion can be estimated to be even higher. The addition of firm water supplies to 

compensate for short periods of low flow have the potential to increase overall firm supply in a 

ratio greater than 1:1 when operated conjunctively with these interruptible water supplies. 

Table 4 – GCWA Brazos River Basin Water Rights 

COA Number Priority Date Description Permitted Diversion 

(Acre-feet per year) 

5168 

1926-01-15 Brazos River diversion 

1947-03-17 7,308 Acre-Feet storage 99,932 

1999-04-29 65 Acre-Feet storage 

5171 

1939-02-01 

Brazos River diversion 75,000 

1950-12-12 50,000 

5322 

1929-02-08 Brazos River diversion 40,000 

1955-03-14 864 Acre-Feet storage for 

pumping 

1983-07-25 Brazos River diversion 40,000 

Brazos River diversion 75,000 

TOTAL 379,932 

The availability of stored water from the BRA system also contributes to water supply yield and 

has the benefit of providing firm supplies during otherwise drought-impacted periods. In a similar 

way, desalinated water supplies can provide a firm water source to compensate for low flow 

conditions and increase overall yield. This complex interaction of hydrology and operations will 

be explored in greater detail in the feasibility study in order to estimate the overall system benefit 

to GCWA which, when used in conjunction with the interruptible portion of the GCWA water 

rights, may result in an overall yield benefit in excess of the desalination facility capacity. This 

opportunity has the added benefit of potentially making additional supply available for other 

GCWA customers, as well as other Brazos River basin water users. 

iii. Project specific concerns 

Water supply shortages 

The Region H Water Plan identified industrial and municipal unmet water needs for the GCWA. 

These needs will grow from 3,441 acre-feet per year in 2020 to 35,695 acre-feet per year in 2070 

(Table 1). As previously discussed, GCWA’s daily modeling which reflects historic hydrology and 

current demands points to multiple annual shortages during drought periods with a maximum 

projected annual shortage estimated to be approximately 83,613 acre-feet per year. Regional 

shortages in the Brazos, San Jacinto-Brazos, and Brazos-Colorado River basins – all of which 

intersect the GCWA’s service area and the area of potential supply impact – are projected to 

reach 228,305 acre-feet per year in 2070. Also, GCWA is often approached by industrial interests 

considering new investments that would result in new, potential water demands ranging from 

11,200 to 22,500 acre feet per year. Given the confidential nature of inquiries and negotiations 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

related to business development, the actual potential customers and respective volumes cannot 

be disclosed within this application. 

Water supply reliability 

Ensuring long-term water supply reliability is a key GCWA concern. Water supply reliability is 

commonly increased by adding diversity of water sources to the water supply portfolio; greater 

diversity provides for greater reliability. GCWA’s portfolio is dominated by surface water from

the San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal and Lower Brazos River Basins. Surface water is increasingly 

threatened by changes in climate that exacerbate the potential for more severe and frequent 

droughts. As noted, groundwater from the Gulf Coast Aquifer which had been used as a back-up 

source to bridge surface water shortages is no longer available. Large-scale seawater desalination 

would be a substantive diversification element to the GCWA’s system resulting in a more reliable 

water supply portfolio. 

Groundwater depletion 

Groundwater depletion is a wide-spread regional concern that has resulted in strict limits on 

groundwater withdrawals. GCWA’s system is specifically impacted by groundwater withdrawals 

from the Brazos Alluvium Aquifer which cause depletions from surface water. Providing another 

source of water near the point of use and not subject to interception through groundwater 

pumping will further increase resiliency in the GCWA system. 

Natural disasters 

Climate scientists predict higher temperatures, drier conditions and extended droughts 

exceeding the severity of the regional planning drought of record (Nielsen‐Gammon, 2020). 

Given GCWA’s current reliance on surface water, the need to incorporate a drought insensitive 

new supply is of the utmost importance. 

Alternative water supplies 

Increasingly, water providers are considering alternative water supplies as viable options to 

address water deficits. Water reuse is an attractive means to extend the use of existing resources; 

and seawater desalination is a tool to capture an entirely new sources of water. Because of its 

location next to seawater sources and the regional nature of its water supply system, GCWA is 

concerned with ensuring a thorough evaluation of seawater desalination to make sure that it 

does not forego a valuable water supply opportunity. 

iv. Drought flexibility impact 

A seawater desalination facility would provide the GCWA with an additional firm water supply 

source that could greatly enhance the reliability and flexibility of their water supply during 

drought periods. This study will quantify and evaluate how desalinated seawater would increase 

the yield of the existing reservoir system. In times of drought, the additional stored water in the 

reservoir could be used in conjunction with the desalinated supply to meet needs during drought 

periods. Additionally, the conjunctive use between desalinated seawater and GCWA’s existing

water right would create flexibility in their system that could be optimized to generate additional 

supply available that could be delivered to other GCWA customers, as well as other water users 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

in the lower Brazos River basin region. As part of the proposed Feasibility Study, the extent to 

which the reliability of GCWA’s water supply will improve and the additional flexibility gained by

desalinated seawater will be evaluated in greater detail. 

Other alternative water supply options, such as obtaining water supply through contracts with 

the Brazos River Authority or on- or off-channel storage along the Brazos River, will be limited by 

the reliable supply available from the Brazos River during drought conditions. Water conservation 

and water loss reduction alternatives are not firm water supplies available to the GCWA during 

times of drought. Additionally, groundwater alternatives are severely limited due to the lack of 

availability, potential for subsidence, and the environmental challenges associated with the 

Brazos River alluvium. 

C. Evaluation Criterion 3 – Environment and Water Quality (20 points) 

i. Potential to improve water quality 

The most critical issue concerning groundwater in the study area is the subsidence effect of 

groundwater pumping. The addition of seawater desalination will have the potential effect of 

reducing groundwater pumping and mitigating the subsidence potential. Reductions in 

groundwater extractions will have the incidental benefit of limiting groundwater quality 

deterioration due to saltwater intrusion. 

Once a plant site is selected, GCWA will initiate a Source Water Characterization program that 

would allow for a comprehensive profiling of the source water and identification and 

quantification of pollutants present in it. Reverse osmosis processes are recognized for their 

pollutant removal capabilities. It is anticipated that the desalinated product water and its 

eventual contribution to wastewater effluent discharges would provide for measurable 

improvements to surface water quality. 

ii. Potential to improve effluent quality 

The seawater desalination treatment process removes suspended solids and most pollutants 

from the feed water. These removed materials are captured in sludge that is dewatered and 

hauled to landfills. Dissolved minerals are captured in the reverse osmosis process and the 

resulting concentrate is returned to the body of water. Water characterization studies are 

undertaken to adjust the desalination treatment and the concentrate disposal processes to 

ensure that safe and environmentally sustainable practices are employed. An incidental benefit 

of seawater desalination is the removal of pollutants such as Zinc and Copper in the concentrate 

stream returned to the source of feed water. 

The siting process will consider the technical and environmental feasibility of concentrate 

disposal as one of the site selection factors. Once a site is selected and the project is scheduled 

for implementation, a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit will be 

required. The permitting process requires characterization of the receiving waters and of the 

toxicity limits of marine life that could potentially be impacted by the concentrate discharge. 

Different disposal strategies are considered to ensure that the disposal is conducted in 

accordance with the limits set in the respective permit. An example of the potential for exceeding 

State and Federal discharge requirements is when an open discharge would be regulatorily 

acceptable, but a diffuser array is selected instead to ensure a more environmentally sustainable 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

strategy is adopted. 

iii. Potential to improve a natural stream 

GCWA’s regional canal system allows for the development of an alternative water supply near 

the coast which, in turn, can free up existing Brazos River water. Going a step farther, a reduced 

demand on GCWA’s water rights from the Brazos River may result in increased environmental

flows. Increases in environmental flows would benefit the Brazos River and potentially some of 

its tributaries. The flora and fauna, and the ecological dynamics dependent upon reliable flows 

within the Brazos River system may benefit from an alternative water source. This planning effort 

will examine the potential changes in stream flows resulting from implementation of the 

seawater desalination project. 

iv. Potential habitat restoration 

If seawater desalination results in a reduced demand on GCWA’s water rights from the Brazos

River, then increases in environmental flows would benefit fish and wildlife, and their habitats, 

that dependent upon reliable flows. 

Reduction of demand in groundwater will help reduce subsidence and subsequent loss of coastal 

intertidal marsh. This marsh provides habitat for juveniles of many ecologically, commercially, 

and recreationally important species of fish, shellfish, and wildlife. If project infrastructure is 

located within the bay, then mitigation could be required as part of environmental regulatory 

compliance requirements. This would offer another opportunity to enhance or restore habitat. 

Similarly, if project infrastructure is located within the bay and infrastructure requires riprap and 

other protective components, then this may offer additional opportunities to provide substrates 

that function as habitat (such as living shoreline breakwaters with oyster and other bivalve 

colonization). 

v. Potential to provide water for endangered/threatened species habitat 

If seawater desalination results in a reduced demand on GCWA’s water rights from the Brazos 

River, then increases in environmental flows could benefit several federally listed species such as 

the Texas Fawnsfoot (Truncilla macrodon), Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis spp. 

jamaicensis), Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa), or Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus). Texas 

Fawnsfoot is a freshwater mussel that would directly benefit from increased environmental flows 

within the Brazos River system. Eastern Black Rail habitat includes estuarine wetlands that are 

highly dependent upon reliable hydrology. Reduction of subsidence will help protect intertidal 

and high marsh used by Eastern Black Rail for foraging and nesting. The Red Knot and Piping 

Plovers occupy similar intertidal habitats that rely on both tidal and riverine dynamics. Reduction 

of subsidence will help reduce the conversion of intertidal sand bars and beaches in the bay used 

by foraging Red Knots and Piping Plovers to open water. 

D. Evaluation Criterion 4 – Department of the Interior Priorities (15 points) 

i. Climate Change 

Regional water planning in Texas does not consider potential declines in water supply related to 

future climate change. However, Texas is recognized as a water stressed state and vulnerable to 

changes in water availability resulting from global climate change. The effects of climate change, 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

combined with human influence and changes in local hydrology are evidenced in the general 

decrease of reservoir inflow and storage in the Brazos River basin. A 2020 article by John NielsenGammon, Texas State Climatologist and director of the Texas Center for Climate Studies, reports 

that most climate models and indicators show significant shifts in Texas toward drier conditions 

during the latter half of the 21st century than even the most arid centuries that were 

characterized by megadroughts (Nielsen‐Gammon, 2020). 

By developing a large-scale seawater desalination supply, a water management strategy that is 

relatively insensitive to climate change, the GCWA provides valuable flexibility to the 

management of its surface water storage and conveyance system. The addition of a substantial 

drought-proof supply at the end of the basin, allows for increased storage of excess flows in the 

upper reaches of the basin, creating a supply that to be tapped in drier times. 

The proposed project adds the ability to satisfy water needs under a broad range of supply and 

demand conditions, including those driven by changes in population and climate. As noted, the 

conjunctive management of desalinated water and river water resources made possible by the 

seawater desalination project would increase the system’s resilience to drought. More water 

could be stored in the upper reaches of the system and made available in drier times. 

Additionally, an important segment of the GCWA customer base would directly benefit from the 

added reliability of a drought-proof potable water production to meet their needs. 

ii. Disadvantaged or Underserved Communities 

GCWA currently provides water supply to industrial, municipal, and agricultural customers in 

Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Galveston counties in Texas through its sole source of water from the 

Brazos River. A large demographic of these customers represents either disadvantaged and/or 

historically underserved communities. A potential seawater desalination project would provide 

GCWA with the ability to deliver a more resilient and reliable water supply to these communities, 

especially during extreme drought conditions. Additionally, with the potential enhancement of 

their water supply portfolio through a seawater desalination project, the GCWA will have the 

opportunity to supply incoming industries in the Texas Gulf Coast area, which could provide 

economic growth opportunities across the region. 

The diverse communities that GCWA serves are historically disadvantaged and socially vulnerable 

based on a number of variables. According to American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year data 

(2016-2020), over 200,000 people in the three counties that GCWA currently serves are below 

150 percent of the federal poverty level, over 40,000 people are unemployed, nearly 100,000 do 

not have a high school diploma, and over 110,000 occupied housing units have an annual income 

less than $75,000 with more than 30 percent or more of their income going toward housing costs 

(U.S. Census Bureau, 2020). Nearly 190,000 people in these counties do not have health 

insurance and over 130,000 were identified to have a disability. Approximately 880,000 people 

in these three counties are minorities (Hispanic or Latino of any race; Black and African American; 

American Indian and Alaska Native; Asian; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander; Two or 

More Races; Other Races), which represents nearly 60 percent of the total population. 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

Approximately 575,000 people in these counties are either Age 65 and older or Age 17 and 

younger, totaling nearly 40 percent of the total population. Additionally, there are nearly 60,000 

people in these counties that speak English “less than well”. There are also over 15,000

households reported to not having a vehicle available. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 

Registry (CDC ATSDR) develops the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to help public health officials 

and emergency response planners identify communities that are most likely to need support 

during, during, and after hazardous events. SVI measures the relative vulnerability of every U.S. 

Census tract by ranking 16 social factors, including socioeconomic status (below 150% poverty, 

unemployment, no health insurance), household characteristics (Ages 65 and older or 17 and 

younger, civilians with disabilities, English language proficiency), racial and ethnic minority status, 

and housing type and transportation (mobile home, no vehicle) (Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention-Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 2020). 

According to the most recently published 2020 SVI database for the US, there are 59 Census tracts 

in Brazoria, Fort Bend, and Galveston counties that have a “medium-high” level of vulnerability 

and 75 Census tracts that have a “high” level of vulnerability (Figure 5). The population within 

the Census tracts identified to have a level of vulnerability of either “medium-high” or “high”

represents nearly 600,000 people, indicating that a significant population located within the 

current GCWA service area is socially vulnerable. 

Figure 5 – 2020 CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) by Census Tract in GCWA Service Area Counties 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

iii. Tribal Benefits 

There are no Indian Tribes located within the study area. 

E. Evaluation Criterion 5 – Watershed Perspective and Stakeholder Involvement (15 

Points) 

i. Regional/state water plan 

The Region H Water Planning Group’s interest in seawater desalination goes back several

decades. In the early 2000’s, the GCWA and the Brazos River Authority (BRA) offered competing

proposal for consideration in a state-sponsored large-scale seawater desalination initiative. 

Although the state selected the BRA project for further consideration, the GCWA proposal to colocate a seawater desalination plant with a power generation facility was a very close competitor 

and has remained an alternative under consideration by the GCWA. Seawater desalination is an 

option under consideration in GCWA’s current integrated water resource management planning.

Region H has considered seawater desalination in all of its various plan iterations and most plans 

have included it as either a recommended or an alternative water management strategy. The 

current regional water plan includes a recommendation to develop 11,200 acre-feet per year of 

seawater desalination supplies by year 2040. 

ii. Regional scope 

The proposed project will meet the needs of GCWA’s current customers and expand the yield of 

its surface water supply portfolio to benefit other potential customers upstream in the basin. 

The GCWA system provides a natural opportunity for regionalization without the development 

of extensive transmission infrastructure. GCWA’s regional canal system allows for the

development of an alternative water supply near the coast which, in turn, can free up existing 

Brazos River water for use by GCWA customers and others in the upper reaches of the system. 

Going a step farther, a reduced demand on GCWA’s water rights from the Brazos River can allow

for the contracting of that water to other users along the river. 

iii. Partnerships 

GCWA is itself a partnership governed by representatives appointed by Galveston, Brazoria and 

Fort Bend counties and includes municipal governments, industry, agriculture and community 

members at large. In addition to those currently represented in GCWA’s governance, the

Authority has reached out to various regional stakeholders to seek their participation and 

support for the present study and, eventually, their partnership in the implementation of the 

seawater desalination project. 

GCWA’s general manager is a member of the Region H Water Planning Group. Planning groups

in Texas are composed of representatives of all water interests in any given region. The 

membership of the planning group updates the regional water plan every five years. The most 

recent edition of the Region H Water Plan was published in 2021. The development of the next 

Plan by the Region H Water Planning Group is ongoing and is set to be published in 2026. 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

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iv. Public outreach 

The GCWA is a participating member of the Region H Water Planning Group which provides for 

continued stakeholder involvement in the analysis of water supply issues in Region H. 

Public outreach is a key component of the scope of work for the present feasibility study. GCWA 

proposes to convene a stakeholders group to help collect and disseminate information relevant 

to the project seawater desalination project. This process has already begun by soliciting 

statements of support and potential partnership from key stakeholders in the region, including 

the Brazos River Authority (BRA) and Harris Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD). 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

F. Evaluation criteria compliance summary 

Eval. Criterion Summary response 

No. 1a Water Need: Region H projects a drought-of-record based need of 36,000 AFY for year 2070 for GCWA’s service area.

desalination needs GCWA’s system modelling predicts annual shortages exceeding 83,000 AFY in extremely dry years. Projected 

and opportunities needs in the served basins but outside GCWA’s basin are projected to reach 228,305 AFY in 2070.

Opportunity: GCWA coastal location provides access to multiple potential sites for seawater desalination and 

its vast raw water canal network, storage reservoirs and potable water distribution system provides a valuable 

opportunity to leverage and enhance the benefits of desalination through conjunctive management with 

existing surface water throughout the basins located within GCWA’s service area and beyond. 

No. 1b Evaluation 

of project 

alternatives 

The study will inventory water planning studies and consult with key stakeholder to identify viable alternatives. 

Cost of alternatives selected for comparison will be updated for an equitable comparison with seawater 

desalination based on stated objectives. 

No. 2 Stretching 

water supplies 

There are two supply components that would be enabled by the seawater desalination project: direct 

desalinated product water for GCWA’s potable water customers; and, freed-up water to enhance upstream 

raw water storage and expanded customer use. 

No. 3 Environment The addition of seawater desalination will have the potential effect of reducing groundwater pumping and 

and water quality mitigating the subsidence potential. Reductions in groundwater extractions will have the incidental benefit of 

limiting groundwater quality deterioration due to saltwater intrusion and will help reduce subsidence and 

subsequent loss of coastal intertidal marsh. This marsh provides habitat for juveniles of many ecologically, 

commercially, and recreationally important species of fish, shellfish, and wildlife. 

Potential increases in environmental flows would benefit the Brazos River and potentially some of its 

tributaries. The flora and fauna, and the ecological dynamics dependent upon reliable flows within the Brazos 

River system include multiple federally listed species. Texas Fawnsfoot is a freshwater mussel that would 

directly benefit from increased environmental flows within the Brazos River system. Project infrastructure may 

be located within the bay and would require riprap and other protective components that may offer additional 

opportunities to provide substrates that function as habitat (such as living shoreline breakwaters with oyster 

and other bivalve colonization) 

An example of an opportunity to exceed State and Federal effluent discharge requirements is when an open 

discharge would be regulatorily acceptable, but a diffuser array is selected instead to ensure a more 

environmentally sustainable strategy is adopted. 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

Eval. Criterion Summary response 

No. 4 Department 

of interior 

priorities 

The effects of climate change, combined with human influence and changes in local hydrology are evidenced 

in the general decrease of reservoir inflow and storage in the Brazos River basin. This project would provide a 

substantive new supply of water that is relatively non-sensitive to climate change and one which provides the 

ability to benefit users in the upper reaches of the river basin. 

This new supply would be a significant diversification of the water supply portfolio which translates into an 

increased resiliency to drought-related reduction of river flows and reservoir storage. 

The communities that GCWA currently serves are historically disadvantaged and socially vulnerable and more 

susceptible to external stresses, such as natural disasters, including droughts. 

No. 5 Watershed Seawater desalination has been included as recommended or an alternative water management strategy in all 

perspective editions of the Region H Water Plan. The current plan, published in 2021, includes a recommendation to 

develop 11,200 acre-feet per year of seawater desalination supplies by year 2040. 

The goal for the seawater desalination project isto help meet the needs of GCWA’s current customer base and

expand the yield its surface water supply portfolio to benefit other potential customers located upstream in 

the basin. 

GCWA is actively seeking support and partners for the seawater desalination project. Public outreach is a 

foundational task in the proposed study. 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

III. Project budget 

A. Funding plan 

GCWA will provide the 100 percent match of the non-Federal costs to finance the project. 

B. Budget proposal 

Table 5 summarizes non-federal and requested federal funding sources. 

Table 5 - Summary of Non-Federal and Federal funding sources 

Funding Sources Amount 

Non-Federal Entities 

Gulf Coast Water Authority $365,500 

Non-Federal subtotal $365,500 

REQUESTED US Bureau of Reclamation funding $365,500 

Total Project Cost $731,000 

Table 6 includes information on costs that will be covered using the funding requested from 

Reclamation, costs that can be contributed as a non-Federal cost share by the applicant, and 

third-party in-kind contributions. 

Table 6 - Total project cost 

Source Amount 

Costs to be reimbursed with the requested Federal funding $365,500 

Costs to be paid by applicant $365,500 

Value of third-party contributions $0 

Total project cost $731,000 

C. Budget narrative 

GCWA will procure a consulting team to execute all tasks described in the Regional Seawater 

Desalination Feasibility Study scope of work. The Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility 

Study scope of work is included as a separate attachment in the grant application. Additionally, 

the GCWA is planning to procure a consultant to support them with performing grant 

management and administration tasks to ensure that they maintain compliance with federal 

grant funding terms and requirements. A standalone scope of work was developed for this effort 

and is included as a separate attachment in the grant application. The cost for both the Regional 

Desalination Feasibility Study scope of work and grant compliance and administration scope of 

work are included in the total project cost. 

The contracted amount will be limited to the total project cost noted in Table 6. The Budget 

Narrative Attachment Form was summarized using the Budget Detail and Narrative spreadsheet. 

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Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

D. Letters of funding commitment (if applicable) 

Letters of funding commitment are not applicable to this project. 

IV. Required permits or approvals (recommended) 

There are no permits required for the implementation of the proposed planning and feasibility 

study. 

V. Official resolution (recommended; will not count toward the page 

limit) 

An official resolution for this project is included as a separate attachment in the grant application. 

VI. Letters of support for the project and letters of participation 

(recommended, will not count toward the page limit) 

Letters of support for the project have been provided by the Brazos River Authority and Harris 

Galveston Subsidence District. These letters of support are included as a separate attachment in 

the grant application. 

VII. Overlap or duplication of effort statement (recommended) 

GCWA is only seeking financial assistance for the seawater desalination planning and feasibility 

study under the present funding opportunity. If this funding is secured and the seawater 

desalination project is determined to be feasible, then GCWA anticipates seeking federal 

assistance for planning, design and construction under Water Infrastructure Improvements for 

the Nation (WIIN) Act. GCWA anticipates applying for state financial assistance to finance the 

corresponding match under the WIIN program. 

VIII. Uniform audit reporting statement (recommended) 

The most recent Single Audit report for the Gulf Coast Water Authority, for the Fiscal Year ended 

August 31, 2022, is included as a separate attachment in the grant application. 

IX. Conflict of interest disclosure statement (recommended) 

Pertaining to 2 CFR §1402.112, GCWA attests that it is not aware of any conflicts of interest. 

Furthermore, if awarded financial assistance under the present application, GCWA will examine 

its internal controls to ensure that, at a minimum, these procedures identify, disclose, and 

mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. GCWA will notify the Financial Assistance 

Officer in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including 

those that have been reported by subrecipients. 

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Regional Seawater Desalination Feasibility Study 

X. References 

Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior. (2014). Variable Salinity Desalination. 

Denver: Bureau of Reclamation. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. 

(2020). CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index 2020. 

Freese and Nichols. (2021). Assessment of How Trends in the Brazos River Basin May Affect 

Surface Water Availability and Attainment of Environmental Flow Standards. Austin, 

Texas: Texas Water Development Board. 

Intera Geoscience & Engineering. (2015). Gulf Coast Water Authority Water Reliability 

Assessment For Long-Term Planning. 

Intera Geosciences & Engineering. (2012). Daily Water Rights Accounting in the Lower Brazos 

River Basin. 

Nielsen‐Gammon, J. W. (2020). Unprecedented drought challenges for Water Resources in a 

Changing Climate: What Do Researchers and Stakeholders Need to Know? Earth's Future. 

Region H Water Planning Group. (2021). 2021 Region H Water Plan. Austin, Texas: Texas Water 

Development Board. 

U.S. Census Bureau. (2020). Retrieved from 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-Year Data, 

By County: https://data.census.gov/table 

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Page 24 
Official Resolution 

Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Title XVI Compliant Seawater 

Desalination Feasibility Study 

GCWA Board Resolution 

Applicant: 

Gulf Coast Water Authority 

Brandon Wade, General Manager 

4243 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway 

Texas City, TX 77591 

Email: bwade@gcwatx.gov 

Phone: 409-935-2438 

Project Manager: 

Samantha Stoughtenger Branson, Project Manager 

4243 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway 

Texas City, TX 77591 

Email: sstoughtenger@gcwatx.gov 

Phone: 409-739-958 1 
Gulf Coast Water Authority Resolution 2023-6 

APPLICANT RESOLUTION 

Resolved that the governing officials for the Gulf Coast Water Authority have: 

• Reviewed the fu ll fund ing announcement terms and support the application 

submitted under the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) WaterSMART: Water 

Recycling and Desalination Planning Grants Program for FY 2023 (Notice of Funding 

Opportunity (NOFO) No. R23AS00076), 

• The capability to provide the amount of funding and/or in-ki nd contributions 

specified in the Funding Group I (minimum 50% cost share, with grant fund ing not 

to exceed $1,000,000 tota l over two years), and 

• Wil l work with the USBR to meet established deadli nes for entering into a grant or 

cooperative agreement. 

We certify that the above constitutes a true and correct copy of the resolution approved 

by the governing officia ls of the Gulf Coast Water Authority. 

Brad Matlock, PE 

President 

Gulf Coast Water Authority Boa rd of Directors 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 23, 2023

Bureau of Reclamation

Financial Assistance Operations Section – NOFO Team

PO Box 25007, MS 84-27133

Denver, CO 80225

SUBJECT: WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning (NOFO: R23AS00076)

Letter of Support for the Gulf Coast Water Authority

To whom it may concern:

I serve as the General Manager for the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD). I am writing

to express support on behalf of the HGSD for the WaterSMART planning grant application

submitted by the Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA) for the development of a seawater

desalination feasibility study. The GCWA project aligns with the HGSD mission and has great

potential to benefit the entire region.

HGSD is the premier water management and subsidence authority for the Upper Gulf Coast

Aquifer in Texas. Additionally, we play an integral role in regional water planning and the

development of management strategies. Our mission supports the long-term viability of all water

resources while protecting lives and property within the HGSD boundary from the dangers of land

subsidence. A significant portion of the GCWA service region is within the HGSD regulatory

boundary, including vulnerable industrial coastal areas with considerable subsidence rates.

To prevent future land subsidence in our area, groundwater use must be reduced and replaced with

alternative supplies. Because alternative water supplies have been limited by stiff competition and

are susceptible to drought, the coordination of existing and development of new water resources

is paramount. Investment in solutions currently posed by GCWA is vital in securing adequate

water resource availability for our region today and in the future.

HGSD supports GCWA in its investigation of a seawater desalination facility. We believe this

project would stretch the already limited regional water supplies and benefit the Houston region

and other upstream water users in Texas.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Turco

General Manager

1660 West Bay Area Boulevard | Friendswood, TX 77546 | (281) 486-1105 | hgsubsidence.org
Brazos River Authority QUALITY •CONSERVATION• SERVICE 

February 24, 2023 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Financial Assistance Operations Section - NOFO Team 

PO Box 25007, MS 84-27133 

Denver, CO 80225 

SUBJECT: WaterSMART: Water Recycling and Desalination Planning (NOFO: R23AS00076) 

Letter of Support for the Gulf Coast Water Authority 

To whom it may concern: 

Serving as the General Manager/CEO for the Brazos River Authority (BRA), I am writing to express 

our support of the WaterSMART planning grant application submitted by the Gulf Coast Water 

Authority (GCWA) for the development of a feasibility study for seawater desalination. The BRA and 

GCWA have had nearly a century's long partnership in providing surface water supplies to the lower 

Brazos River basin in southeast Texas. 

The GCWA service area (which includes Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Galveston counties) is one of the 

leading economic generators for the US and an agricultural stronghold for Texas. Drought conditions 

and competition for essential water resources are a threat to those economies and our way of life. As 

such, we are very excited to hear GCWA is actively seeking opportunities to develop new water 

resources within our region. 

The drought conditions of 2022 hit the BRA system hard and further re-enforced the need to look for 

water supply diversification options. Development of a desalination plant in the lower basin could 

provide crucial water supply resources that would stretch regional water supplies and bolster system 

resiliency. This project could ultimately benefit more than a million customers regionwide. 

BRA fully endorses GCWA in pursuing seawater desalination. We believe the technology could 

provide drought contingency and system resiliency on a regional scale. We anticipate the planning 

study will provide a roadmap for development and funding of the regional solution. We look forward to 

servicing as a key stakeholder on the project. 

~-/1~ ,/ 

1d ollinsw~~~ General Manager/CEO, Brazos River Authority 

4600 Cobbs Drive• P.O. Box 7555 • Waco, Texas 76714-7555 

254-761-3100 • FAX 254-761-3215