There’s a lot of misunderstanding going around about the terms the HRLA agreed to for High Rock Lake.

The Relicensing Settlement Agreement (RSA) provides terms that include very specific conditions for discharges from High Rock Lake. When High Rock Lake is at or below the Normal Minimum Elevation the withdrawals are limited to the MINIMUM REQUIRED PROJECT DISCHARGE. That’s it, not 30% over – not 10% over.

The Discharge Limitations are based upon daily average flows. The RSA does allow some tolerance to the exact numbers spelled out for each day; BUT, these tolerances are not allowed on a continuing or frequent basis. In fact, the RSA provides detailed reporting and prescriptive terms for repeatedly getting into the tolerance zones.

Further, the HRLA won additional terms to insure correct discharge flows from High Rock. Badin Lake must be drawn down to 5 ft. below full before High Rock is drawn lower than its NME. If more water is drawn from High Rock than is being drawn from Badin it will cause a rise in level at Badin. If Badin is above 5 ft. below full, then discharges form High Rock must be stopped until High Rock rises above NME.

Confusing? Somewhat, until you really study the documents we developed.

The RSA represents a good balance of all stakeholder interests. While the HRLA worked long and hard to get terms more biased towards protecting water levels in High Rock, the 4/10 rule was the best we could get our State and Federal Agencies to agree upon.