Evaluating Basins for Watermaster Programs
The TCEQ assesses the potential role of a watermaster managing water rights in each basin with no existing watermaster program.
For each basin that does not have a watermaster program, the TCEQ:
- evaluates each river basin or coastal basin
- assesses whether to appoint a watermaster in that basin
- reports our findings to the Legislature
- repeats this assessment at least once every five years
TCEQ’s watermaster evaluations are required by Texas Water Code §§ 11.326(g) and (h)
What criteria will be considered?
The Commission outlined the following evaluation criteria in the Commission’s September 28, 2011 Work Session:
- Is there a court order to create a watermaster?
- Has a petition been received requesting a watermaster?
- Have senior water rights been threatened, based on:
- Either the history of senior calls or water shortages within the basin or
- The number of water right complaints received on an annual basis in each basin?
Which basins are being evaluated this year?
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 evaluation will cover Cypress Creek, the Sulphur River Basin, and the portion of the Rio Grande Basin in Texas outside of the jurisdiction of the Rio Grande Watermaster.
Watermaster Evaluation Stakeholder Meetings
The FY 2026 Evaluation Stakeholder meetings will be posted once the schedule has been finalized.
FY 2026 Evaluation Schedule
- October, November, and December 2025 – Review data and mail the initial outreach letter requesting input from stakeholders within the basins.
- January 2026 - Initial comment period ends.
- February 2026 – Incorporate initial stakeholder comments into evaluation.
- February 2026 – Mail the stakeholder meeting letter announcing meeting dates.
- March 2026 – Hold stakeholder meetings and invite additional input.
- March 2026 – Comment period ends.
- May 2026 – Finalize Evaluation report.
- June 2026 – Present findings and recommendations to the TCEQ Commissioners.
Past Watermaster Evaluations
The Executive Director conducted the first cycle of evaluations from 2012 through 2016, and the second cycle from 2017 through 2021. The third cycle of evaluations began in 2022.
2025: Canadian River and Red River Basins
2024: Neches River and Sabine River Basins
2023: Trinity River, San Jacinto River, Trinity-San Jacinto Coastal and Neches-Trinity Coastal Basins.
2022: Upper Brazos River Basin (upstream of Possum Kingdom Lake), San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin, Brazos-Colorado Coastal Basin, Colorado River Basin, and the Colorado-Lavaca Coastal Basins.
2021: Cypress Creek and Sulphur River Basins
2020: Canadian and Red River Basins
2019: Neches River and Sabine River Basins
2018: Trinity River, San Jacinto River, Trinity-San Jacinto Coastal and Neches-Trinity Coastal Basins.
2017: Upper Brazos River Basin (upstream of Possum Kingdom Lake), San Jacinto-Brazos Coastal Basin, Brazos-Colorado Coastal, Colorado River and the Colorado-Lavaca Coastal Basins
2016: Cypress Creek and Sulphur River Basins
Participating in the Evaluation Process
To include the public and develop the best recommendations, we solicit input from stakeholders, including water right holders, domestic and livestock users, river authorities, agricultural, industrial and environmental organizations, the general public, and other interested parties. We will solicit input for the 2026 evaluation, and the input received from stakeholders will be discussed at the TCEQ Commissioners’ Agenda.
If you have any questions about the evaluation process, contact us -
- Email: watermaster@tceq.texas.gov
- Regular Mail:Iliana Spaeth
Watermaster Section Liaison
Mail Code 160, TCEQ
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, Texas 78711-3087