Brazos Watermaster
The Brazos Watermaster Program administers water rights in the Brazos River basin downstream of, and including, Possum Kingdom Lake.
Temporary water right applications should be submitted directly to our Watermaster email box at brazoswm@tceq.texas.gov
Please submit any payments for temporary water right applications to:
TCEQ Central OfficeMail Code 160, PO Box 13087
Austin, Texas 78711-3087Epay is also available to electronically submit payments for temporary water use permits for up to 10 acre-feet and up to one calendar year.
Jurisdiction
The Brazos Watermaster Program is responsible for an area that encompasses 41 counties in central and east Texas.
| River Basin | Counties |
|---|---|
| Brazos River Basin downstream and including Possum Kingdom Lake | Austin, Bastrop, Bell, Bosque, Brazoria, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Callahan, Comanche, Coryell, Eastland, Erath, Falls, Fayette, Fort Bend, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Jack, Johnson, Lampasas, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Palo Pinto, Parker, Robertson, Somervell, Stephens, Travis, Waller, Washington, and Williamson |
Six field deputies patrol these counties from offices located in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco and Angleton. That means the deputies oversee a constantly changing, dynamic surface-water system of rivers and tributaries that allow diversions as water is available and as it passes individual diversion points.
Duties of the Watermaster
Duties include:
- allocating water per the adjudicated water rights
- monitoring stream flow, reservoir levels, and water use within the basin
- enforcing compliance with water rights
- responding to complaints
The watermaster will also oversee situations where a diversion would remove water that rightfully belongs to another user. In that case the watermaster could, if needed, notify the user with lower priority to reduce or stop pumping. When streamflows diminish, the watermaster will allocate available water among the water right holders according to each user’s priority date.
Water Diverters Responsibilities
A diverter is any water right holder, agent, or contractual buyer who impounds, takes, diverts, or transports water in a watercourse, or makes a dedicated release of state water. Diverters in the watermaster area will be responsible for:
- Installing a measuring device
- Notifying the watermaster before diverting water
- Submitting a report when pumping is completed
- Complying with the rules of the Commission
Fees for Water Right Holders
Water right holders will be required to pay an annual fee. Each account will be assessed a base fee (currently $50) plus a use fee based on the type of use and amount of water authorized in the permit.
Forms and Documents
Brazos Watermaster Advisory Committee
Advisory Committee Information
This Watermaster Program was established by petition and subsequent Order issued by the TCEQ Commissioners on April 21, 2014.
Contact Information
TCEQ Waco Regional Office
6801 Sanger Ave, Ste 2500
Waco, TX 76710-7826