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year in the early 1980s, but is projected to be approximately 7.3 million acre- feet per year in the year 2000, attributable to increased agricultural water use efficiency and reductions in total irrigated acres due to adverse economic conditions." Preliminary studies conducted in the consensus water planning effort have identified that significant reductions in irrigation (surface water) are projected to occur primarily in some areas of the Rio Grande and in the irrigated agricultural zone along the Texas Gulf Coast. Generally speaking, the following counties may be affected: Matagorda, Jefferson, Colorado, Maverick, Cameron, Brazoria, Wharton, Chambers, Liberty, and Medina. These studies also indicate that in 1990, the total irrigation water usage was approximately equivalent to 56% of the total water used in the state. Scarcity Of Water (usually expressed as fully-appropriated surface waters) * According to TNRCC, there is little or no water available for new, permanent appropriation in these basins: (1) the Canadian River upstream of Lake Meredith; (2) the Red River upstream of Lakes Kemp and Arrowhead; (3) Cypress Creek upstream of Lake O' the Pines; (4) the Sabine River upstream of Lakes Tawakoni and Fork; (5) the Neches River upstream of Lake Palestine; (6) the Trinity River upstream from Dallas/Ft. Worth reservoirs; (7) the Brazos River upstream from Possum Kingdom Lake; (8) the Colorado River; (9) the Guadalupe River upstream of Canyon and Coleto Creek Reservoirs; (10) the San Antonio River upstream from Lake Medina; (11) the Nueces River upstream from Zavala/Dimmit Counties water rights; and (12) the entire Rio Grande, based on TNRCC's A ReQulatory Guidance Document for ADDlications to Divert. Store. or uSe State Water--A DRAFT, March 22, 1994.7 Limited Availability Of Other Water Supplies (nonnally ground wateQ * In 1990, ground water was estimated to provide 36% of the total water used in the state (6.702 million acre-feet). By 2040 the amount of groundwater used is expected to drop to 5.698 million acre-feet or approximately or approximately 30% of the total water used statewide.s Areas experiencing subsidence, salt water intrusion, and/or overdraftlng are most likely to exhibit a need tD shift to other sources of water supply. In a 1994 report, the following areas were characterized by declining ground-water levels: the El S Texas Water Development Board, Water for Texas: Today and Tomorrow, p. 3-5, December 1990, Document No. GP-5-1. 7 This draft guidance document was revised as of October 4, 1994, according to Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission staff, fax dated November 10, 1994 from Mark Jordan, TNRCC. 8 Texas Water Development Board, op. cit., p. 3-2, 1990. 7