Mary Rhodes Phase 2: Arming the Texas Coastal Bend against Drought

As Texas continues to experience some of the worst droughts in its history, cities that have been proactive in securing water for their future are more prepared for what lies ahead. Corpus Christi is one such city that has worked to diversify their water supply over the years and has put itself in a good defensive position against extreme drought conditions. The City of Corpus Christi (the City) currently utilizes three major water sources to meet the needs of more than 500,000 customers in Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend. Its latest endeavor to protect the region's population against drought is the Mary Rhodes Phase 2 Pipeline project. This project will be the fourth major water source for the City. The first two sources are Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon Reservoir. In 1993, the City entered into a contract with Lavaca Navidad River Authority to purchase the third water supply. This supply comes from 41,840 acre-ft of water per year from Lake Texana. The Lake Texana water supply was a key acquisition for the City as it supplies approximately 50-70% of the drinking water to Corpus Christi citizens. In 1998, the City completed 101 mi of 64-in. pipeline connecting Lake Texana to the City's water supply system. This water line, known as the Mary Rhodes Pipeline, was designed to include extra capacity for additional water sources. These additional water sources will come from the Colorado River through the Mary Rhodes Phase 2 Pipeline. This project is essential to the region as Lake Corpus Christi and Choke Canyon water levels are currently below 30%. The Mary Rhodes Phase 2 Pipeline will include approximately 42 mi of 54-in. pipeline, a 46 MGD intake pump station, a sedimentation basin, a 46 MGD booster pump station, and a 6 MG GST. The project team is composed of 17 different companies performing design, survey, modeling, and easement acquisition services. Most of these team members are local to the Corpus Christi area but some are spread across Texas and other parts of the country. The design team began preliminary design in 2009, a process that included a route study, permit preparation, and preliminary hydraulics and water quality testing on the Colorado River. Because the City utilized a Water Infrastructure Fund deferred loan, the engineering feasibility report and environmental permitting were completed prior to the beginning of the design phase. Environmental permits were secured in December of 2012, and final design began immediately after. As the drought continued through 2012 and 2013, the City decided that the Mary Rhodes Phase 2 Pipeline system needed to be built immediately to guard against drought for the Coastal Bend's service area. This service includes municipal demand and a growing industrial demand. Because of this water need, the final design phase for this project has been fast tracked to allow for construction to begin in March of 2014 and be completed in April of 2015. The design of the project is currently on track for an October 2013 bid advertisement date, keeping in line with the City's water needs. The Mary Rhodes Phase 2 Pipeline project has incorporated many unique techniques throughout the design phase including, but not limited to, value engineering, prepurchase of equipment, public stakeholder meetings, large-diameter horizontal directional drilling, and microtunneling of intake pipes.