(This story was updated to add new information.)
A recent decision by the Texas Water Development Board indicates that of all the water projects across the state competing for funding, the Nueces River Authority’s large-scale Harbor Island desalination project isn’t a top priority.
The Texas Water Development Board met in April to approve a prioritization list for funding projects through the 2026 State Water Implementation Fund for Texas program. Out of 23 eligible projects, the Nueces River Authority project ranked in the bottom half.
For the past 12 funding cycles of the program, the board has opted to fund all eligible projects. But this time, applications soared, leading the board to decide to “draw the line,” according to comments by several board members during an April meeting.
The Harbor Island project was on the wrong side of that line.
The Nueces River Authority plans to build a seawater desalination plant near Port Aransas capable of producing 100 million gallons of water per day by 2030. At some point after that, the river authority hopes to potentially expand to a capacity of 450 million gallons per day.
If it succeeds, it could provide water not just to Coastal Bend communities, but also to communities across the broader South Texas region. The city of Corpus Christi paid a nonrefundable $2.7 million fee to reserve some of the project’s water.
Different desalination proposals
The river authority’s Harbor Island project would dwarf the city of Corpus Christi’s beleaguered plans for a Inner Harbor desalination facility with a 30 million-gallon-per-day capacity.
There are a few key differences between the two projects beyond size. The city’s Inner Harbor project would be located in Corpus Christi, discharging brine into shallow, sensitive bay waters. The Harbor Island facility would be located on an island, discharging into deeper gulf waters.
Some city leaders have second-guessed the project due to ballooning costs and environmental concerns. However, the City Council is expected to vote on a potential design contract with Corpus Christi Desal Partners on June 2.
The state has supported the city’s Inner Harbor project, awarding the project a low-interest loan of $757 million.
It’s unclear whether the state will offer the Nueces River Authority the same level of support for its larger desalination project.
Requests for Texas funding
The Nueces River Authority, which took over planning for the Harbor Island project last year when it secured a lease agreement from the Port of Corpus Christi, applied for funding this year from the Texas Water Development Board to help cover design and other early costs.
According to a staff report given to the board during the April 16 meeting, eligible projects requested nearly $4.2 billion from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas this year. This demand exceeded capacity.
The prioritization rules for the program assign projects points based on factors including population size, regionalization, water supply needs and whether the project would serve urban and rural populations.
Out of 86 total points, only five are tied to emergency need.
The top 10 projects with the most points are expected to submit complete applications for board consideration this summer.
The Nueces River Authority requested $140 million. The river authority’s application score was 62 points, just two points below the lowest-scoring project invited to continue the application process, according to meeting documents.
“It’s disappointing for sure,” Nueces River Authority Deputy Executive Director John Chisholm said of the project’s ranking.
What’s next for Harbor Island desalination?
Chisholm said the river authority is looking into other funding options, including other Texas Water Development Board programs and federal or private funding opportunities.
“It’s not the end of it,” Chisholm said. “(This) didn’t kill it by any means.”
If the river authority can’t find other funding this year, it will likely apply for SWIFT funding again next year.
Chisholm said that losing out on the 2026 round of SWIFT funding will not delay the project.
Currently, the river authority is covering costs related to preliminary design through fees paid by communities to reserve water from the future plant.
The river authority plans to work with a development partner to build the facility. It is currently considering five potential partners. The river authority Board of Directors is expected to select a partner on May 15.
Olivia Garrett covers education and community news in South Texas. Have a story idea? Contact her at olivia.garrett@caller.com.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Harbor Island desalination project misses out on some state funding
Reporting by Olivia Garrett, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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