While the headline “Evangeline Water Project Approved” focused on Corpus Christi’s $169 million commitment to secure its water future, the ripple effects of that decision are felt all the way down the coastal bend to Rockport. For residents here, watching a neighboring city make a billion-dollar bet on its survival is more than just news; it’s a stark preview of challenges, and choices, on the near horizon.
The facts are as stark as the South Texas sun. The combined capacity of Corpus Christi’s reservoirs sits at a perilous 12.5%. Beeville is under Stage 4 drought restrictions. And after the collapse of a major desalination plant plan, Corpus is turning to the Evangeline Aquifer, committing to a total project cost that could reach $840 million to pump, treat, and pipe 24 million gallons of brackish water a day.
This isn’t just a Corpus Christi problem. It’s a regional wake-up call.
Rockport’s water story is uniquely tied to the coast. Unlike inland cities reliant on rivers and aquifers, a significant portion of Rockport’s supply comes from the Lake Texana pipeline, a source that itself is not immune to the pressures of prolonged drought and growing demand. This dependency underscores a critical vulnerability for a community whose identity and economy are inextricably linked to the water.
But the crisis here is twofold: it’s about both scarcity and quality.
As experts like veteran coastal scientist Charlie Bellaire have been warning, the health of our local bays is in jeopardy. The very marine ecosystems that drive tourism, support fisheries, and define our way of life are under threat.
“It is my professional judgment that the primary impacts leading to the loss of seagrass in Little Bay are likely excessive nutrients, excessive sediment runoff and introduction of an assortment of toxins and contaminants,” Bellaire recently stated. “The nutrients and contaminants are delivered by inadequately treated domestic waste discharges from the city treatment plant, and untreated stormwater runoff.”
This means that while the region fights over a dwindling supply of fresh water, the quality of our coastal waters is also degrading, creating a pincer movement of water-related crises.
Corpus Christi’s massive investment signals a new era for water in South Texas. The era of abundance is over; the era of expensive, engineered solutions has begun. The question for Rockport is not if we will face similar hard choices, but when and how.
Will we wait for a crisis, or will we act with foresight? Will we invest in conservation, modernize our infrastructure to prevent contamination, and explore diverse water sources before our hand is forced? The path Corpus is taking is one of necessity, but it comes with a staggering price tag that will inevitably impact ratepayers.