The Lower Colorado River Authority is taking the first step towards a new water source for Spicewood beach.

Communities about an hour away from Northwest Austin have struggled with stage 4 drought restrictions for nearly a year.

This week, the LCRA board approved more than a million dollars for a new water treatment plant, and the infrastructure needed to tie it in to the existing system.

The plant is expected to be completed this summer.

LCRA also approved $18 million for the first phase of a more than $200 million dollar project to keep more water in the highland lakes. The plan is to build a massive reservoir in Wharton County, near Houston to collect rain that falls south of Lake Travis.

Another $15 million will build new groundwater wells in Bastrop County if local authorities approve.

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/LCRA-takes-first-steps-towards-addressing-drought-conditions-187558511.html