The Lower Colorado River Authority decides who can get water from Lake Travis, but it doesn't tell cities how to get the water from the Colorado River to the kitchen sink.

That task is growing more difficult during the drought. New plans for a deeper water intake for Cedar Park have Lake Travis landowners worried about their property.

As a Lake Travis realtor for the past 25 years, Marlon Coplin knows the value of waterfront property.

"It's about where you create 50 percent of your value in your property, and it's a very sought after resource," he said.

Right now Cedar Park is seeking his land, but he hoped they wouldn't need it forever.

"We were hoping to get an agreement with Cedar Park that this would be a temporary facility," Coplin said.

He's not as hopeful after receiving a new proposal from the city Thursday. The original petition called for a floating raw water intake. The new one reportedly specifies a water facility, something Coplin sees as a permanent fixture in his backyard.

Last Monday, the City of Cedar Park told News 8 the new water intake barge was temporary, and when the drought went away, so would the barge.

James Kowis is the manager of water supply planning for the Lower Colorado River Authority. He said drought or not, LCRA doesn't tell Cedar Park, or any other city, how to get its water from Lake Travis to its customers.

"When these individual cities or other users came in and got contracts with it, our contract does not guarantee them a level of lake, so their decision about where to put their intakes is their decision," Kowis said.

As such, Coplin holds the city accountable.

"They're responsible for going and getting the appropriate easements, land purchases, any necessary permits, or regulatory authorizations," Kowis said.

Cedar Park did not respond to questions Friday about discrepancies between reports that the easements they seek for the water intake may be temporary or permanent.