Groundwater Management and Groundwater Districts in Texas

							Groundwater Management and
Groundwater Districts in Texas
           Rima Petrossian, Texas Water Development Board
  Public Hearing on Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District Management Plan
                                 Wimberley, Texas
                                    June 9, 2005
   TWDB 2000 Water Use
         Survey

• 85 % of Groundwater Produced in
  Texas From Counties With a
  Groundwater Conservation District
• 57 % of Total Land Area of Texas
  is in a Groundwater Conservation
  District
   Water Administration:The
           Rules
• Chapter 36.0015 says:
  “Groundwater Conservation
  Districts created as provided by this
  chapter are the state’s preferred
  method of groundwater
  management.”
Regional Water
Planning Areas
   GWMPs Must Be Certified
              As
   Administratively Complete

•Plans Contain All Required Elements
•Address Water Supply Needs in A
Manner “Not in Conflict” With Regional
Water Plans (reviews by RWPG and TWDB)
  TWDB                          GCD                     SAO


                         SW                   RWPG
                                                       TCEQ
•GCD Develops MP (coordinates development with SW Entity)
•Planning group reviews MP for conflicts with RWP (Must
consider MP in development of new RWP)
•TWDB Staff Assists MP Development and Executive
Administrator Certifies MP as Administratively Complete
•SAO Audits District Progress in Achieving District Goals (after
one year eligible, possibly within 5 years)

•TCEQ Reviews Audit (regulatory oversight as needed)
   Required Content in GWMP
• Estimates of GW Availability (Total Useable
  Amount of Groundwater), Historical
  Groundwater Use and Annual Recharge
• Discussion of How Recharge Could be
  Increased
• Water Supply and Demand Projections
• Details on District Groundwater Management
• Actions, Procedures, Performance and
  Avoidance Necessary to Effectuate Plan
  Including Proposed District Rules
Required Content in GWMP

• Management Goals
 (Seven Categories)
• Methodology For Tracking Progress
 (Annual Assessment of Progress Achieving Goals)
• Management Objectives
 (Time Based and Quantifiable Actions or Outcomes)
• Performance Standards
 (Measure Efficiency and Effectiveness)
    Required Management Goals
          (As Applicable to the District)

• Providing the Most Efficient Use of Groundwater
• Controlling and Preventing Waste of Groundwater
• Controlling and Preventing Subsidence
• Conjunctive Surface Water Management Issues
• Natural Resource Issues that Impact the Use and
  Availability of Groundwater and Which are
  Impacted by the Use of Groundwater
• Addressing Drought Conditions
• Addressing Conservation
      What GCDs Can Do

• Determine The Best Management
  Approach For The Aquifer(s)
• Require Permitting or Registration of
  Wells
• Promulgate Rules For The Production,
  Spacing and Construction of Wells
• Study the Aquifer(s) and Monitor
  Changing Conditions
     What GCDs Can’t Do

• Adopt Policy Without Public Process
• Completely Prohibit Export of
 Groundwater
• Levy Taxes Without Electoral Approval
• Apply Excessive Fees
Groundwater Management Areas
Questions?