Transcript No Slide Title

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)
GCD
TWDB
SW
RWPG
SAO
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?