Transcript Slide 1

2015 EAA Work Plans
Science Committee Review:
• Applied Research and Ecological Model Work Plans on April 8.
• Biological and Water Quality Monitoring Work Plans on May 8.
• Refugia Work Plan
Program Management
Long-term objective – to manage and oversee day to day operations
in coordination with Applicants resulting in a valid and continued
Incidental Take Permit.
2015 Work Plan
Program
Management
• Manage, facilitate and coordinate the public meetings and
activities of the
• Implementing Committee,
• Science Committee,
• Stakeholder Committee,
• Regional Water Conservation Monitoring Committee.
• Procure and oversee contracts.
• Oversee Applied Research studies.
• Oversee City of New Braunfels and City of San Marcos/Texas
State University Work Plan activities.
• Enhance public outreach initiatives including HCP website.
Program
Management
• Prepare Annual Report.
• Support the Science Review Panel.
• In coordination with HCP committees, will evaluate
recommendations on the models, monitoring and research
programs.
Aquifer Storage and
Recovery
Long-term objective – to acquire 50,000 acre-feet of permitted
groundwater withdrawal rights (GWRs) as leases or options to be
made available to SAWS for the purposes of storage
or crediting the ASR balance.
2015 Work Plan
•
Aquifer
Storage and
Recovery
2015 ASR Goal – continue to solicit GWRs to meet program goals;
Tier 1 goal of 16,667 acre-feet by the end of 2015.
•
Target permit holders who are identified as having un-pumped and unmarketed GWRs in previous years, especially with the end of Aquifer
Management Fee rebates for municipal and industrial users in 2013.
•
Use leasing agent for acquisition of leases.
•
Participate in ASR Regional Advisory Group.
•
Manage interlocal contract between EAA and SAWS for use of Twin
Oaks ASR project for contribution to spring flow protection.
Regional Water
Conservation Program
Long-term objective- to conserve and reduce water use by 20,000
acre-feet of permitted or exempt Edwards Aquifer withdrawals.
2015 Work Plan
• Continue to contact communities, including major municipalities.
• Search for reuse and industrial technology opportunities.
Regional
Water
Conservation
• Expand the “lost water” program.
• Identify all potential non-Edwards Aquifer water sources.
• Seek partners for treated effluent, greywater, etc.
• Work with community environmental groups.
• Seek opportunities for Texas Water Development Board funding.
Voluntary Irrigation
Suspension Program
Options (VISPO)
Long-term objective- to enroll 40,000 acre-feet of groundwater
withdrawal rights.
2015 Work Plan
• Monitor J-17 trigger levels on October 1.
VISPO
• Communicate to enrollees their commitment to VISPO.
• If 40,000 acre-feet is not met in 2014,
continue to acquire agreements (and pray for rain).
Biological Monitoring
Long-term objective- Monitor changes to habitat availability and
population abundance of covered species.
Biological
Monitoring
2015 Work Plan
• Aquatic vegetation
• Fountain darter
- Dip-net, drop-net and SCUBA transects
- Dip-net at 50 fixed sites*
• Fixed station photography
• Thermistors (water quality)
• Fish Community
• Macroinvertebrate food source
• Comal Springs salamander
• Comal Springs invertebrates
• Comal Springs discharge
• San Marcos salamander
• TX wild-rice physical measurement
• Land Lake flow partitioning
*Added for 2014, based on discussion by Science Committee
**Based on analysis of 2013 data, one additional reach added to San Marcos River
and one additional reach added to the New Channel of the Comal River for 2014.
Water Quality Monitoring
Long-term objective- Detect water quality impairments that may
negatively impact the listed species.
Summary of Current Sampling Program
• Surface water (base flow) twice annually at each spring group.
• Five sample sites at Comal Springs and Seven at San Marcos
Springs.
Water
Quality
Monitoring
• Storm water twice annually at each spring group, across the
hydrograph.
• Sediment sampling annually at each surface water sample site.
• Passive diffusion sampling at each surface water site six-times
annually.
• Real time monitoring for DO, pH, Turbidity, Conductivity, and
Temperature.
• Three locations for Comal Springs and two locations for San
Marcos Springs
Minor changes in 2015 Work Plan
• Sediment Sampling
• Current Interval is 0 to 18-inches below the surface
• Recommended change for sample year 2015 0 to 3inches below the surface
Water
Quality
Monitoring
• Real Time Water Quality Instrumentation
• Currently, the downstream sample point at San
Marcos is not monitored in real-time
• Recommend adding a downstream instrument to
monitor Willow Creek and I-35
(approximately one river mile downstream, difficult
to time storm samples)
Ecological Modeling
Long-term objective- to develop a comprehensive mechanistic
ecological model to assist in Adaptive Management decisions.
2015 Work Plan
• Literature Review
• Food sources
• Aquatic vegetation scour
Ecological
Model
• % Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Cover to Biomass Component
• Fountain Darter Modeling Component
• Aquatic Vegetation Modeling Component
• Prototyped in two study reaches (Comal & San Marcos)
• Model calibration
• Sensitivity and robustness analysis
Applied Research
Long-term objective- to evaluate effects of low-flows on covered
species and provide information to be used in the Ecological Model.
2015 Projects (as ranked by the Science Committee)
Applied
Research
•
Ludwigia repens interference plant competition.
•
Suspended sediment impacts on Texas wild-rice (and other aquatic
plant) growth characteristics, and aquatic macroinvertebrates.
•
Algae dynamics.
•
Effects of sediment shear stress on submerged aquatic vegetation.
2015 Projects (continued)
Applied
Research
•
Comal Springs riffle beetle habitat connectivity (surface, riparian
and submerged).
•
Fountain darter food source temperature refinement and response
to plant species.
•
Does the fountain darter exhibit compensatory reproduction, and if
so, when and what causes it?
•
What are the behavioral impacts of the fountain darter under
different turbidity levels in relation to feeding success?
Stage V Critical Period
Management
Long-term objective- to decrease withdrawls and maintain adequate
spring flows at both Comal and San Marcos Springs
during times of drought.
2015 Work Plan
Stage V
Critical Period
Management
•
Monitor aquifer and spring flow levels daily.
•
Issue Notice of Commencement - 5 newspapers, permit holder mail
out, website, EAA office.

Monitor compliance of monthly water use reporting requirements.

Provide online Critical Period Management (CPM) calculators
available to permit holders to assist with calculating CPM
reductions.
•
Assess receipt of annual groundwater withdrawal report submitted
by EAA permit holders on January 31st.
Workplan
Table 7.1
Proposed Budget
Δ to Table 7.1
$4,759,000
$4,759,000
$0
$2,194,000
$2,194,000
$0
RWCP
$1,973,000
$1,973,000
$0
VISPO
$4,172,000
$4,172,000
$0
Bio Monitoring
$400,000
$417,029
($17,029)
WQ Monitoring
$200,000
$504,530
($304,530)
Eco Modeling
$175,000
$380,350
($205,350)
$0
$75,000
($75,000)
$450,000
$450,000
$0
Program Management
$750,000
$750,000
$0
Science Review Panel
$100,000
$230,000
($130,000)
ASR
Leases and Options
ASR
O&M
Applied Research
Facility
Applied Research
Research
Rio Vista Real Time Station
Water
Quality
Monitoring
Proposed Willow Creek Real Time Station