“conserving water for future generations” 2014 annual report...president: john r. spearman, jr...

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District

“Conserving Water For Future Generations”

2014 Annual Report

2 - panhandle groundwater conservation district - 2014 annual report

Table of Contents

3 Texas Drought Monitor

4 Manager’s Address

5 Board of Directors

6-7 Desired Future Conditions Adopted by PGCD

8-9 Provide Most Efficient Use of Groundwater

10 Controlling & Preventing Waste of Groundwater

11 Strategies to Address Drought Conditions

12 Conjunctive Surface Water Management Issues

13 Natural Resource Issues

14-15 Precipitation Enhancement

16 Addressing Conservation

17 Rainwater Harvesting/Recharge Enhancement

18 Expenditures/Time Tracking

19 Well Permitting & Registration

20-21 Fiscal Year Timeline

panhandle groundwater conservation district - 2014 annual report - 3

Texas Drought Monitor

Then...

Now...

Beginning in 2011, the second most detrimental drought on record swept the state of

Texas. This drought has greatly affected our groundwater and lake levels, making the

state seriously focus on water conservation and the future water supply of Texas.

While the state has not fully recovered, it has however improved since 2011,

hopefully becoming the new trend for the state of Texas.


Manager’s Address

As I think about 2014, the one word that comes to mind is MODERATION. The weather was

milder and wetter than the recent past. We received about average precipitation this year, which

seemed even better than normal when compared to years like 2011. We had fewer 100 degree days

and less wind. Overall less water was pumped on irrigated crops; however, the dryland crops in

some areas still struggled with little to no sub moisture availability to last during the gaps in

rainfall.

Even though 2014 was not a legislative year, much time was spent working with industry

stakeholders and members of Texas Water Conservation Association and Texas Alliance of

Groundwater Districts to get consensus language on a variety of groundwater issues. These issues

included permitting terms, oil and gas exemption issues, aquifer storage and recovery, state auditor

review, use of brackish groundwater, and permitting consistency between districts in the same

areas. The effort, while not totally successful, is making substantial progress on many fronts.

The District spent about four months going through a detailed State Auditor review. Districts are required to have annual audits on

financial transactions. However, in addition to this year’s financial audit, the State Auditor preformed an audit on all statutory

requirements and all aspects of the District’s management plan. Although the District did have some management objectives not

completely achieved, the District passed the entire review very well. In my opinion, this audit is duplication and a waste of tax

payer’s money.

The staff reviewed the annual depletion program and added two new Study Areas to the District and continued with the current

Study and Conservation Areas. Hopefully 2015 will result in even more rainfall and less pumping where we can conserve the

aquifer in hopes of it lasting longer.

I’m sure 2015 will bring many new challenges and opportunities to the District but I think the Board and Staff stand ready to meet

those challenges.

C.E. Williams, General Manager

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District Staff

Back row (Left to right): Steve Shumate, Peter Winegeart, Drew Hodges, and C.E. Williams

Front row (Left to right): Korri Packard, Jennifer Puryear, Anita Haiduk, and Julie Bennett


Board of Directors

President: John R. Spearman, Jr Vice-President: Danny Hardcastle Secretary: Chancy Cruse Director: Charles Bowers

Director: Felix “Butch” Collard Director: Billy Van Crawford

Director: Jim Thompson

Director: Bill Breeding Director: Phillip Smith


Desired Future Conditions Adopted by PGCD

The main purpose of a management plan is to develop goals, management objectives, and performance standards that, when success-

fully implemented, will work together to achieve the adopted DFCs. Goals 2 through 13 directly and/or indirectly support Goal One.

DFCs adopted for the Ogallala, Dockum, and Blaine aquifers by GMA #1 for the District are described below. A 50-year planning

horizon was used in setting the DFCs. Throughout the joint planning process, the District actively worked with the other member

districts and stakeholders within GMA #1 to determine the DFCs for each aquifer located within each district.

Management Objective 1.1

The cornerstone of the many programs and activities that have been developed and adopted in order to achieve the 50/50 DFC is the

District’s Rule 15, also referred to as the Depletion Rule, which contains the 50/50 Management Standard stating that 50 percent of

the current saturated thickness will remain in 50 years. This 50/50 Management Standard is the tool by which the District will ensure

that we meet or exceed the 50/50 DFC. Rule 15 states that the allowable rate of decline in the Ogallala Aquifer’s saturated thickness

annually is 1.25 percent. In order to ensure that the Management Objective of Rule 15 are being met, the District goes through an

annual review process in order to identify and act upon areas that are exceeding the allowable decline rate of 1.25 percent of saturat-

ed thickness on an annual basis. Management Objective 1.1 is for the District to successfully undergo and complete the evaluation

and review process required by Rule 15 no later than December 1 of each calendar year. The results of this process will be published

in the District’s Annual Report which, upon approval by the District Board of Directors, will be published on the District’s web site.

In order to complete Management Objective 1.1, the following Performance Standards will be met. Actions by the District Board of

Directors that may result from this review include the adoption of production limits, drilling moratoriums, and installation of flow

meters, as required.

Performance Standard


The District will develop and maintain an integrated geodatabase system based on the District’s Observation Well Network and

computer mapping programs to annually track and evaluate current supplies by determining a baseline (1998) groundwater saturated

thickness in the District. The baseline is utilized to track and review changes in water supplies.

Performance Standards

Dockum and Blaine Aquifer Desired Future Conditions

Subsequent to adoption of the District’s Management Plan in April of 2012, the Texas Water Development Board awarded a con-

tract to INTERA, Inc., to execute a scope of work that will ultimately result in a major update to the Ogallala, Dockum, and Blaine

aquifers in Texas. This study, referred to as the High Plains Aquifer System Groundwater Availability Model Update, or HPAS

GAM Update, includes all of the Dockum and Blaine aquifers in the District. After significant discussion and consideration, the Pan-

handle GCD voted during a regular Board of Directors meeting on November 15, 2012, to both financially and technically partici-

pate in the HPAS GAM Update. As was discussed at the time, funding provided by the District, along with funding from the High

Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 and the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, was dedicated in

part so that the HPAS GAM Update could provide additional research on the Dockum Aquifer (see letter to TWDB dated September

27, 2012).

The HPAS GAM Update, when completed in August 2016, will include both updated assessments of the hydrogeology and hydro-

chemistry of the Dockum and Blaine aquifers in the District, including location maps and potentiometric surface maps. Therefore, as

1.1a Winter Water Level Presented to

Board of Directors

815 WLM used to produce 1.25% saturated

thickness map and was presented to the board.

(7/10/14)

Completed

1.1B Evaluate the sum of declines Presented to the Board July 10, 2014 and

approved at a public hearing on August 20, 2014. Completed

1.1C

Determine non-exempt water

pumping volumes annually and

report to board

Amounts were determined, but not reported to

the board. Completed

1.2A Annual Review of depletion Study Areas presented to the board (7/10/14) Completed

1.2B Update saturated thickness map on

district's website http://pgcd.us/programs/mapping Completed


Desired Future Conditions Adopted by PGCD

was discussed at the time (during November 15, 2012, Board of Directors meeting), the District’s participation in the HPAS GAM

Update has been (in part) in lieu of activities included in Management Objectives 1.3 and 1.4 (and corresponding Performance

Standards), due to the fact that efforts in the HPAS GAM Update will result in significantly more advanced understanding of both

the Dockum and Blaine aquifers than would have been achieved by the development of work plans and maps described in the Dis-

trict’s Management Plan.

Although not directly applicable to the subject of this memorandum, it is also noted that during the District’s August 20, 2014, meet-

ing, in part due to preliminary results from the HPAS GAM Update, the District Board of Directors voted unanimously to declare

that for joint-planning purposes, the Blaine Aquifer be declared as non-relevant. As a result, there will no longer be an adopted de-

sired future conditions for the Blaine Aquifer. Further, in the next District Management Plan update (scheduled for 2017), no desired

future condition will be included for the Blaine Aquifer.

The light pink areas are previously approved Study Areas, the tan area is a previously approved Conservation Area (the only Conservation Area currently in place

and located in Roberts County C11-1), and the green areas are newly designated Study Areas that were approved on August 20, 2014.

PGCD 2014 Study and Conservation Areas


Provide Most Efficient Use of Groundwater

Throughout our history, the District has operated on the core principle (or goal) that groundwater should be used as efficiently as

possible for beneficial purposes. In order to achieve this goal, the District maintains a qualified staff to assist water users in protect-

ing, preserving, and conserving groundwater resources. The Board of Directors has in the past and continues today to base its deci-

sions on the best data available to treat all water users as equitably as possible. Once data is collected, the District utilizes a wide

variety of forums to provide important information to water users throughout the District so that sound decisions regarding the effi-

cient use of groundwater can be made. The observation well network will continuously be reviewed and maintained in order to moni-

tor changing storage conditions of groundwater supplies within the District. The District will continue to undertake and cooperate

with technical investigations of the groundwater resources within the District. The following management objectives and perfor-

mance standards have been developed and adopted to collect needed information, disseminate information, and provide opportunities

through the District’s Agricultural Water Conservation Equipment Loan Program to ensure the efficient use of groundwater.


An observation well network with approximately 850 water wells located throughout the District is continuously maintained and

monitored. Wells in the observation network produce groundwater from the Ogallala Aquifer, as well as the Dockum and Blaine

aquifers. Water levels are measured by District staff in as many wells as possible, with the management objective being to measure

water levels in at least 90 percent of the wells in the network each year. This data is then processed for quality assurance/quality con-

trol, entered into the District’s geodatabase, analyzed, mapped, and used to make decline calculations and update historic trend lines

(hydrographs).

Water level measurements from wells in the District’s Observation Well Network are used to generate annual depletion maps. The

District will strive to install additional monitoring wells in locations when necessary in order to evaluate the effects of high-impact

pumping operations as necessary. Furthermore, the District will install and maintain automatic data gathering equipment on wells as

needed.



The District encourages efficient groundwater use by continued promotion of Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA), low pres-

sure and other efficient sprinkler systems, which will decrease the utilization of less efficient row irrigation techniques. This will be

accomplished by increasing the use of the District’s Agricultural Water Conservation Equipment Loan Program, as long as TWDB

Agricultural Loan Program funds are available and economically competitive. The District will enhance awareness of the loan pro-

gram by publicity releases in local newspapers and the PWN. The District website will have information on availability of funds and

guidelines for applicants. The District will strive to provide timely responses to loan applicants.

2.1A

Measure water levels in at least

90% of the wells in the District's

Network

815 measured of 882 wells (92%) by April 24 Completed

2.1B Annual Depletion Map Published in the July 2014 Panhandle Water

News Completed

2.1C IRS Depletion Map IRS Map 2013 approved on (12-5-13) Completed


Provide Most Efficient Use of Groundwater



The District encourages the efficient use of groundwater by disseminating educational information regarding current best manage-

ment practices and trends in water conservation for agricultural, municipal, and industrial applications. The District publishes a

newsletter quarterly that contains resources for water users interested in water conservation. In addition, the District also attends and

participates in public events throughout the District including the annual Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show as often as possible.



In order to ensure that the Board of Directors and District constituents are aware of and informed on the most current information on

water conservation, groundwater management, and emerging policy issues related to groundwater resources, District staff actively

participate in a broad grouping of professional associations that focus on water resource issues. District staff will report at the next

available regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting in the General Manager’s Report on any activities resulting from participa-

tion with the following active affiliations: Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD), Texas Water Conservation Association

(TWCA), Groundwater Management Districts Association (GMDA), and Alliance for Water Efficiency.



The District has adopted rules that require approved flow meters on all new and replacement wells. Flow meters are also required in

certain instances for wells in designated study areas and for all non-exempt wells in designated conservation areas. The District be-

lieves that when a water user understands the volume of groundwater being used, they are better able to adopt best management

practices that result in the efficient use of groundwater. Therefore the District is committed to continuing the program focused on

requiring flow meters for certain wells, flow meter monitoring, and data collection and analysis of water use by crop and irrigation

type. To achieve this objective the District will read and record flow meter data from 90 percent of the installed flow meters in the

District annually. Study Area and Conservation Area meters will be read at least annually, however may be read on a monthly or

quarterly basis as needed. The information from the District’s metering program will be published in the District’s Annual Report.


2.2A Ag Loan Reminder In Panhandle Water News (October 2013,

January 2014, April 2014) Completed

2.2B Review ag loan applications within

30 days Granted 17 loans at a total of $1,463,919.51 Completed

2.3A Publish Panhandle Water News on

a quarterly basis October 2013, January, April, July 2014 Completed

2.3B Attend the Farm & Ranch show

each year 12/3/13-12/5/13 Completed

2.4A

Attend and participate in 80% of

TAGD, TWCA and

GMDA meetings

Out of 16 meetings, CE attended: 4 TAGD, 10

TWCA and 1 GMDA; 94% Completed

2.5A Flow meter data for at least 90%

annually 611 of 669 meters were recorded. (92%) Completed

2.5B Fix bad flow meters within 14 days

of notice

All meters were serviced in a timely manner. See

meter repair spreadsheet (S:field_support/meter/

meter repair).

Completed

2.5C

Review and prepare revised esti-

mates to TWDB annual agriculture

water estimates

Last estimates reported to TWDB 05/31/2013, the

next estimates are due to TWDB on

December 12, 2014

Completed


Controlling & Preventing Waste of Groundwater

Another core principle adopted by the District since its inception in order to conserve groundwater resources of the region is by con-

trolling and preventing the waste of groundwater. The following management objectives and performance standards have developed

and adopted as an integral component of the District¡¦s umbrella goal to achieve the 50/50 Management Standard.


The District is continuously working to take positive and prompt action to identify and address all reported wasteful practices and

instances of waste located by District staff within the District. This effort involves the following actions to be taken by the District.

Report each complaint to the landowner and/or operator within two working days.

Resolve the complaint and note the corrective action taken.

Report resolution of each complaint to the landowner/operator and to the Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting during

the General Manager’s Report.


Tailwater complaint investigation on September 4, 2014.

3.1A

All complaints of waste will be

recorded, investigated and reported

to land owner within

2 business days

One complaint. Reported and investigated the

same day, September 4, 2014 Completed

3.1B

Report each complaint to board

with staff recommendation for

resolution

The complaint was reported to the board at the

next regularly scheduled board meeting on

October 7, 2014.

Completed


Strategies to Address Drought Conditions

In order to address drought conditions, the District has implemented a number of programs that are designed to positively support

constituents in the District when drought conditions exist. While three of these efforts are described below in Management Objec-

tives 4.1 - 4.3, others are documented elsewhere in the management plan. For example the District operates a state-permitted precipi-

tation enhancement program. This program is described below in Goal 8.


Conduct drought contingency planning by ensuring that drought contingency plans required in all Multiple Well Permits issued by

the District are included in the permit applications and that they are administratively complete.



In order to provide ongoing information regarding water conditions in the District, establish and maintain links to National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration Drought Monitor indices are on the District website.


4.1A Ensure drought contingency plan

for multiple well permits

All previous permitted wells have drought

contingency plans in place. CA-1083-A2-Multi

obtained extension for permit and drought

contingency plan was included. Extension wells

drilled by February 7, 2014.

Completed

4.2A Provide a link to the NOAA

drought monitor http://pgcd.us/links/ Completed


Conjunctive Surface Water Management Issues

The Canadian River Municipal Water Authority (CRMWA) supplements member city allocations of groundwater with supplies from

Lake Meredith. The CRMWA system is the largest conjunctive use water provider in the State of Texas, providing a combination of

groundwater and surface water to 11 member cities. All current CRMWA groundwater supplies are produced within the boundaries

of the District. The Greenbelt Water Authority (GWA) is the second surface water user with supplies inside the boundaries of the

District. At the time of the implementation of this plan, GWA has not utilized any groundwater supplies for distribution. In the event

that GWA develops groundwater supplies to supplement the surface water, then the District will communicate with regards to rules

and technical data as it applies to conjunctive use within the District.


In order to continually monitor the impact of declining surface-water availability on groundwater resources within the District, the

General Manager participates in the Panhandle Water Planning Group (PWPG) with the two surface-water entities currently operat-

ing within the District. This activity helps facilitate regular communication and cooperation with regards to conjunctive use issues in

the District.


Natural Resource Issues

As part of the umbrella goal of achieving the adopted DFCs, the District recognizes that the protection of water quality is equally as

important as working to ensure adequate water quantity. In order to protect the District’s most important natural resource, the abun-

dant, high quality groundwater resources, the District has for many years maintained and operated a water quality sampling program

sampling different areas each summer which yields a complete set of data biennially. In addition to the District’s water quality pro-

gram, another aspect of the District’s efforts to protect natural resources is to monitor the possible impacts of groundwater pumping

on White Deer Creek.

Management objective 6.1

In order to control and prevent the contamination of groundwater, the District maintains and works to expand the groundwater quali-

ty monitoring. As part of this effort, an annual sampling program will be conducted within the District’s Water Quality Network.

The objective will be to sample at least 40 percent of the wells in the District’s Water Quality Network by September 1st of each

year. Also, upon request the District will conduct analysis of water within current District sampling capabilities, including sites near

oil and gas industry injection well sites.

5.1

The district manager will

participate in 75% of PWPG

meetings and activities

(2011-2016)

Attended 100% Completed


Operating Efficiency and Customer Service


Customer service is of great importance to the Board and Staff of the District. As detailed in the corresponding performance stand-

ards, the District will continue to provide timely response to customer assistance requests in the following areas:

Pump flow tests.

Processing of well drilling permits.

Efficiency evaluations of pumping plants and sprinkler systems.

Review and revision of District Rules, as necessary, to incorporate revisions required by new legislation.

Well camera recordings.


Customer service and operating efficiency are important to the District and is our top priority. When producers request pump flow

tests, processing of well drilling permits, efficiency evaluations of pumping plants and sprinkler systems and well camera recordings,

the PGCD staff works hard to ensure all requests are completed in a timely manner. The District also stays on top of reviews and

revisions of District Rules as necessary.

The Staff ensures flow tests are completed within two working days of request and data is stored on the District’s Server in a

spreadsheet.

Well drilling permits are taken and returned to customers in a timely manner.

Efficiency tests are completed and evaluations are returned to customers within three working days and results are also recorded

in a spreadsheet on the server.

Well camera services are completed within two working days of request, returned to the well operator and added into an archive

of well camera DVDs in the District Library.

Natural Resource Issues



In order to monitor the possible impacts of groundwater pumping on White Deer Creek, the District will measure and record reports

of flow from White Deer Creek, check annual decline maps for water level declines near White Deer Creek headwaters, and com-

pare the flow reports to decline maps. An annual assessment statement will be prepared and presented with analysis of findings to

the Board of Directors in the District’s Annual Report each year.


6.1A Sample 40% of the water quality

network by September 1 each year

263 total samples were collected by the district

and tested. Completed

6.1B Record water quality data in

database within 30 days sampling

364 total water quality samples (263 collected by

district, 101 brought in by district individuals)

were collected and recorded in the database.

Completed

6.2A Record Stream flow measurements

bi-monthly Recorded 20 measurements. Completed

6.2B Prepare and include assessment of

impacts on White Deer Creek Recorded 6 measurements. Partially Completed


Precipitation Enhancement

Texas Water Code §36.1071(a)(7) requires groundwater conservation districts to include in the management plan a goal addressing

precipitation enhancement. The District has one of the longest continuous precipitation enhancement programs in the State of Texas.


The District will continue to operate its Precipitation Enhancement Program throughout the planning horizon of this management

plan. The program will operate within budget. A rain gauge network will be maintained and monitored to check results. Flight

records and radar data will be collected and archived. The program will abide by Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

requirements for testing, monitoring, and reporting in order to ensure compliance with permit guidelines. Results of the District’s

Precipitation Enhancement Program will be presented to the Board of Directors and included in the Annual Report each year.



Educate the public with regards to the benefits of the District’s Precipitation Enhancement Program through informational articles in

the PWN and local newspapers, public presentations, and Program summaries in the District’s Annual Report each year.


8.1A Annually conduct program from

April to September 30 April 1 - September 30, 2013 Completed

8.1B

Calculate the baseline costs for the

program by December 1 of each

year

$0.0544/acre Completed

8.1C Collect and record rain gauge

reading at least bimonthly

October 2013, January, April, May, June, July,

August and September 2014 Completed

8.1D

Annually maintain all flight

records and archived data on all

precipitation enhancement

operations and make available for

review upon request

Completed

6

Provide required rainfall

monitoring, water quality testing

and other required reports to

Texas Department of Licensing and

Regulation prior to the established

due dates.

Water Quality Test 09/24/2014 Completed

8.2A

Publish an article about precipita-

tion enhancement in at least 2 of

the quarterly issues of PWN.

April 2014 Partially Complete

8.2B Provide at least 2 article about the

program to all local newspapers Weekly Rain Report in White Deer Newspaper Completed

8.2C At least 2 presentations annually to

a public or civic group

Genealogical Society of Pampa 10/28/13, Kiwanis

of Pampa 05/30/14 Completed

8.2D

Complete the Program Summary

Report and include in District's

Annual Report each year

Completed


Precipitation Enhancement

2013 Program Summary

Number of Seeding Days 21

Number of Seeding Missions 21

Number of Recon Flights 14

Total Flight Hours w/ Both Aircraft 82

Total Flares Used 589

Total Cost of Program $219,741.58

Estimated Increase in Rainfall Ac/Ft 392,501

District Cost of Program per Acre $0.05

April -September Rainfall Total Rainfall Averages

Comparing 2012, 2013 and 2014

2012 2013 Difference 2014 Difference

Armstrong 12.62 16.31 3.69 16.19 0.12

Carson 11.74 16.49 4.75 20.34 3.85

Donley 14.78 16.67 1.89 19.94 3.27

Gray 15.68 20.28 4.6 15.17 5.11

Potter 10.42 9.86 0.56 17.63 7.77

Roberts 12.21 17.22 5.01 16.59 0.63

Wheeler 16.68 20.49 3.81 14.82 5.67


Addressing Conservation

Texas Water Code §36.0015 states, in part, that, “In order to provide for the conservation, preservation, protection, recharging, and

prevention of waste of groundwater.…Groundwater conservation districts may be created…are the state's preferred method of

groundwater management through rules developed, adopted, and promulgated by a district in accordance with the provisions of this

chapter.” It is noteworthy that in this overview section of Texas water law addressing groundwater management that “conservation”

is the first action groundwater conservation districts are to pursue. The

50/50 Management Standard can only be achieved if our groundwater

resources are conserved in a manner that ensures adequate water re-

sources will be available for future generations. While water conservation

is a fundamental component of many of the District’s programs, the fol-

lowing represent management objectives most focused on water conserva-

tion.


Continue and expand, when possible, the District’s Groundwater Conser-

vation Education Program. District staff will make presentations on the

importance of water conservation to at least 10 civic organizations and in

at least 80 percent of the schools within the District annually. Annually,

the District will award at least three college scholarships to students in the

District based on participation in a water conservation essay competition.

The District will maintain an Internet information page and launch an

aggressive conservation education initiative called “Water Warriors”, as

well as work with other entities to present an ongoing Panhandle area water conservation symposium.


9.1A Annually make at least 10 civic

education presentations

Genealogical Society of Pampa (10/28/13),

Shamrock Booster Club (1/8/14), Girl Scouts

Ecology Fest (4/26/14), Window on a Wider

World Day ( 5/9/14), Annual School board

Workshop (5/14/14), Widowed Persons Club

(5/20/14), Kiwanis of Pampa (5/30/14), White

Deer Library (6/17/14), Groom Library (6/20/14),

Rainwater Harvesting Workshop (8/5/14), Pampa

Desk & Derrick Club (9/16/14)

Completed

9.1B Annually make 37 elementary

school presentations Presented to 38 schools Completed

9.1C

Annually provide at least 3

scholarships (student essay

competition)

Winners: Jodie Detten of Panhandle, Megan

Ruthardt of Groom and Lauren Little of Claude

(July 2014 PWN)

Completed

9.1D

Water Warrior Presentation to at

least 3 public school settings

outside of school

Gray County Ag Fair (10/28/13), Carson County

Ag Fair (2/19/14), Girl Scouts Ecology Fest

(4/26/14)

Completed

9.1E

Organize or co-host a conservation

symposium at least every other

year beginning in 2012

Amarillo Civic Center (2/12/14) Completed


Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is becoming an increasingly important strategy for meeting water supply needs, especially in the more rural

areas of Texas. While rainwater harvesting is one of the many topics included in the District’s water conservation education pro-

grams, the following management objective and performance standards are specifically focused on rainwater harvesting.


The District has established and maintains a rainwater harvesting system and provides educational tours to the public regarding the

many benefits of the system. Tours of the District office rainwater harvesting system are provided upon request. A link to an infor-

mational page highlighting the rainwater harvesting system will be maintained and updated as necessary on the District’s website. In

addition, a link to the TWDB website on rainwater harvesting will also be maintained on the District’s website.


The District has conducted or helped facilitate several recharge projects in recent years, one of which is an ongoing TWDB effort

regarding the recharge characteristics of playa lakes. The District will continue to work with the TWDB on recharge projects as long

as the Legislature continues to fund their activities.


Surface water collected in the thousands of playa lakes on the High Plains is the primary source of recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer.

During the 81st Texas Legislature, funding was provided to the Texas Water Development Board to conduct long term, scientific

research on potential mechanisms to enhance recharge to the Ogallala Aquifer. The scope of the Ogallala Aquifer Recharge Study is

still being developed. However, the District recognizes the importance of studies such as this with respect to enhancing the economic

sustainability of this precious natural resource. Therefore, it is the objective of the District to have an active role throughout the con-

duct of all aspects of the Ogallala Aquifer Recharge Study and to have district representatives participate in at least 50 percent of all

TWDB scheduled meetings that are held in the region. It is noted however, that funding for this research project has been severely

reduced by the 82nd Texas Legislature, and thus the level of effort that will proceed at this time is still unknown. The District is

committed to continuing its participation in this effort at whatever level current funding will allow.


Recharge Enhancement

10.1A

Webpage Highlighting the district's

rainwater harvesting system and

information about tours

http://pgcd.us/programs/ Completed

10.1B Provide a link to TWDB rainwater

harvesting webpage http://pgcd.us/links/ Completed

11.1A

Document the number of TWDB

meetings held in the region and

number attended by PGCD staff

No meetings held in the region Completed


2013-2014 Expenditures

Time Tracking

Accounting Fees $ 5,800.00 Payroll Expenses $ 191.08

Appraisal District Fees $ 28,610.36 Payroll Taxes $ 40,101.65

Board Expense $ 17,161.37 Postage $ 4,763.41

Capital Operating Improvements $ 42,342.83 Printing $ 7,401.55

Capitol Expense $ 4,268.59 Professional Services $ 64,145.24

Car Expense $ 34,043.84 Regional Planning $ 15,871.14

Contract Labor $ - Repairs & Maintenance $ 5,520.13

Dues $ 4,647.60 Retirement $ 26,361.93

Education/Information $ 58,565.82 Salaries $ 443,383.31

Field Equipment Assets $ - Scholarships $ -

Field Supplies $ 6,588.30 Service Charges $ 236.00

Grant Fund $ 2,500.00 Tax Increment Payment $ 4,467.00

Insurance & Bonds $ 59,826.71 Special Studies $ 33,333.33

Janitorial $ 3,410.00 Travel & Training $ 20,485.25

Meters $ 217,037.98 Utilities $ 19,056.41

Miscellaneous $ 1,534.21 Water Quality $ 2,661.52

Office Supplies & Software $ 14,951.39 Weather Modification $ 200,437.34

Total $ 1,389,705.29


Well Permitting & Registration

It is important to remember that all water wells drilled to the

water table MUST have a completed application BEFORE it

is drilled. To get started with the process, it is as simple as

giving the District a call before drilling. This year several

improvements were made to the permit and registration

forms in an effort to streamline the permitting process.

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District now has two

forms for drilling a permitted Single Water Well which in-

cludes an application for PERMIT to be used if a well is

located in a Study Area, and one to be used if not currently

in a designated Study Area at the time of application. The

goal with these two applications is to further inform the

landowner if they are currently in a Study Area or not.

Study Areas may be expanded in the future, and could also

result in the designation of a Conservation Area. If declines

continue to exceed the allowable limit in a Conservation

Area it could ultimately result in reductions of the maximum

annual production rate for the well.

Also added to the two Single Water Well Drilling PERMIT

forms is the total maximum rate of production. Total maxi-

mum rate of production equals the contiguous acres multi-

plied by 4.5 gallons per minute. Any existing permitted

wells located within the contiguous acres will be included in

total production to ensure that the rate of production com-

plies with Rule 4.3 (g). Another change included combining

the test-hole form with the Single Water Well Drilling PER-

MIT forms and the Exempt Water Well Registration form.

The following are the total water wells permitted or regis-

tered with Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District for

the 2013-2014 fiscal year and the four previous years. This

year well applications totaled 309. The registrations and

permits are received by fax or mail and are often brought in

by the landowner or the driller. Drillers already have the

forms and many landowners print the forms off of the web-

site.

Wells drilled on more than 10 acres and pumping less than

17.4 gallons per minute require a registration. The three

most common water well registrations are for domestic,

stock and rig supply wells. Rig supply wells generally pro-

duce more than 17.4 gallons per minute, but they are defined

as an exempt use in Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code.

Any well that produce more than 17.4 gallons per minute

must be permitted, as well as any well drilled on less than 10

acres. This requires being spaced both from property lines

and other water wells. Once the proposed well location

meets these requirements and is approved by our field tech-

nicians the application must be approved by the Board of

Directors.

Over all, the total wells drilled, based on the permitting process is down from the previous year by 13.5 percent. As the table shows

for the past 5 years, water well drilling peaked in the 2011-2012 fiscal year and has dropped the last two years. The Monitoring

Well registrations have decreased from the previous fiscal year. There was a decrease from 14 registered monitor wells last year to

6 registered this year.

OBSERVATION & MONITORING WELL

REGISTRATIONS RECEIVED

2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10

Armstrong 0 0 0 0 0

Carson 0 0 0 0 0

Donley 0 0 0 0 1

Gray 2 0 9 5 3

Hutchinson 0 0 0 0 0

Potter 4 11 24 51 0

Roberts 0 0 0 0 0

Wheeler 0 3 2 7 2

Total 6 14 35 63 6

DOMESTIC, STOCK, AND RIG SUPPLY

WELL REGISTRATIONS RECEIVED

2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10

Armstrong 2 22 6 8 6

Carson 8 16 45 6 14

Donley 23 48 69 27 15

Gray 29 27 46 13 23


Potter 23 5 10 8 5

Roberts 20 18 19 28 26

Wheeler 36 55 99 80 64

Total 141 191 294 170 153

WELL PERMITS APPROVED

2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10

Armstrong 10 4 4 2 3

Carson 29 32 27 18 4

Donley 41 28 38 27 12

Gray 24 27 29 14 11


Potter 37 36 37 44 43

Roberts 3 0 5 2 5

Wheeler 18 26 22 29 8

Total 162 153 162 136 86


October 2013 10/8 Regional Chairs meeting in Austin

10/9 TWDB work session in Austin

10/15 WCAC (TWDB) meeting in Austin

10/17 Pattern Wind meeting

PRPC meeting in Amarillo

10/21-22 TWDB Prioritization Committee meeting in Austin

10/23-24 GIS Forum Training in Austin

10/28 Gray County Ag Fair

10/29-31 TAGD meeting in Cleburne

November 2013 11/4 TWDB Groundwater meeting in Austin

11/4-5 TWDB Prioritization Committee meeting in Austin

11/7 GMA 1 meeting in Amarillo

Regional Planning meeting in Amarillo

11/13-14 TWDB Prioritization meeting in Austin

11/19 WCAC meeting in Austin

11/27 Meeting in Amarillo with Kyle Ingham for GMA 1 Planning

December 2013 12/2 Meeting with Lorinda Busby with IRS to approve decline map

12/3-4 TWCA Groundwater meeting in Austin

12/3-5 Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show

12/4 Ag Communicators of the High Plains meeting in Amarillo

12/10 Progressive Ag Safety Day meeting in Windmill Room at District Office

12/11 Rules Committee Meeting at District Office

GMA 1 Managers meeting at PRPC in Amarillo

January 2014 1/7 Tax Abatement meeting at Amarillo City Hall

1/8 Presentation at Shamrock Booster Club on water data

1/14-15 TAGD Legislative meeting in Austin

1/16 High Plains Irrigation Conference in Amarillo


1/29 Petco Petroleum Secondary Recovery Well hearing—Tabled

February 2014 2/7 Seliger, Price, Smithee meeting in Canyon

2/10 TWCA Groundwater Legislative Group meeting in Austin

2/11 NRCS-GCD meeting in Amarillo

2/12 2nd Biennial Water Conservation Symposium at Amarillo Civic Center


2/19 Carson County Ag Fair

2/21 GMA 1 & RWPG meetings in Amarillo

2/22 CRMWA Board of Directors meeting in Plainview

2/24 TWCA Legislative Committee meeting in Austin

2/25-26 TAGD meeting in Austin

2/27-28 TWMA meeting in San Antonio-Presentation given on $2 Billion State Water Fund

March 2014 3/5-7 TWCA Legislative Committee meeting

Annual Conference in The Woodlands

3/18 Petco Petroleum Secondary Recovery Well Hearing—Approved

3/22 League of Women Voters Water Film Festival in Amarillo

3/27 PWPG Executive Committee meeting in Amarillo at PRPC

April 2014 4/1 Commissioner Todd Staples press conference in Amarillo

Ag Subcommittee meeting at City Hall in Amarillo on Water Smart

4/3 Donley County Health Fair in Clarendon

Fiscal Year Timeline

PGCD Board Members during the May 22, 2014 board meeting.

Blue Legacy Award presented at the 2013

Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show.


3.2A Summary review of at least 10% of

municipal water supply systems

Recommendation to amend management plan by removing

this goal not completed

4.3A Assessment of the MC4TD program

reported to the Board of Directors

Due do unforeseen complications,

MC4TD was not completed not completed

4/8 TWCA Oil & Gas Legislative Committee meeting in Austin

WCAC Committee meeting in Austin

4/9 Meeting between City of Amarillo and the Cockrell family


Regional Planning Prioritization meeting in Amarillo

4/16 Scholarship Committee meeting at District Office

4/22 GMA 1 Managers meeting in Amarillo at PRPC

4/26 Presentation at Girl Scouts Ecology Fest at Camp Kiwanis in

Amarillo

4/29 Driller’s meeting held at District Office

May 2014 5/1 Oil & Gas Subcommittee meeting in Austin

5/2 TWCA DFC Appeals Subcommittee meeting in Austin

5/8 “Rain Maker” of the Year Awards in Austin

5/9 Presentation at WOWW Day at the Amarillo Civic Center

5/12 Stakeholder meeting in Amarillo for the INTERA GAM update

5/14 Coca-Cola Tax Abatement meeting at Amarillo EDC Office

Presentation at Annual School Board meeting

5/20 Ag Communicators of the High Plains meeting in Lubbock

Regional Planning meeting at PRPC in Amarillo

Presentation at the Widowed Persons Club meeting in Amarillo

5/27-29 TAGD meeting in Austin

TAGD Oil & Gas Subcommittee meetings in Austin

5/30 GMA 1 meeting at PRPC in Amarillo

Presentation given at Kiwanis of Pampa

June 2014 6/4 Presentation at Texas Prospective on Water Planning and GW Management at the GMDA meeting Atlantic City


6/11-13 TWCA Summer Conference in Austin

6/17 Presentation at White Deer Library

6/20 Presentation at Groom Library

6/23-25 Testified on Groundwater Management at the House of Natural Resources

Interim Hearing in Austin

6/25 TWDB Swift Rules meeting in Austin

Board Workshop where Meter Grant of $107,000 was approved

6/30 Judge Vernon Cook’s retirement reception in Roberts County

July 2014

7/9 CRMWA Board Meeting

August 2014 8/5 Rainwater Harvesting and Xeriscape Workshop at the District Office

8/16 Polk Street Block Party

8/18 Regional Planning meeting in Amarillo


8/20 Study Areas Hearing


8/26-28 TAGD Groundwater Summit in San Marcos

8/28 Brackish ASR meeting in Austin

September 2014 9/11 Field Day in Etter

9/11-12 H2O for Texas in Ft. Worth

9/16 Presentation at Pampa Desk & Derrick Club

9/16-17 TAGD Leadership Training in Lubbock

Goals Not Met by the District

C.E. moderating the morning session

during the TAGD Groundwater Summit.

Attendees at the PGCD Rainwater Harvesting and

Xeriscape Workshop held in August.

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District

201 W 3rd St. / P.O. Box 637

White Deer, Texas 79097

Phone: (806) 883-2501

Fax: (806) 883-2162

www.pgcd.us

“conserving water for future generations” 2014 annual report...president: john r. spearman, jr...

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