Texas Groundwater Summit2014

San Marcos

8/28/2014 1

Groundwater Conservation District Panel

Dirk AaronGeneral Manager Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District

History of District Created by 71st Legislature in 1989

(HB 3172).

Confirmed by Bell County voters in 1999.

Doors opened for business in 2002.

District’s jurisdiction includes all of Bell County—approximately 1,055 square miles.

Authority to levy ad valorem tax at rate not to exceed one cent/$100 assessed value—FY15 tax rate $0.0040/$100 assessed value.

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District Headquarters700 Kennedy CourtBelton, Texas

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Edwards BFZ Out Crop Edwards BFZ Down Dip Trinity Out Crop Trinity Down Dip

Major Aquifers in Bell County

Edwards BFZ Out Crop Edwards BFZ Down Dip Trinity Out Crop Trinity Down Dip

Geology:Trinity – Underlies all of Bell County. Fraction of outcrop located in south western Bell County.

Edwards (BFZ) – Outcrop generally to the west of I35 with the down dip to the east of Interstate 35. 58/28/2014

All wells in Bell County are required to be registered. Wells exempt from permitting include:

Wells used for domestic purposes or for watering livestock or poultry

Wells must be incapable of producing more than 17 gpm. (25,000 gallons per day)

Wells must be located on a tract of land consisting of at least ten acres; smaller tracts are acceptable if they were lawfully configured prior to March 1, 2004 as a tract less than 10 acres in size.

All non-exempt wells must obtain a permit and report monthly production.

District Rules – Major Points

3,500 active exempt wells

106 active permitted wells

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Managing to the DFCDFC / MAG

GMA 8 Joint Planning in (original Admin District) Desired Future Condition

Trinity Aquifer: Glen Rose 155 ft/50 years

Hensell 286 ft/50 years

Hosston 319 ft/50 years

Edwards BFZ: Minimum Spring Flow

1.68 cfs = 100 acre ft/month

Modeled Available Groundwater:

Edwards BFZ: 6,469 ac-ft/year

Trinity: 7,068 ac-ft/year

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• District manages by the DFC and Modeled Available Groundwater.• DFC is based on monitor well effort and statistical data starting in 2000.• The DFC vs MAG is a part of the permitting process. • Efforts to not bust the MAG have been on going until defendable data on the

DFC can be attained.

DFC vs MAGDesired Future Condition VS Modeled Available Groundwater

Trinity Aquifer(by layer)

DFC AdoptedAverage drawdown *(by layer)

Status of DFC **Drawdownft/year

MAGAc/ft***

HEUPAc/ft

OPAcre ft

Total PermittedAc/ft(by layer)

Exempt Well ReservationAc/ft(by layer)

Available for PermittingAc/ft(by layer)

PendingApplicationsAcre ft(by layer)

Exempt Well Reservationby layer

2013 Exempt Well UseEstimation

Available Exempt Use

Glen Rose(upper)

3.1 ft/yr155 ft/50 yrs

1.80 ft2000-14

992

61.90

120.15

182.05

693

299.00

0

693

494

199

Hensell(Middle)

5.72 ft/yr286 ft/50 yrs

4.15 ft2000-14

1,076

100.90

187.01

287.91

548

240.09

0

548

384

164

Hosston(Lower)

6.38 ft/yr319 ft/50 yrs

2.92 ft2000-14

5000

1042.00

517.14

1559.14

178

3262.86

2994.42****

178

54

124

Total

7068

1204.80

767.77

2029.10

1419

3801.95

2994.42

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Managing What You Measure?

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Annual Production 2013

• Non-Exempt wells report monthly usage• Preferred Method is Meters (exemption for Agriculture)

• Table represents all Historic & Existing Use and Operating Permits combined on this table

• Static water level measurement provisions to address changes in Aquifer Conditions

Permitted # Wells Actual Use # Wells Percent Usage of Permit

Edwards (BFZ) 2,502.60 ac-ft 43 1,879 ac-ft 41 75%

Trinity (total) 2029.10 ac-ft 47 903 ac-ft 42 45% Glen Rose 182.05 ac-ft 6 105.15 ac-ft 6 58%

Hensell 287.91 ac-ft 23 70.15 ac-ft 22 24%

Hosston 1559.14 ac-ft 18 727.33 ac-ft 14 47%

Other Aquifers 476.99 ac-ft 16 245.64 ac-ft 12 51% Total 4,952.16 106 3,027.64 95 61%

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Bell County Wells By Aquifer

5034

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District’s Use of Web Based Mapping

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District Use of TechnologyReal time data keeping Bell County up to date!

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3D Model

3D Model 4 Locations

Educational Efforts

Education and outreach are important goals of Clearwater. During past 10 years, an estimated 80,000 students have been engaged by Clearwater through the following:

Classroom presentations

Essay/poster contest on water conservation

Major River and Splash water education programs

Book cover distribution

Earth Day Activities

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Adding monitor wells in both major aquifers in Bell County to continually monitor overall aquifer health.

Participate in the Salamander Studies with Stakeholders to assess the baseline data of the Edwards (BFZ) Aquifer and Salado Salamander habitat.

Pursuing grant funds for science based understanding.

Conducting studies of the Edwards BFZ recharge zone to determine what is needed to protect water quality.

Manage District Database with enhanced ArcGIS and web mapping public access to data thru website.

Current Projects

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Drought (Voluntary Management Plan)

Conservation (Society Change)

Water Availability

Under Managed Groundwater Areas

Chisholm Trail SUD

Well Drillers and Pump Installers

Issues Impacting the District

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