Protecting the Gulf Coast Aquifer of Colorado County

The Future of Groundwater AvailabilityJim Brasher General Manager, Colorado County Groundwater Conservation DistrictAugust 8, 2011 Colorado County Commissioners Court

OutlineDescription of AquiferGroundwater UsageFuture Groundwater UsageWell Registration and Permitting

Major Aquifers of Texas

Hydrologic Cross-Section

3-D Conceptual ModelPumpage versus Water Level ChangeChicotEvangelineJasperPumpage versus Water Level ChangeEvangeline

Summary of Gulf Coast AquiferComposed of Chicot, Evangeline and Jasper Aquifers (along with Burkeville Confining Unit)Chicot is best and Jasper is poorest qualityAquifers dip and thicken from NW to SE Computer simulations can project aquifer conditions based on pumpage assumptions at future points in timeTypes of Groundwater UsageMunicipal or Public SupplyDomesticLivestockCommercialIrrigationMiningFracture Stimulation (Oil & Gas)

Irrigation

10 Colorado County Groundwater Usage

Colorado County Groundwater Usage

Ave water level of index wells (CBGCD)

200820072010200520062009Future Water UsageUp until recently:High availability of Colorado River for irrigationAbundant groundwater throughout the countyNo accurate estimate of groundwater usage or availability because there was plenty of waterNo regulation neededRegion K Water Plan

County201020202030204020502060Bastrop1,6101,4071,2261,072934814Blanco696662585655Burnet10110098969593Colorado200,822192,465184,380176,555168,946161,663Fayette739692648606568533Gillespie2,0392,0131,9871,9601,9361,912Hays (p)111111111111Llano979963946930915900Matagorda193,048186,072179,353172,916166,722160,750Mills2,9362,8722,8102,7492,6892,631San Saba3,2403,1363,0352,9372,8412,749Travis1,2241,034951875805741Wharton (p)191,241176,441170,127164,044158,177135,911Williamson (p)000000TOTAL589,705567,272545,634524,809504,695468,763Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Group (Region K) July 2010 (p) denotes that only the portion of the county in Region K was considered Projections of Irrigation Usage (Surface and Groundwater)County201020202030204020502060Bastrop13,27518,62022,96430,04035,86043,208Blanco1,4671,7121,9472,1432,3602,626Burnet8,99011,43714,16616,86718,62620,550Colorado3,1553,2923,3283,2593,3203,409Fayette3,8904,4174,8795,2445,7516,495Gillespie4,7495,3985,6465,5765,5415,541Hays (p)7,20210,65613,44616,26619,74222,498Llano5,7226,2356,4466,6476,8757,139Matagorda5,5905,8305,9065,8835,8315,831Mills1,0101,0701,0931,0531,0861,104San Saba1,2991,3161,3281,3391,3311,336Travis199,677237,014274,610308,229342,865369,723Wharton (p)3,7763,8803,9103,8803,8423,806Williamson (p)8,84111,09513,76116,62519,74323,082TOTAL268,643321,972373,430423,051472,778516,348Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Group (Region K) July 2010 (p) denotes that only the portion of the county in Region K was considered Projections of Municipal Usage (Surface and Groundwater)County201020202030204020502060Bastrop13,27518,62022,96430,04035,86043,208Blanco1,4671,7121,9472,1432,3602,626Burnet8,99011,43714,16616,86718,62620,550Colorado3,1553,2923,3283,2593,3203,409Fayette3,8904,4174,8795,2445,7516,495Gillespie4,7495,3985,6465,5765,5415,541Hays (p)7,20210,65613,44616,26619,74222,498Llano5,7226,2356,4466,6476,8757,139Matagorda5,5905,8305,9065,8835,8315,831Mills1,0101,0701,0931,0531,0861,104San Saba1,2991,3161,3281,3391,3311,336Travis199,677237,014274,610308,229342,865369,723Wharton (p)3,7763,8803,9103,8803,8423,806Williamson (p)8,84111,09513,76116,62519,74323,082TOTAL268,643321,972373,430423,051472,778516,348Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Group (Region K) July 2010 (p) denotes that only the portion of the county in Region K was considered Projections of Municipal Usage (Surface and Groundwater)Future Groundwater ProjectionsProjected increase in population in Colorado County pales in comparison to Travis and surrounding countiesColorado and surrounding counties will be viewed as prime areas to exploit for transport of water to urban areas!LCRA-SAWS project was an example$1.6 billion project underway to transport water to San Antonio from Gonzales County

Future Groundwater UsageWater will increasingly be treated as a commodityWater marketers who can deliver water to urban areas will be well compensatedResult:Is Regulation good or bad?Prefer local or state control?Do you risk having no regulation?CCGCD Rules & RegulationsWell RegistrationWell PermittingProduction limitsSpacing requirementsSome meteringData AcquisitionWell RegistrationEvery water well (new and existing) must be registeredOne-time procedureNo costs to the registrantWell RegistrationWhy do I have to register my well?Protection from offset production.Example: Water needs for hydraulic fracture stimulation for Eagle Ford ShaleAquifer: Poorest area in the county for aquifer. Will need to access Evangeline and Jasper most likely.Water Requirements: Small total amount needed, but VERY high ratesPotential Impact: Severe local drawdown of water tableWell RegistrationWhy do I have to register my well?Protection from offset production.Protection in the event of contamination.May be difficult to get your well serviced if well is not registered.Can get a more accurate estimation of water usage for the Districtunderreporting usage means over-reporting availability.Well RegistrationWhat happens if I dont register my well?CCGCD tries to highlight the advantages to the well owner of registering their wellDistrict does have the power to fine well owners who refuse to register their wellsWell RegistrationExpect 3000 to 4000 wells in the District should be registeredPredict that 1500 to 2000 will be registeredSome residents are not aware of registrationSome civil disobedienceDeadline to register: September 15, 2011Board is likely to extend deadlineForms available at District office or web-site (www.ccgcd.net) Well PermittingOnly a select few of the total wells registered will require a permit (estimate 5 10%)The following are exempt from requiring a permit:Domestic wells pumping < 50,000 gpdLivestock wells pumping < 50,000 gpdRig supply wells for oil/gas E&PMining regulated by the Texas Railroad CommissionAbandoned wellsWell PermittingExamples of wells NOT exempted (i.e. will require a permit)Irrigation wells (not including gardens & lawns)Municipal/public supply wellsWells used to supply rigs performing hydraulic fracture stimulationWells for gravel operationsCommercial wells (business & manufacturing)Well PermittingPermits are typically of 3-yr durationAmount of water designated for use can be used at any time during permit periodPermittees can apply for amendment to permit if more water may be requiredSpacing from existing wells depends on the size of the well being permitted

Well PermittingFour types of PermitsExisting and Historic Use PermitsOperating PermitsTest Well PermitsTransport PermitsDepending on the size of the well, approval of the permits may be done by the General Manager, by the Board of Directors, or will require a public hearingWell PermittingPermitted wells with greater than 6 inch casing diameter might require a meterEssentially, only Class C wells will be meteredDomestic and livestock wells will NOT be required to have a meter!!!State lawPracticality of metering thousands of wellsData AcquisitionA monitor well network has been set up to check monthly changes in water level

Data AcquisitionA monitor well network has been set up to check monthly changes in water levelPumpage and water level data will be incorporated into computer simulation models that help predict future aquifer conditionsQuestions?