Current State of

Management in TexasLarry French, P.G.

Director, Groundwater Resources

Texas Water Development Board

Presented at the Texas Groundwater Summit

August 28, 2012

Management in Texas

Groundwater Management

From law (TWC §36.108 (d-2)), “…a balance between the highest practicable level of groundwater production and the conservation, preservation, protection, recharging, and prevention of waste of groundwater and control prevention of waste of groundwater and control of subsidence in a groundwater management area.”

(in context of proposing desired future conditions)

Keep in mind…this is what is

being managed.

Data – the “blocking and tackling” of

groundwater management

• Needed to make appropriate management

decisions.

• What is the effect of management on the

resource?resource?

The Groundwater

Management “Equation”

GCDs GMAs DFCs TWDB MAGs

RWPG

What is Groundwater Availability?

SciencePolicyGroundwater

Availability

GAM

or other

tool

Desired

Future

Conditions

Modeled

Available

Groundwater

Goal: informed decision-making

GCDs GMAs DFCs TWDB MAGs

RWPG

99

GCDs

How is groundwater managed?

• Permitting

– Well spacing

– Production limits

Desired future conditions• Desired future conditions

• Modeled available groundwater

GCDs GMAs DFCs TWDB MAGs

RWPG

16

GMAs

GCDs GMAs DFCs TWDB MAGs

RWPG

Desired Future Condition

• The desired, quantified condition of groundwater resources (such as water levels, water quality, spring flows, or volumes) at a specified time or times in the future or in perpetuity. times in the future or in perpetuity.

• For “relevant” aquifers

• Broad Policy Goal– Drawdown (most DFCs)

– Spring flow (a few DFCs)

– Storage volumes (High Plains)

• Updated at least every 5 years

In general, what are relevant* and

non-relevant* aquifers?

• Relevant:

– Major (9) and minor (21) aquifers defined by TWDB*

– Any other aquifer where groundwater production is now or expected to be managed by GCD (i.e., permitted)

• Non-Relevant:• Non-Relevant:

– No large-scale production anticipated

– Production will not affect conditions in relevant aquifer(s)

– Look at proposed definition in draft TAC Chapter 356 rules

*Fine print caution: these statements are “common practice” but not legally defined in statute or current rule

Example:

Non Relevant Major Aquifers in Region F

DFC Balancing

• Highest practicable level of

groundwater production

• Conservation, preservation,

protection, recharging and

prevention of waste of

groundwater and control of

subsidence

GCDs GMAs DFCs TWDB MAGs

RWPG

Groundwater Availability Models

(GAMs)• Approximations of reality

• Objective of models: define groundwater • Objective of models: define groundwater

availability

– Groundwater district management plans

– Regional water planning group plans

Modeled Available Groundwater (MAG)

• GCDs, to the extent possible, shall issue

permits up to the point that the total volume

of exempt and permitted groundwater

production will achieve an applicable DFCproduction will achieve an applicable DFC

Example:

100,000 acre-feet per year

GCDs GMAs DFCs TWDB MAGs

RWPG

Districts in GMAs

decide Desired Future Conditions

and deliver to TWDB

TWDB provides estimates

of Modeled Available Groundwaterof Modeled Available Groundwater

to districts and regions

Districts and regions include

Modeled Available Groundwater

in plans

What’s new/next in groundwater

management?

• Data based – continued measurements and

improved accessibility of the data (WIID)

• Issues with non-relevant aquifers and deciding

on the groundwater availability in these areason the groundwater availability in these areas

• GAMs – the next generation

• DFCs – the next round underway (petitions

have been resolved….but there is a lawsuit)

Management Challenges

• Brackish groundwater development

• Energy development (fracing)

• Legal dynamics and uncertainties

Larry French, P.G.

Director, Groundwater Resources

larry.french@twdb.texas.gov

512-463-5067