Bulletin from Environmental Stewardship

Greetings!

With all that is going on in the Gulf of Mexico, it is easy to forget about the issues that face us in our own back yard. Though not of the same magnitude and yet in the future, our local issues may bring similar local impacts if we do not protect our surface and groundwater resources from the potential damages that can be caused by over-pumping.

The purpose of this second bulletin, Groundwater Part II, is to inform you about groundwater and surface water management practices in our region so that you can be an informed voice in decisions being made about our water future. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.

NF Archery

Steve Box
Executive Director
Environmental Stewardship

Environmental Stewardship Bulletin

Groundwater Part II
May 2010

Protecting the Colorado River ... from the bottom up.

In This Issue

Regional Water Planning Groups - Who's planning your water?

Groundwater Management Areas - Regional management

Groundwater Conservation Districts - Local management

Gaining River may become Losing River - Where is the water going?

Environmental Stewardship Notes - National Trails Day June 5th

Regional Water Planning Groups - Who's planning for your water needs?

Regional water planning groups are charged by the Texas State Legislator to plan for water supply and demand. Each regional planning group is made up of stakeholders representing river authorities, groundwater conservation districts, city, county, industry, agriculture, environment, public interests, and other entities that have an interest in water use and supply. Sixteen such groups throughout the State plan for water needs 50 years into the future. Based on information gathered, they determine how much water is needed in the region, whether there are shortfalls, and how shortages might be met.

Each region updates their plan every five (5) years. Regional plans, compiled by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), become the basis of the Texas State Water Plan. The most current State Water Plan was completed in 2007. Bastrop County is in the Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Group "Region K" (click on map for larger image).

Groundwater Management Areas - Regional Managment

Groundwater Conservation Districts are required to work together in managing groundwater that comes from aquifers that they share within a geographically defined area known as a Groundwater Management Area. There are 16 Groundwater Management Areas in the State of Texas.

Groundwater Management Area 12 (GMA-12) has jurisdiction over the Central Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer and is managed by five groundwater conservation districts (click on map for larger image). The districts are required to set desired future conditions for the aquifers under their jurisdiction by September 2010. These conditions will determine how much groundwater is available to meet the demands of regional planners and water marketers. The quantity of water available is determined by the Texas Water Development Board and is known as the "managed available groundwater".

The Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District, with jurisdiction in Bastrop and Lee counties, is in GMA-12 (Bastrop and Lee counties are the two bottom counties in the map to the left). With the Colorado River running through Bastrop County, the Lost Pines GCD plays a key role in protecting base-flows that provide water to the river.

Groundwater Conservation Districts - Local Management

Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCD) are the preferred method of regulating the use of groundwater in Texas. These local districts have the ability to modify the rule of capture by regulating commercial water wells within their jurisdiction. The Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District has jurisdiction over Bastrop and Lee counties. The district is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by each counties' judge (5 members from each county). The Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District is currently working with other GMA-12 districts to establish "desired future conditions" for the aquifers beneath these counties, which includes the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. The quantity of water currently anticipated to be pumped in the region will likely have an irreversible impact on surface waters like the Colorado River.

Gaining River may become Losing River - Where is the water going?

The Colorado River and many streams in the Lost Pines Region "gain" water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer as they cross over the aquifer in Bastrop County. Studies estimate that the Colorado River gains about 25,000 acre-feet of water per year from the Simsboro formation as it crosses the aquifer between Utley (FM 969 bridge) and Bastrop. That is about 81 million gallons of water. The Simsboro formation is the portion of the aquifer where water marketers plan to take water to be exported to other parts of Texas.

Losing (left) and Gaining (right) Streams

Modeling studies by the Colorado Regional Water Planning Group estimate that the Colorado River will become a "losing" river by about 2050 due to heavy pumping planned for the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer.

Environmental Stewardship has requested that the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District implement a monitoring program to protect the Colorado River. It appears likely that the desired future conditions being submitted to the Texas Water Development Board by Groundwater Management Area 12 (which includes Lost Pines GCD) will likely result in irreversible changes in the river-aquifer relationship. "Given the importance of these water resources to our region, we believe it is imperative that actions be taken to monitor for such changes and take corrective actions should they occur" said Steve Box, Executive Director. In a letter presented at the May 19 meeting of the Board of Directors, Environmental Stewardship presented a resolution containing information on the history of the river-aquifer relationship and a plan that describes actions that can be taken to protect the groundwater-surface water relationship between the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer and the Colorado River.

Individuals or organizations that want to support the resolution are encouraged to contact the Lost Pines GCD General Manager or adopt a support resolution prior to the June 16, 2010 meeting of the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District board where they are expected to consider the resolution. For more information please feel free to contact me.

Notes

New Trails Brochure - You may not even know that these trails exist at the Lost Pines Nature Trails and Colorado River Refuge. A new 4-fold, color brochure shows the location of seven trails that total 3.2 miles in length and extend over the 90 acres of property along the Colorado River near Tahitian Village (click the image for more information).

Click for Cover side of brochure
Click for Centerfold of brochure

Print on 8 1/2" x 14" paper and glue back-to-back

National Trails Day June 5th - Come on out and enjoy the trails, talk with Master Trail Steward Dale Morrison, and share some refreshments and fellowship at the Lost Pines Nature Trails located at 375 Riverside Drive, Bastrop, TX (Tahitian Village). Or float down the 6 mile El Camino Real Paddling Trail that begins in Fisherman's Park and exits at the Lost Pines Nature Trail river access point. Water and light refreshments will be served from 10:00 am until ?? in the pm. Other trail events will be taking place at Bastrop and Buescher State Parks, LCRA North Shore Park, Smithville Gazebo, and Rocky Hill Ranch. (click here for flyer).

If you find this information useful and informative, please and invite them to join our e-News mailing list.

Resolution to protect the Colorado River and Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer from over-pumping
Click for copy of the resolution
Presented to the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District

Submitted by Environmental Stewardship
Click for copy of the letter

For more information
contact Steve Box

2009 Annual Report
Released