PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE APPROACHES TO GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT IN TEXAS: AN OVERVIEW

As part of the process to effectively manage groundwater resources in Texas for the coming years, the TWDB has developed the concept of determining an aquifer’s Desired Future conditions (DFCs) as part of the process to allocate these resources. DFCs may be defined in terms of acceptable ground water level declines, spring flow, water quality, or a combination of these and other factors. Computer modeling using the TWDB-sponsored Groundwater Availability Models (GAMs) is then performed to determine the amount of water that can be withdrawn from the aquifer without exceeding the DFCs. Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) then use their rules, management plans, and permitting processes strategies to achieve and preserve the DFCs. GCDs actions may involve estimating non-permitted exempt use (i.e., domestic and livestock use) as well as regulating large-scale pumping for municipal supply. Many of these actions have occurred or are being revisited presently. Moving into the future, it will be important to monitor compliance with DFCs. The DFCs were developed using computer modeling, but field data from groundwater monitoring networks will be necessary to monitor compliance with DFCs as we move into the future, and there are several different possible methods that may be used for this. Management of private groundwater rights will need to be coordinated within an evolving legal framework in which both private property rights and the state’s right to regulate groundwater have been affirmed. If future water level declines approach the conditions defined in the DFCs, limits on pumping may be required to avoid over-allocation of groundwater resources. If these eventualities come to pass, the current collection of approximately 100 individual GCDs will need to coordinate through the more regional Groundwater Management Areas to improve regional aquifer-scale management.