MANAGING GROUNDWATER RESOURCES IN THE HIGH PLAINS OF TEXAS

Groundwater in Texas is owned by landowners and subject to the “Rule of Capture” doctrine, meaning a landowner can pump whatever he wants as long as there is no malice, waste, or subsidence. This doctrine is modified in areas of groundwater conservation districts, which manage more than 90 percent of all groundwater pumped – nearly 7.8 million acre-feet in 2014, according to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Districts that share common aquifers set policy goals called desired future conditions, which are quantitative descriptions of the desired condition (such as water levels, springflow, storage volumes) of the aquifer at a future time. This process defines the groundwater available to be considered for pumping in districts and is used in regional water planning for water availability in the state water plan.   The High Plains encompasses at least 40 Texas counties with a dozen groundwater conservation districts. These districts typically co-manage the Ogallala with underlying aquifers. Groundwater levels have declined to the point that individual well pumping rates in many areas have been reduced. Within the High Plains different desired future conditions are in effect because of substantially different aquifer uses or conditions. Some districts have proposed desired future conditions using average drawdowns. Other districts use “percent of volume in storage remaining in 50 years” particularly where more than 80 percent of pumping is documented with flow meters.   Districts use various approaches to manage groundwater according to the desired future conditions. These include well spacing requirements and pumping limitations based on surface acreage. Most districts, working with the TWDB, promote and offer loans or grants for agricultural water conservation measures. They may require landowners to install meters on production wells and report annual production. Some districts may also identify special areas where further pumping restrictions can apply – and may be enforced through mandatory cutbacks or fines. All districts throughout Texas must balance the needs of groundwater production with conservation and the protection of groundwater resources.