Guest Artical, Ground Water Area 9 August Meeting

This article was published in the Bulverde Standard on September 10th.

The Hill Country's Groundwater Management Area #9 (GMA 9) Counties met on Friday, 29 August in Kerrville, to discuss scientific methods relating to sustainable vs. non-sustainable water use in conservation districts throughout the region.

In 2005, the State's 79th Legislature passed House Bill 1763 which required individual groundwater conservation districts within GMA's to meet on a regular basis and to scientifically determine the "desired future conditions " (DFC) for their groundwater resources.

Comal County, while included in the State's designated priority groundwater management area and inside the GMA 9, is the only county in the area that does not have a groundwater district and therefore, is not officially represented on this important panel. I attended this meeting as a Comal County resident and to my knowledge, was the only Comal County citizen present at the meeting.

This meeting was of particular interest as it included discussion concerning computer models on the effect of drawing down the aquifers by as much as 33 feet. The districts are considering varying drought conditions of recent years along with current and speculated future pumping to arrive at a negotiated "managed available groundwater" (MAG). The results of this modeling effort will be the basis of a report to be submitted to the Texas Water Development Board in 2010. The purpose of this modeling effort is to report on the "Desired Future Condition"of our aquifers and what we need to do regarding support of property rights and the water needs of our population.

I suggested, along with others attending the meeting, that the "drought of record" between 1950 and 1957 should also be included in the data base for the model as that will provide a realistic outlook for future expectations and planning. Several attending the meeting also suggested that the model include the projected population increases in the Hill Country by the year 2050.

With the lack of authority given counties by the legislature to manage growth, a drought of record model is highly desirable to show state and local governments what effects can be expected during moderate and severe droughts, taking all these factors into account. Realities,
such as limited surface and groundwater resources, should precipitate action by the Texas Legislature. The results of this study will provide information demonstrating the need for additional regulatory authority for county water conservation districts and commissioners courts.

The GMA panel discussed the fact that inclusion of the drought of record would severely skew the model in a direction that was totally unacceptable in considering any additional drawdown of the aquifers (how much more water can be pumped out). The panel suggested that multiple factors such as high density subdivision developments and population growth is going to make it all but impossible to sustainably maintain the aquifer. One panel member said that future pumping as is being allowed now is "going to be a disaster", but then also argued against using the drought of record model run because of fears that its findings would cause restrictions to selling land and future growth.

Finally, another panel member said that due to such a strong public insistence, along with assurances from the Texas Water Development Board that such a model run would provide valuable information, the model run should be done . As this additional information could protect Hill Country spring flows, it was suggested that it would be wise for the GMA
9 panel to ask for a TWDB Drought of Record model run. The Drought of record model run should be done before the panel decides on "managed available water" in a desired future condition.

At that point, a panel member said he would not agree to it and that his County would vote "no". Another member joined with him and the idea of a drought of record model was postponed until another meeting.

I suggest all Hill Country residents become aware of the crucial work being done by the GMA 9 panel and ask that citizens take part in solving the problems facing us for both near term and future water needs. I believe that the GMA 9 panel appreciates input from citizens and believes participation from communities is the best way to find solutions to the substantial water and growth issues facing us.

Daniel Boone
http://www.boonefortexas.com