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Aquifer District Habitat Conservation Plan Available for Public Review and Comment

The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District is in the process of developing a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).  The overall goal of the District’s HCP process is to protect the endangered species that rely on the aquifer as habitat while providing a requisite water supply to the people who are dependent on the groundwater resources within the District.

The draft HCP has been developed with input from multiple advisory groups over the course of nearly ten years.  Most recently the Management Advisory Committee–a group of stakeholders including permittees, private landowners, biologists, environmentalists, and local, state, and federal government agencies–has reviewed and provided input into the proposed draft HCP.

At the June 26 Board Meeting, the Board of Directors voted to release the proposed draft HCP and begin the official public comment period.  Comments can be submitted via email, direct mail, or fax until July 25, 2014.  Please send them to:

Email:  bseacd@bseacd.org (include “HCP Public Comment” in subject line)

Direct mail:  BSEACD, re: HCP Public Comment, 1124 Regal Row, Austin, Tx 78748

Fax:  512-282-7016 (include “HCP Public Comment” in subject line)

The draft HCP, history of the HCP development process, and supporting materials can be found online in the Spotlights section of the District home page:  www.bseacd.org.

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Aquifer District Out of Groundwater Drought and into Water Conservation Period

On Thursday, June 26th, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District Board of Directors voted to lift the drought declaration and enter into the Water Conservation Period (10% voluntary conservation).  Recent rains have saturated soils and allowed for enough runoff to fill creeks and raise water levels in the aquifer.  One of the area’s two groundwater drought indicators, the water level in the Lovelady Monitor Well, has been rising slowly since the May rain events. On Wednesday, June 18, the water level in the Lovelady Well crossed above the District’s drought threshold. The other drought indicator, sustained flow rate at Barton Springs, moved above its threshold after the precipitation events in mid-May and has remained there.  Both indicators need to be above their designated thresholds – and currently are – to emerge from drought.

The District declared a groundwater drought on April 24, 2014, just two months ago. While the aquifer has received some recharge and has passed into Water Conservation Period status, it is still below average water storage capacity.  During the Water Conservation Period, from May through September, groundwater users are encouraged to maintain conservation practices, but mandatory water use restrictions are lifted.

Brian Smith, Aquifer Science Team Leader, stated that, “While the drought triggers are both above their thresholds now, July and August are typically very hot and dry, so we could see spring discharge and water levels start to decline again.  Without more significant rainfall, it could be a month before one or both drought triggers are back below their thresholds and our Board could declare drought again.”

Groundwater users are encouraged to continue to conserve.  Conserving water can prolong the time spent out of groundwater drought and protect water levels and springflow at Barton Springs.

BSEACD is a groundwater conservation district charged by the Texas Legislature to preserve, conserve, and protect the aquifers and groundwater resources within its jurisdiction, which includes parts of three Central Texas counties.  It is governed by a Board of five elected directors and staffed with hydrogeologists, groundwater regulatory compliance specialists, environmental educators, geospatial systems specialists, and administrative support personnel.

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