Edwards Aquifer Authority News Feed

EAA Declares Stage 3 for Uvalde Pool

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:36:22 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or mobile, (210) 416-6116 EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY DECLARES STAGE III PUMPING RESTRICTIONS FOR UVALDE POOL SAN ANTONIO (May 10, 2012) – Despite recent rains, the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA ) today, for the first time in its history, declared Stage III mandatory pumping reductions for Edwards Aquifer users within its Uvalde Pool based on the water level at the J27 index well in Uvalde. Stage III of the EAA critical period management plan requires Edwards groundwater permit holders in the Uvalde Pool -- including all of Uvalde County -- to reduce their pumping from the aquifer by 20 percent of their annual authorized amount. The Stage III declaration is based on water level readings recorded over the past 10 days at the J27 index well. On May 9, 2012, the 10-day rolling average water level reading at the well was confirmed to be 1.2 feet below 845 feet above mean sea level (msl), which is the Stage III trigger threshold. This is the lowest recorded level at the J27 index well since 1958 and the first time the EAA has had to declare Stage III for the Uvalde Pool under its critical period management plan. Stage III will remain in effect as long as the J27 index well level remains below the Stage III trigger, but above the Stage IV trigger of 842 (msl). The Uvalde Pool previously had been under Stage II restrictions since June 27, 2011. The intent behind mandatory pumping reductions is to help stabilize aquifer levels and spring discharge rates until sufficient rain returns to the area to replenish the aquifer. Stage III reductions apply to all Edwards groundwater permit holders in Uvalde County who are authorized to pump more than three acre-feet annually. However, irrigators have until June 11, 2012, to file a notice of intent to finish out a crop and receive an exemption from further critical period reductions in order to complete irrigating already planted crops. Irrigators also may file a notice of intent to plant an additional crop during critical period, but watering of those crops will be subject to pumping reductions. Just as with Stage II, Stage III requires all affected permit holders to report their pumping totals to the EAA on a monthly basis. Residents and businesses who receive their water from a public water system are encouraged to contact their water provider directly to find out how Stage III reductions may affect them. More information on Stage III requirements is available by calling the EAA critical period team at (866) 931-3239 or by visiting the EAA website at www.edwardsaquifer.org. The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately 2 million people. ###

EAA Board Appoints Two New Directors

Tue, 08 May 2012 17:17:56 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or mobile, (210) 416-6116 Massouh, Sanchez to Fill Unexpired Terms SAN ANTONIO (May 8, 2012) – The Edwards Aquifer Authority Board of Directors, at its meeting Tuesday, May 8, appointed two new members to positions on the board. The board appointed Craig Massouh, an architect from New Braunfels, to fill the unexpired term for director district 8, and Dr. Juan Sanchez, a college administrator from Uvalde, to fill the unexpired term for director district 14. The positions became vacant with the recent resignations of John Lovett from district 8 and Mario Cruz from district 14. Both positions are elected offices and will require Massouh and Sanchez to run in the November general election if they wish to serve beyond their current terms, each of which expires December 1, 2012. In his application to the board, Massouh listed his occupation as a self-employed architect. Sanchez listed his occupation as the director of institutional research and effectiveness for Sul Ross State University Rio Grande College. In other action, the board proposed modifying some aspects of its water quality rules relating to the regulation of certain activities on the recharge zone of the aquifer. Specifically, the board authorized holding public hearings on a series of proposed changes to existing regulations addressing aboveground and underground storage tanks, spill reporting and storage requirements for regulated substances, and a potential prohibition on the use of coal tar sealants. Following the public comment process and an analysis of options for the proposed rule changes, the board may consider adopting the changes as final rule amendments before the end of the year. The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately 2 million people. More information is available at www.edwardsaquifer.org. ###

EAA Declares Stage 2

Thu, 03 May 2012 16:29:13 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or mobile, (210) 416-6116 EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY IMPOSES STAGE II PUMPING RESTRICTIONS ACROSS REGION SAN ANTONIO (May 3, 2012) – The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) today declared Stage II mandatory pumping reductions for Edwards Aquifer users within its San Antonio Pool, which means more significant limits on how much water can be pumped from the aquifer. Stage II of the EAA critical period management plan requires Edwards groundwater permit holders in the San Antonio Pool -- including all of Bexar and Medina, and parts of Atascosa, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays counties -- to reduce their pumping from the aquifer by 30 percent of their annual authorized amount. The EAA declared Stage II based on declining water level readings at the J17 index well in Bexar County. The 10-day rolling average water level reading at the well dropped below the Stage II threshold on May 3, 2012. Stage II will remain in effect as long as the J17 index well level remains below the Stage II, but above the Stage III trigger threshold. A drop in the rate of discharge below the respective Stage II thresholds for the Comal or San Marcos springs would also keep the region under Stage II restrictions. The San Antonio Pool previously had been under Stage I since April 18, 2012. The intent behind mandatory pumping reductions is to help stabilize aquifer levels and spring discharge rates until rain returns to the area and replenishes the aquifer. Stage II reductions apply to all Edwards groundwater permit holders authorized to pump more than three acre-feet annually. However, under the previous declaration of Stage I, irrigators have until May 18, 2012, to file a notice of intent to finish out a crop and receive an exemption from further critical period reductions in order to complete irrigating their already planted crop. Irrigators also may file a notice of intent to plant an additional crop during critical period, but watering of those crops will be subject to pumping reductions. Just as with Stage I, Stage II requires all affected permit holders to report their pumping totals to the EAA on a monthly basis. Residents and businesses who receive their water from a public water system are encouraged to contact their water provider directly to find out how Stage II reductions may affect them. The City of San Antonio previously imposed Stage II watering restrictions on its residents on April 30th, and other municipalities in the region may have followed suit. More information on Stage II requirements is available by calling the EAA critical period team at (866) 931-3239 or by visiting the EAA website at www.edwardsaquifer.org. The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately 2 million people. ###

EAA Declares Stage I for San Antonio Pool

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:02:57 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or (800) 292-1047, ext. 143 EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY DECLARES STAGE I CRITICAL PERIOD FOR SAN ANTONIO POOLCutbacks in Pumping Mandated SAN ANTONIO (April 18, 2012) –The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) today declared Stage I mandatory pumping reductions for Edwards Aquifer users within its San Antonio Pool based on declining water level readings at the J17 index well in Bexar County. Stage I of the EAA critical period management plan requires Edwards groundwater permit holders to reduce pumping from the aquifer by 20 percent of their annual authorized amount. Coincidentally, last year the EAA also declared Stage I on April 18. Unrelenting drought conditions kept the San Antonio Pool – the groundwater management area consisting of all of Bexar and Medina, and parts of Atascosa, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays counties –under some form of critical period restrictions for the remainder of 2011 and for the first 40 days of 2012. Stage I for the San Antonio Pool requires that mandatory pumping restrictions remain in place for at least 30 days, unless aquifer conditions change enough to warrant otherwise. Meanwhile, the Uvalde Pool, consisting of all of Uvalde County, remains under Stage II and may be headed to Stage III based on slowly declining aquifer level readings at that county’s index well. The EAA critical period management plan is designed to slow the decline of aquifer levels and springflow discharge caused by drought conditions. The required cutbacks in pumping apply to all municipal, irrigation, and industrial Edwards permit holders authorized to withdraw more than three acre-feet from the Edwards Aquifer annually. Irrigators within the San Antonio Pool who already have a crop in the ground can file a notice of intent to finish out a crop with the EAA in order to receive an exemption from the new critical period reductions. Irrigators also may file a notice of intent to plant an additional crop after the onset of Stage I, but watering of those crops is subject to mandatory reductions. Residents and businesses who receive their water from a public water system are encouraged to contact their water provider to find out how Stage I reductions may affect them directly. The City of San Antonio declared Stage I drought restrictions for its residents on April 13. More information on Stage I requirements is available by calling the EAA’s critical period hotline at (210) 477-1883 or (866) 931-3239 or by visiting the EAA’s website at www.edwardsaquifer.org. According to Edwards Aquifer Authority rules, stage I must be declared when any one of the following occurs: the 10-day average of aquifer level readings at the J-17 Index Well drops below 660 feet above msl, or the 10-day average flow of spring discharge drops below 96 cubic feet per second at the San Marcos Springs or below 225 cubic feet per second at the Comal Springs. In this instance, the EAA declared Stage I based on the recorded level at the J-17 Index Well. The 10-day average water level in the well dropped below the trigger threshold of 660 feet above mean sea level (msl)) on Wednesday, April 18, requiring the declaration of Stage I. The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately 1.7 million people. ###

EAA Seeks Applicants for District 8 and 14 Vacancies

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:16:00 CDT

NOTICE OF INTENT TO FILL VACANCIES FOR DIRECTOR DISTRICTS NO. 8 AND NO. 14 The Board of Directors of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (“EAA”) is seeking applications from qualified applicants to fill the unexpired term of the Director for District No. 8, which is located in Comal County, and the Director for District 14, which is located in Uvalde County, until the next general election. The unexpired terms of Director District 8 and Director District 14 extend through December 1, 2012 and the positions will be up for election in November 2012. Interested persons may apply for these positions by submitting a signed application by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, 2012. Applications are available at the EAA’s office located at 1615 N. St. Mary’s Street, San Antonio, Texas. To obtain a copy of the application or for more information, interested persons may contact Ms. Jennifer Wong-Esparza, Assistant to Board Secretary, at (210) 222-2204 or 1-800-292-1047. To qualify for these positions, candidates must, as of the date of appointment: 1) be a United States citizen; 2) have resided continuously in Texas for 12 months; 3) have resided continuously in the district they seek to represent for six months; 4) be registered to vote; 5) be 18 years of age or older not later than the date of appointment; 6) not have been determined mentally incompetent by a final judgment; 7) not have been finally convicted of a felony unless the conviction has been fully discharged or pardoned or the candidate has been otherwise released from the resulting disabilities; 8) not be a member of the governing body of another political subdivision; and 9) satisfy any other eligibility requirements prescribed by law for the office. District 8 is located entirely within Comal County and is generally within the City of New Braunfels. District 14 is located entirely within and encompasses the western portion of Uvalde County. It is bounded on the north, south, and west by the Uvalde County line, and on the east roughly following U.S. Highway 83. A detailed map of District 8 and District 14 is available for inspection at the EAA offices. Interested applicants may wish to consult the map in order to determine exact District boundaries. Interested candidates may address their applications to the: Board of Directors ATTN: Ms. Jennifer Wong-Esparza Edwards Aquifer Authority 1615 N. St. Mary’s St. San Antonio, TX 78215 The EAA is a groundwater district charged with managing, conserving, preserving and protecting the Edwards Aquifer in an eight-county region including all of Uvalde, Medina, and Bexar counties, and portions of Atascosa, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal and Hays counties. More information on the EAA is available at www.edwardsaquifer.org.

9th Annual Water: A Living Lesson Conference

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:39:05 CDT

The 9th Annual Water: A Living Lesson Conference, promises to be the best conference yet! Sponsored by the Edwards Aquifer Authority, UTSA, San Antonio River Authority, San Antonio Water System and Education Service Center Region 20, this conference continues the tradition of providing educators many diverse opportunities to learn innovative, interactive, and tested methods of teaching water subjects. For more information, please contact Education Coordinator Sarah Valdez, at 210-222-2204, or send us an email: education@edwardsaquifer.org

EAA Seeks Applicants for Potential Board Vacancies

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:12:48 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or mobile, (210) 416-6116 EAA to Seek Applicants for Potential Vacancies on Board; Sets Redistricting Public Hearings SAN ANTONIO (March 13, 2012) – The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) will seek applicants to fill two potential vacancies on its board of directors. At its meeting on Tuesday, March 13, the board voted to initiate the necessary procedures for filling the pending vacancy of EAA Director District 14 in Uvalde County and Director District 8 in Comal County. Current directors Mario Cruz (Dist. 14) and John Lovett (Dist. 8) each recently communicated their intention to resign from their positions on the EAA board, prompting the board to begin the process of finding successors. According to EAA bylaws, the board may fill vacancies of unexpired terms by appointment. Appointed directors then must run for the office in the next election, which would occur in November 2012. The EAA will publish notice of the vacancies of unexpired terms and will accept applications from interested persons over a 30-day filing period. Applicants must reside within the boundaries of the district they wish to represent. In an unrelated matter, the board also authorized holding public hearings to receive public comment on proposed EAA redistricting scenarios for its 15 single-member director districts based on 2010 U.S. Census Data. Public hearings are scheduled as follows: Wednesday, March 14, 20126:00 pmSan Marcos Activity Center501 E. HopkinsSan Marcos, TX Thursday, March 15, 20126:00 pmTexas Agrilife Research & Extension Center1619 Garner Field RoadUvalde, TX Tuesday, March 20, 20126:00 pmMcKenna Activity Center801 West San Antonio St.New Braunfels, TX Wednesday, March 21, 20126:00 pmEAA Conference Center1615 N. St. Mary’s StreetSan Antonio, TX Tuesday, March 27, 20126:00 pmBraden Keller Community Center1410 Amelia StreetCastroville, TX In other action, directors approved interlocal agreements between the EAA and two area groundwater districts – Wintergarten Groundwater Conservation District and Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District -- to collaboratively fund cloud seeding activities over portions of the Edwards Aquifer region in 2012. The Authority has funded a precipitation enhancement program since 1999. The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately 2 million people. More information is available at www.edwardsaquifer.org. ###

National Groundwater Awareness Week

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:31:00 CDT

The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) acknowledges National Groundwater Awareness Week, March 11th – 17th, and encourages you to share with neighbors, coworkers, and friends the vital importance of understanding and conserving our most valuable water resource, the Edwards Aquifer.The Edwards Aquifer is the sole source of drinking water for approximately two million people in south-central Texas. Its waters fuel the life and economy of our region, providing water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses. For thousands of years, in fact, the aquifer has been a critical resource and, with proper care and management, it can continue to be sustainable for generations to come.The San Antonio segment of the Edwards Aquifer extends 180 miles from Brackettville in Kinney County, north and east to Kyle in Hays County. The aquifer contains water within a group of rocks known as the Edwards and associated limestones. Dissolution of these rocks over millions of years has lead to extensive cave and conduit development, increasing the porosity and permeability of the rock, making it one of the most prolific aquifers in the nation. Thousands of water wells and major springs, including two of the largest in Texas -- Comal and San Marcos Springs -- discharge millions of gallons of water from the aquifer daily.The porous nature of the Edwards limestone allows the aquifer to replenish (or recharge) quickly after rainfall events. Water levels rise as water runs off the land and enters numerous recharge features such as caves, sinkholes, and fractured riverbeds. Inversely, periods of drought can result inlower aquifer levels, and decreased springflows.Additionally, the same features that help the aquifer be so productive also make it vulnerable to pollution. Storm water flowing across the land surface can encounter potential contaminants and transport them into the aquifer.Because of the risks of this non-point source pollution, the EAA has rules designed to minimize risks of contamination. This includes regulation of underground storage tanks and the storing and reporting of hazardous materials on the recharge zone as well as requirements for proper water well construction and maintenance. Ultimately, though, caring for and sharing our aquifer is everyone’s responsibility.National Groundwater Awareness Week is a great time to discover new ways to conserve and protect our Texas treasure, the Edwards Aquifer.

Statement: Texas Supreme Court Opinion in EAA v. Day & McDaniel

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:04:42 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or mobile, (210) 416-6116 February 24, 2012 -- Statement in response to the Supreme Court of Texas Opinion in the matter of: The Edwards Aquifer Authority and The State of Texas, Petitioners, V. Burrell Day and Joel McDaniel, Respondents Attribute to: Luana Buckner, Chairman, Edwards Aquifer Authority Board of Directors �At this time, we are reviewing the Supreme Court�s opinion in detail to further ascertain the implications it may or may not have for the continued effective management and protection of the Edwards Aquifer and the economic interests of those who rely on it as their water source. It is important to note that the Supreme Court�s opinion affirms that procedurally the Edwards Aquifer Authority appropriately carried out its responsibilities to the letter of the law as prescribed by the Edwards Aquifer Authority Act. However, the opinion leaves unresolved the question of whether properly following the EAA Act and granting the plaintiffs' permit in accordance with the Act has resulted in a compensable taking of property as defined by the Texas Constitution and remands that issue to the trial court for further proceedings. We will await further legal review of the opinion before commenting further.�

EAA Board Approves Aquifer Management Fee for HCP

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:26:02 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or mobile, (210) 416-6116 Agrees to Seek Other Funding Options SAN ANTONIO (February 14, 2012) – The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) Board of Directors, at its meeting on Tuesday, February 14, voted to amend its budget for 2012 and assess an additional aquifer management fee of $37 per acre-foot on municipal and industrial groundwater permit holders to fund implementation of a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The $37 fee is in addition to the $47 per acre-foot aquifer management fee the EAA already assesses on municipal and industrial permit holders to sustain its operating budget. The HCP is designed to protect various species whose only know habitats are the aquifer-fed Comal and San Marcos springs and that are listed as threatened or endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. As a result of the additional fee to fund implementing the HCP, municipal and industrial permit holders will now pay an overall fee of $84 per acre-foot for authorized use in 2012. However, the aquifer management fee assessed on irrigation users will remain unchanged, as set by statute, at $2 per acre-foot of groundwater withdrawn. The additional $37 program aquifer management fee will generate $14.8 million, all of which will fund implementation of the HCP approved by the EAA board last December and submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for approval. Approval of the HCP by USFWS would bring resolution to the decades-long conflict between the federal mandate to protect threatened and endangered species associated with the Edwards Aquifer and the region’s dependence on the same aquifer as its primary water resource. Implementing the HCP will cost an estimated $18 million a year, excluding inflation, over the next 15 years. In related action, the board also approved concepts for the next session of the Texas Legislature including an effort to explore and evaluate alternative options for funding the HCP. Under current state law (the EAA Act), EAA’s sole means for funding its operations, including implementation of the HCP, is through the assessment of aquifer management fees on groundwater permit holders. The board will evaluate the potential impacts of alternative funding options before adopting a legislative agenda later this year. The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately two million people. More information on the Edwards Aquifer Authority is available by calling 210-222-2204 or 1-800-292-1047. ###

EAA Lifts Stage I for SA Pool

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:57:05 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or mobile, (210) 416-6116 EAA Lifts Stage I Pumping Restrictions for San Antonio Pool SAN ANTONIO (February 13, 2012) – The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) today lifted Stage I pumping restrictions for a major portion of the region, but with a cautionary note: a return to Stage I is certain without additional rainfall in the near future. The EAA officially declared the San Antonio Pool out of Stage I of its critical period management plan retroactive to last Friday, February 10, when the J-17 Index Well in Bexar County recorded a 10-day average water level reading above 660 feet above mean sea level (msl) for the first time since last April. The lifting of mandatory conservation measures means that Edwards groundwater permit holders within the EAA San Antonio Pool, including all of Medina and Bexar counties and parts of Atascosa, Comal, Hays, Caldwell, and Guadalupe counties, are no longer under mandatory restrictions on pumping, for the time being. Residents and businesses that receive their water from a public water system should contact their water provider directly to find out whether the lifting of Stage I affects them. The EAA credits seasonal diminished demand and recent rains for helping to boost aquifer levels and springflow from Comal and San Marcos springs above the Stage I threshold. However, officials warn that more rain is needed to avoid a return to mandatory restrictions once demand on the aquifer increases as expected in the coming weeks. According to EAA rules, Stage I is declared when any one of the following occurs: the 10-day average of aquifer level readings at the J-17 Index Well drops below 660 feet above msl, or the 10-day average flow of spring discharge drops below 96 cubic feet per second at the San Marcos Springs or below 225 cubic feet per second at the Comal Springs. The San Antonio Pool went into Stage I on April 18 last year, and went into Stage II on June 2, before returning to Stage I on December 4. The Uvalde Pool, consisting of all of Uvalde County, remains under Stage II, and has been there since June 27. Stage II for Uvalde means a cutback in pumping of five percent for Edwards groundwater users in that county. The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately 2 million people. More information is available at www.edwardsaquifer.org. ###

Rain Helpful, But Not Enough to End Drought

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:10:22 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz: (210) 477-5143, or mobile: (210) 416-6116 EAA Rain Gauge Network Shows Rainfall Across Region SAN ANTONIO (January 25, 2012) – Rainfall amounts recorded across the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) rain gauge network between 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 24, and 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 25, ranged from about 0.6 inches in Kinney and Uvalde counties to almost 7 inches in Comal County. The rainfall amounts reported by the EAA, which are provisional, indicate that varying amounts of rain fell across much of the Edwards region over the past 24 hours. It is likely the aquifer will experience a modest rise in level over the next day or two. However, EAA officials caution that the region is still under Stage I critical period pumping restrictions and will likely remain so for the foreseeable future. According to the EAA rain gauge network, the following rainfall totals (in inches) were recorded as thunderstorms rolled through south-central Texas late Tuesday and early Wednesday: County Average Highest Gauge Reading Bandera 2.23 0.90Bexar 4.68 1.79Blanco 0.97 0.97Comal 6.83 3.87Edwards 1.42 1.10Hays 4.99 3.47Kendall 1.22 1.18Kinney 0.69 0.64Medina 1.77 0.84Real 0.98 0.74Uvalde 0.94 0.60 The EAA operates 73 “real-time” precipitation gauges that record data on six-minute intervals and transmit these data to the Authority’s office via a radio-telemetry system. Rain gauges are located on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, Drainage Area, and Artesian Zone. Precipitation data acquired through the rain gauge network have many uses, including aquifer recharge calculations, production of rainfall maps, and use in a variety of research projects. The EAA manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately 2 million people. More information on the Edwards Aquifer Authority is available at www.edwardsaquifer.org or by calling 210-222-2204 or 1-800-292-1047. ###

EAA Board Approves Funding Agreement for Habitat Conservation Plan

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:50:08 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or mobile, (210) 416-6116 Public Hearings on Impact to 2012 Budget, Fees to be Held in January SAN ANTONIO (December 28, 2011) – The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) Board of Directors approved a funding and management agreement on Wednesday, December 28, that details how the EAA, with participation from the City of New Braunfels, the City of San Marcos, the City of San Antonio through the San Antonio Water System, and Texas State University in San Marcos, will pay for implementing a habitat conservation plan (HCP) aimed at protecting threatened and endangered species whose only known habitats are the aquifer-fed Comal and San Marcos springs. The HCP, which was developed over the past four-and-a-half years by a stakeholder group known as the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP), was approved by the EAA board earlier this month. Approval of the funding and management agreement clears the way for the EAA and the other co-applicants to file the HCP and supporting documents with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) along with an application for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act. If the USFWS approves the HCP and issues an incidental take permit, it would bring resolution to the decades-old conflict between the federal mandate to protect threatened and endangered species associated with the Edwards Aquifer and the region’s dependence on the same aquifer as its primary water resource. Implementation of the approved HCP will help protect the region from litigation under the Endangered Species Act and will bring unprecedented certainty to Edwards groundwater rights for as long as the HCP is in effect. Implementing the HCP will cost an estimated $18 million a year over the 15-year life of the plan. As a result, the EAA will need to amend its budget and increase aquifer management fees assessed on non-agriculture Edwards permit holders beginning in 2012. Accordingly, the EAA will hold public hearings to receive comments on proposed amendments to the budget and fee rate. The hearings are scheduled as follows: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 6:00 pmTexas Agrilife Research and Extension Center1619 Garner Field RoadUvalde, TX 78801 Thursday, January 12, 2012 6:00 pmWitte Museum3801 Broadway StreetSan Antonio, TX 78209 Wednesday, January 18, 2012 6:00 pmSan Marcos Activity Center501 E. HopkinsSan Marcos, TX 7866 The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately two million people. More information on the Edwards Aquifer Authority is available by calling 210-222-2204 or 1-800-292-1047. ###

EAA Declares San Antonio Pool Out of Stage II, Back into Stage I

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:03:19 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or mobile, (210) 416-6116 San Antonio Pool Out of Stage II, Back in Stage I SAN ANTONIO (December 23, 2011) – The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) has declared a significant portion of the region out of Stage II drought restrictions and back to Stage I, which means less rigorous limits on pumping from the Edwards Aquifer, at least for the time being. Citing recent rainfall and diminished demand on the aquifer, the EAA ordered the lifting of Stage II and return to Stage I effective retroactively to December 4, 2011. That is the date on which all aquifer monitoring indices for critical period management were confirmed to have been above the thresholds for Stage II for the San Antonio Pool of the Edwards Aquifer. Despite recent rains, the EAA had delayed declaring the San Antonio Pool back to Stage I as a cautionary measure to ensure aquifer levels had risen and stabilized sufficiently to avoid an immediate return back to Stage II. Officials continue to warn that aquifer levels remain below historical averages and a return to Stage II early in 2012 is possible, if drought conditions persist. In the meantime, the lifting of Stage II means a reprieve from mandatory 30 percent pumping reductions for Edwards groundwater permit holders and a return to the less severe cutback of 20 percent required under Stage I. The EAA San Antonio Pool, including all of Medina and Bexar counties and parts of Atascosa, Comal, Hays, Caldwell, and Guadalupe counties, had been under Stage II since June 2, and was under Stage I prior to that since April 18. The Uvalde Pool, consisting of all of Uvalde County, remains under Stage II, and has been there since June 27. Stage II for Uvalde means a cutback in pumping of five percent for Edwards groundwater users in that county. According to the EAA, aquifer levels have generally stabilized this fall as a result of the seasonal diminished demand on the aquifer and, more recently, levels have risen due to moderate, but much-needed rainfall. Even so, the EAA notes that for the first time in its history, dating back to 1996, the region will enter a year under critical period restrictions. Pumping restrictions at the start of the year could particularly impact agriculture users who may need to begin irrigating their fields for the planting season in January, if warranted by low soil moisture. More information on Stage I requirements is available by calling the Authority’s critical period team at (866) 931-3239 or by visiting the Authority’s website at www.edwardsaquifer.org. The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately 2 million people. Offical Notice of Expiration of Stage II for SA Pool

EAA Board Approves HCP, Postpones Decision on Funding Agreement

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:13:53 CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Roland Ruiz, (210) 477-5143 or mobile, (210) 416-6116 SAN ANTONIO (December 14, 2011) –The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) Board of Directors is getting close to taking the final step in resolving the longstanding conflict between the federal mandate to protect threatened and endangered species associated with the Edwards Aquifer and the region’s dependence on the same aquifer as a primary water resource. At its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 13, the EAA board approved a habitat conservation plan (HCP) designed to protect the threatened and endangered species, but opted to postpone a decision on how to fund it. The board voted to approve an HCP developed over the past four-and-a-half years and recommended by the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP) for the protection of threatened and endangered species whose only known habitats are the aquifer-fed Comal and San Marcos springs. However, a plan detailing how the HCP would be funded through EAA aquifer management fees was pushed back to December 28. At issue is whether the EAA’s aquifer conservation program, which rebates aquifer management fees for permitted-but-unused Edwards groundwater, should apply to the portion of fees assessed for implementing the HCP. Since 2006, the EAA has refunded aquifer management fees to non-agricultural users for groundwater they don’t use in a given year. In November, the board adopted a budget and fee rate for 2012 that kept the rebate program intact for the EAA’s normal operations. With approval of the HCP, though, the board must now amend its budget and adopt a fee rate sufficient to fund the program, either with or without the conservation rebate program. Once the EAA board approves a funding plan, it will have all the program documents necessary to submit the HCP and an application for an incidental take permit to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Issuance of an incidental take permit by the USFWS and compliance with the approved HCP would shield the region from litigation and the associated uncertainty of water availability from the Edwards Aquifer in the event any harm comes to the species listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act. As a result, holders of EAA groundwater permits would have unprecedented assurance that they would be able to rely on their Edwards water rights for at least the next 15 years. The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages, enhances, and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately two million people. More information on the Edwards Aquifer Authority is available by calling 210-222-2204 or 1-800-292-1047. ###