GroundwaterConservation

Districts:Success Stories

Dana Porter, Russell Persyn and Juan Enciso*

The aquifers in Texas have different quantities of groundwater,recharge characteristics, and susceptibility to contamination.Demand for water from these limited resources is increasing, so ouraquifers must be conserved and protected for the benefit of thestate’s economy, our natural ecosystems, and our quality of life. TheTexas Water Code, Chapter 36, calls for the creation of GroundwaterConservation Districts “in order to provide for the conservation,preservation, protection, recharging, and prevention of waste ofgroundwater, and of groundwater reservoirs or their subdivisions,and to control subsidence caused by withdrawal of water from thosegroundwater reservoirs or their subdivisions.” In Texas, local deci-sion making through Groundwater Conservation Districts has beenthe rule and not the exception. In fact, Groundwater ConservationDistricts are the state’s preferred method of groundwater manage-ment.

Texas’ diverse climatic systems, aquifers, water use patterns, pop-ulation growth projections, and economy make planning for wateruse a complex issue. Groundwater Conservation Districts areformed according to local needs; therefore, the roles of the districtsreflect differences in local needs. Some districts serve primarily toprotect water quality; others work mainly to promote conservationof limited supplies, or to combat subsidence.

Groundwater Conservation Districts are carrying out a number ofsuccessful programs to protect and conserve the state’s water sup-plies.

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

*Assistant Professors and Extension Agricultural Engineers, and ExtensionAssistant–Water Management, The Texas A&M University System.

B-60878-99

At special conferences, demonstra-tion projects, field days, and publicevents, districts showcase conserva-tion practices, demonstrate bestmanagement practices, and distrib-ute educational materials. Forexample, the South PlainsUnderground Water ConservationDistrict sponsors an annual SouthPlains Water and Soil ConservationConference and Trade Show, whichincludes agricultural water conser-vation practices updates and waterlevel measurement reports for thearea. This conference targets agri-cultural producers, offers continu-ing education units, and fosterscommunication among agriculturalproducers, irrigation industry rep-resentatives, and conservation pro-fessionals.

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

Purpose of Groundwater DistrictsGroundwater Conservation Districts have assigned duties, and

they may invoke authorized powers necessary to fulfill their duties.

A Groundwater Conservation District is required to:

■ Develop and adopt a comprehensive management plan for effi-ciently using groundwater and preventing its waste. The planalso must include measures for preventing land subsidence.This plan must be submitted to, and certified by, the TexasWater Development Board and filed with other districts withina common groundwater management area.

■ Adopt rules necessary to implement the management plan.

■ Require permits for drilling, equipping, completing, or substan-tially altering the size of water wells.

A Groundwater Conservation District may also:

■ Make and enforce rules necessary to implement the water man-agement plan.

■ Make surveys of the groundwater resources.

■ Regulate the spacing of wells and/or production of wells.

■ Require that unused or abandoned wells be capped or plugged.

The common goal of all Groundwater Conservation Districts is toconserve groundwater resources through local management in orderto ensure adequate water for their districts in the future.

Promoting Water Conservation through Educationand Public Awareness

Groundwater Conservation Districts use a variety of programs andmedia to inform the public about water issues and to raise publicawareness of the need for water conservation. News releases andpublic service announcements distributed through newspapers, radio

This Cessna 340 aircraft, equipped with belly racks and wingtip generators, is used for cloudseeding by three Groundwater Conservation Districts in the Texas High Plains.

The High Plains Underground WaterConservation District No. 1 has builta strong Information/Education pro-gram, initiated in June 1954 withthe first publication of The CrossSection newsletter. This newsletteris mailed free of charge to a sub-scriber list of more than 6,900 local,state, national and internationalreaders. The District has receivedtwo Watermark Awards for commu-nications excellence from the TexasSection of the American WaterWorks Association for its timelynews releases to local, state andnational news media. The Districtalso maintains a public serviceannouncement campaign throughwhich 60-second pre-recorded waterconservation messages are aired onlocal radio stations, and 30-secondwater-related public serviceannouncements are aired on a localTV station. The District regularlydisplays informative exhibits at areaevents, fairs and trade shows, andmakes informational materials avail-able to the public through theirLubbock office. Many of their publi-cations are on the Internet athttp://www.hpwd.com/.

stations and television stations offer timely information to large gen-eral audiences. Some districts publish bulletins and fact sheets within-depth information on a variety of topics. These materials are dis-tributed at local offices and exhibits at area events. Some districtsuse Internet sites to make information even more widely accessible.In several districts, newsletters keep subscribers informed of issues,programs and activities in the district.

Groundwater Conservation Districts reach young audiences bydistributing educational materials through public schools. Theseinclude water conservation textbook covers and other water conser-vation information. Districts also organize field trips and assistteachers with water education curricula. Some districts sponsormore comprehensive water programs, such as the Learning to BeWater Wise and Energy Efficient program (http://www.getwise.org/)and the Major Rivers Water Education program(http://www.rra.dst.tx.us/Education/MajRivers/) in elementaryschools.

Assisting in Water Conservation throughTechnical Services

Groundwater Conservation Districts can provide a range of tech-nical support services to help water users with conservation. Suchservices include monitoring precipitation and aquifer water levels.Several districts test wells, pump plant efficiency, and irrigation sys-tem efficiency. Water quality testing can vary from biological evalua-tions (coliform and fecal coliform bacteria) to more complete waterquality analyses (including alkalinity, hardness, chloride, specificconductivity, total dissolved solids, fluoride, iron, ammonia, nitrate,sulfate and pH.) In some districts, water analysis is offered free ofcharge to residents of the district, and may be offered on a fee basisto residents outside the district. For specific information on wateranalysis services and fees, residents should contact their districts.

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

Using agricultural water conservation techniques, such as low energy precision application(LEPA) center pivot sprinklers and furrow diking, improves irrigation efficiency and conservesgroundwater.

Learning to be Water Wise andEnergy Efficient is a youth conserva-tion education program that hasbeen promoted by several of theGroundwater Conservation Districts,including the Harris-GalvestonCoastal Subsidence District. TheCity of Houston performed acost/benefit analysis to assess thevalue of the program, and reportedthat for every dollar spent the citywill gain 5.6 dollars in return.Estimated water savings per educa-tional kit distributed was 22.9 gal-lons per household per day. Theeducational program has an Internetsite at http://www.getwise.org/.

The Santa Rita Underground WaterConservation District has a programto plug more than 350 abandonedwells to prevent contamination ofgroundwater.

To help farmers implement water conservation practices, somedistricts make the necessary equipment available for loan. Laserland leveling equipment and furrow dikers, for instance, may bemade available for improving agricultural irrigation efficiency.Districts also may participate in the Agricultural Water ConservationEquipment Loan Program through the Texas Water DevelopmentBoard. Through this program, the districts can make low interestloans available to farmers and ranchers to help them install highlyefficient irrigation systems (such as the Low Energy PrecisionApplication systems.) Some districts offer funding and technicalassistance for plugging unused or abandoned water wells.

Permitting and Rulemaking ActivitiesGroundwater Conservation Districts are granted the authority to

make and enforce rules for conserving, preserving, protecting, andrecharging groundwater, and for controlling subsidence. Accordingto the Texas Water Code, the districts must require permits fordrilling, equipping, or completing wells or substantially altering thesize of wells or well pumps. Districts may require that unused orabandoned wells be capped or plugged. Districts may regulate wellspacing and/or pumpage rates in order to control subsidence and toprevent excessive water table drawdown or reduction of artesianpressure.

Financing Alternatives:Funding for District Activities

Groundwater Conservation Districts vary in size, from partialcounty or single county districts to multiple county districts.Staffing levels vary from one part-time position to several full-timepositions, depending upon the goals of the Boards of Directors andthe contributions of the local taxpayers.

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

This open, abandoned irrigation well is well hidden on CRP land. Groundwater ConservationDistricts work to make sure abandoned wells are properly capped to prevent accidents andaquifer contamination.

To help prevent contamination oftheir limited water resources, theMesa Underground WaterConservation District sponsors aUsed Oil and Filter CollectionProgram. Approximately 40,000 gal-lons of waste oil have been collectedand recycled each year since 1993.

The Texas Water Code, Chapter 36, allows groundwater districtsto levy property taxes to pay maintenance and operating expenses ata rate not to exceed 50 cents on each $100 of assessed valuation.Most district activities are funded through these ad valorem taxes,for which the maximum tax rates are set by local election. Districtssurveyed reported ad valorem tax rates of $0.0045 to $0.0575 per$100 valuation. Hence, the annual tax paid on property valued at$100,000 ranges from $4.50 to $57.50.

Some districts are financed through user fees, which are assessedon the basis of the volume of water pumped or the volume permit-ted/allocated. Other sources of revenue include permitting fees, per-mit application fees, and fees for services (water analyses, etc.) pro-vided outside district boundaries. Some districts are able to providespecial services and programs funded by grants for special projectsfrom the Texas Water Development Board and the United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the Texas NaturalResource Conservation Commission (TNRCC).

Special Projects and Research EffortsGroundwater Conservation Districts conduct special projects,

often in cooperation with other agencies and districts, to addressspecial needs. These special projects include groundwater modeling,groundwater recharge through infiltration and injection, area subsi-dence measurements, groundwater mapping, enhancement ofrecharge, and weather modification programs. Such projects may becooperatively funded by federal, state and/or local agencies.

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

A moisture meter is used to collect pre-plant soil moisture data. This information helps pro-ducers know how much to irrigate before planting.

Weather modification/rainfallenhancement programs use cloudseeding to augment normal rainfall,particularly during the peak irriga-tion season, in order to reducepumpage and increase aquiferrecharge. Programs include the WestTexas Weather ModificationAssociation, High PlainsPrecipitation EnhancementProgram, South Texas WeatherModification, Southwest Texas RainEnhancement Program, and theEdwards Aquifer AuthorityPrecipitation EnhancementProgram. These programs are fund-ed jointly by the districts and thestate through the Texas NaturalResource Conservation Commission.

For Additional InformationL-5240, “Groundwater Conservation Districts,” Texas Agricultural

Extension Service.

B-1612, “Managing Texas’ Groundwater Resources ThroughGroundwater Conservation Districts,” Texas AgriculturalExtension Service.

Electronic versions of Extension publications are available at:http://agpublications.tamu.edu/pubs/eenviro/b1612.pdf

Water for Texas: A Consensus-Based Update to the State Water Plan.1997. Texas Water Development Board, Austin, Texas.

Web Sites:Edwards Aquifer Authority

http://www.e-aquifer.com/

Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence Districthttp://www.subsidence.org/

Hickory Underground Water Conservation District No. 1http://www.angelfire.com/tx/hickory/

High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 http://www.hpwd.com/

Learning to Be Water Wise and Energy Efficient. Nonprofit NationalEnergy Foundation, Salt Lake City, Utah. http://www.getwise.org/

Major Rivers Water Education Program. Red River Authority ofTexas, Wichita Falls, Texas. http://www.rra.dst.tx.us/Education/MajRivers/

Springhills Water Management Districthttp://swmd.home.texas.net/

Texas Water Development Boardhttp://www.twdb.state.tx.us/

Acknowledgements:The authors appreciate the contributions of the Groundwater

Conservation Districts in preparing this publication. Special thanksto Scott Holland, President, Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts,for his assistance.

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

SuccessStories

Water quantity and quality havebeen improved through theRecharge Enhancement Program ofthe Barton Springs/Edwards AquiferConservation District. Rechargeinto the aquifer through caves inOnion Creek is enhanced by a struc-ture that prevents debris from plug-ging the cave entrance. The qualityof the recharge water is improvedby a feature that allows the relative-ly dirty “first flush” water to bypassthe cave entrance. After this “firstflush,” a valve on the structure isopened to allow clean rechargewater to enter the cave entrance tothe aquifer. Other activities of theDistrict include cave cleanup pro-grams and household hazardouswaste collection programs to removepotential sources of contamination.

Special Districts Edwards Aquifer Authority41 Fort Bend Subsidence District42 Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District

12

34

5

6

7 8 9 101112

13 14 15 1617 19

20

21 22 2324 25

26 272930

3132

33 34 35

3637

38

39

40

4142

18

28

Conservation Districts 1 Dallam County UWCD No. 1 2 North Plains GWCD No. 2 3 Hemphill County UWCD 4 Panhandle GWCD No. 3 5 Collingsworth County UWCD 6 High Plains UWCD No. 1 7 Sandy Land UWCD 8 South Plains UWCD 9 Garza County U and Fresh WCD10 Salt Fork UWCD11 Mesa UWCD12 Permian Basin UWCD13 Hudspeth County UWCD No. 114 Glasscock County UWCD15 Sterling UWCD16 Coke County UWCD17 Santa Rita UWCD

18 Irion County WCD19 Lipan-Kickapoo WCD20 Fox Crossing WD21 Jeff Davis County UWCD22 Emerald UWCD23 Plateau UWC and Supply District24 Hickory UWCD No. 125 Saratoga UWCD26 Sutton County UWCD27 Hill Country UWCD28 Real-Edwards Conservation and Reclamation District29 Headwaters UWCD30 Springhills Water Management District31 Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer CD32 Plum Creek Conservation District 33 Uvalde County UWCD34 Medina UWCD35 Gonzalez County UWCD36 Wintergarden GCD37 Evergreen UWCD38 Live Oak UWCD39 Anderson County UWCD40 Culberson County GCD (boundaries not defined)

Groundwater Districts

There are 43 groundwater conservation and special districts in Texas. The Edwards Aquifer Authority contains two conservation districts withinits territory.