WATER NEWS FOR BLANCO COUNTY AND BEYOND...
In This Edition
* Current Drought Condition
* Blanco County Burn Ban Status
* Groundwater Management Area 9 Update
* Correction
Current Drought Condition
Blanco County drought condition as of April 15 - D1 Moderate (D4-Exceptional highest level)
www.drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_state.htm?TX,S
Blanco County Burn Ban Status
The Blanco County burn ban continues in effect.
You can check the "Red Flag" fire danger status at the Texas A&M website: www.srh.weather.gov/ewx/
Groundwater Management Area 9 Update
The Texas Water Development Board issued long awaited results of the Groundwater Availability Model, in draft form, last month. On April 7 the representatives from the Groundwater Conservation Districts that make up GMA 9 met to discuss that report. Interested citizens packed the courtroom of the Historic Courthouse in Boerne.
Also on hand was Dr. Robert Mace, Director of the Groundwater Resources Division of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The scientist who was responsible for the modeling work, Dr. Ali Chowdhury, also attended.
The Desired Future Condition submitted in September to TWDB by GMA 9 called for an average drop in the level of the Middle Trinity aquifer of 35 feet. The actual value ultimately modeled was a 33 foot average drop. As anticipated, the projected drop in water level within each GMA 9 county varied greatly. The projected drop in Blanco County in the Upper Trinity was 9 feet on average with a 15 foot maximum. The drop in the Middle Trinity, where most southern Blanco County wells are completed, averaged 26 feet with a 44 foot maximum.
The level of pumping allowed by this DFC represents a dramatic increase over current levels. In Blanco County the new pumping limit would be 3,495 acre feet (AF) per year as contrasted with the current limit of 1,600 AF. Current demand estimated is 1,592 AF.
Of critical concern to Hill Country citizens, beyond the performance of their own wells, is the impact on spring and base flows.
Base flows are simply springs that occur under water in a creek or river. It is base flow that keeps those water features going during drought. Across GMA 9 the model predicts a 20- 30% reduction in base flows. Due to the very limited number of springs represented in the model, estimates regarding reduction in spring flow should be viewed with some skepticism. The report does predict a 25% reduction in spring flow. We can assume that area springs will suffer at least this level of impact.
The discussion in this GMA 9 meeting was more vigorous than has occurred previously. Several of the representatives were very uncomfortable with aspects of the modeling exercise and the results.
A key concern was that current demand values used in the modeling were different, in some case wildly different, from those submitted to the GMA 9 Coordinator Ron Fieseler, who was then responsible for passing them to the TWDB. The estimates prepared by Fieseler for Blanco County were not the ones used in the model. Neither Fieseler nor Dr. Chowdhury could explain the variances.
Prior to submitting this specification to the TWDB, the GMA 9 representatives, reacting to what appeared to be very unrealistic (low) demand values in the model, set about to produce better estimates. Some GCD have pretty good data regarding the wells in their area and could provide more reliable estimates. Others, like B-PGCD, that have very limited data regarding domestic (Exempt) wells, had to rely on "back of the envelope" estimating techniques. The major enhancement to the demand estimates, however shaky they might or might not be, was an effort to account for demand from Exempt wells. In most GCD, Exempt wells account for as much as 60% of total pumping.
Kerr County, whose demand values deviated the most from those submitted, also saw their water allocation actually decrease while all other counties increased. Obviously, this did not please the Kerr County’s Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District. Feather Wilson, consulting geologist to the Headwaters GCD, pointed out further inaccuracies in the demand calculations.
Although the GMA 9 representatives did not debate this issue, some in the audience expressed grave concern about the omission of a "drought of record" event during the 50 year period modeled. Preserve Our Water’s Dave Collins told the GMA 9 representatives that they should be very suspicious of their ability to achieve sufficient reduction in demand during severe, prolonged drought conditions based on drought contingency plans.
Unfortunately and despite Collins’ comments and those of several others, the representatives seemed unwilling to grapple with this dangerous issue.
After much debate, at times somewhat heated, it was determined that a new modeling request was required. The general parameters of that request were established.
Significantly lower values for a drop in the aquifer will be submitted along with corrected current demand estimates. Dr. Mace could not commit to a firm timetable for delivery. However, Dr. Chowdhury indicated that given the work he had already done on this model, he did not feel it would take an extensive amount of time to complete the new requests. Fieseler indicated that he would circulate a draft of the request to the GMA 9 representatives to assure that the specifications met their approval before submitting those specifications to the TWDB.
Preserve Our Water, along with several other citizens groups active in this planning process, are very concerned by the refusal, thus far, to model the effects of a severe drought. Enforcement of drought contingency plans, particularly in rural areas like Blanco County in which only a small percentage of the wells are even registered is highly problematic, at best. The refusal to examine the impact of a drought of major proportions - particularly given the substantial increase in the number of people dependent on that water resulting from the higher pumping limits - seems a very unwise bet.
Preserve Our Water urges you to contact your Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District Director and ask them to demand that drought conditions be included in modeling of any Desired Future Condition considered by GMA 9.
The B-PGCD Directors are:
Precinct 1-Tom Murrah
Precinct 2 - Phil Sergeant
Precinct 3 - Bobby Wilson
Precinct 4 - Neill Binford
At-Large - Jimmy Klepac
Preserve Our Water will continue to monitor and report on this critical matter.
Correction
In the April 6 edition of this Newsletter’s Groundwater Facts contained an incorrect value for the current "water budget" in the Middle Trinity for Blanco County.
The water budget established for Blanco County through the Region K planning process in 2003 was correctly reported as 1600 acre feet. However, the number of gallons represented by this AF value was incorrectly presented as 250 million gallons. The correct value is 520 million gallons.
We apologize for any confusion this typographical error may have caused.
When Did You Last Test Your Water Well?
Wells should be tested annually. The Blanco County office of Texas AgriLife Extension is sponsoring a water well screening day for area residents on May 6th at the Blanco County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. Samples should be submitted between 8am and 5pm on Monday, May 5th at either of the following locations:
- Blanco General, located at 1515 Trainer West Rd., in Blanco
- AgriLIFE Extension Office, located across from Courthouse in Johnson City, in the Annex Building
This well screening day is designed to inform private water well owners and users on the condition of their well water and of possible contamination from common contaminants. These contaminants are fecal coliform, salinity and nitrate.
The presence of fecal coliform in water indicates that feces (bodily waste from humans or animals) may have contaminated the water. Water contaminated with feces has microorganisms present that can cause a number of waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery.
Nitrates in ground water at levels of 10 milligrams per liter mg/L (or parts per million) is considered unsafe for human consumption. Nitrate levels above 10 mg/L can disrupt the blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout the body. Nitrate is converted to nitrite which combines with hemoglobin, the chemical that carries oxygen in the blood, to form methemoglobin. Oxygen can not bind with methemoglobin, therefore, oxygen is not carried throughout the body. As a result, oxygen starvation occurs. This condition is called methemoglobinemia. If left untreated, death may result. Infants less than 6 months in age and young livestock are most susceptible.
Salinity in the form of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) will also be determined on each sample.
You will need to pick up a sample bag and instructions from the Blanco County AgriLife Extension office or in the Blanco area you can pick up a sample bag at the Blanco General Store. Please contact the County Extension office by calling 868-7167 for more information or to receive an approved water sampling bag and instructions for taking your well water sample.
It is very important that only these sampling bags from the County Extension office be used and all instructions for proper sampling followed to insure accurate results. There will not be a charge for the sample screening.
A meeting explaining screening results and a discussion of Water Well Health will be held on Tues May 6th beginning at 6:00 p.m. John W. Smith, water specialist, Texas AgriLIFE Extension service will lead the discussion. Mr. Smith will also demonstrate a well inspection camera at a nearby water well. This program will be held at the Exhibit Hall located on the Blanco Co. Fairgrounds.
