Title
Receive report from EAA staff regarding potential modifications to the ASR leasing program associated with the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan.
Body
STAFF RECOMMENDED MOTION:
None. This item is for informational purposes only.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the Permits/Enforcement Committee to receive a report from EAA staff regarding potential modifications to the EAA’s Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) leasing program. The ASR leasing program, a significant component of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP), has become very successful. Through its responsibility and oversight of all aspects of the ASR leasing program, EAA staff has identified potential modifications to the EAHCP that should serve to improve the operational and financial efficiency, while still providing the same benefit to springflow protection.
The goal of the ASR leasing program is to control 50,000 acre-feet (AF) of unrestricted Edwards Aquifer Permits in three tiers of approximately 16,666 AF each to store in the SAWS Twin Oaks facility. Leased groundwater rights under Tier I are always used to inject (store) water in the ASR. Tiers II and III can also be used for storing; however, they operate similarly to the Voluntary Irrigation Suspension Program (VISPO) in that until a “trigger” is reached there is no obligation on the permit. When the trigger occurs, the water in the program will be stored or forborne. The trigger condition is a ten-year annual recharge average (less than 572,000 AF for Tier II and less than 472,000 AF for Tier III). Since groundwater for each of the three tiers may be stored, the EAA must secure unrestricted rights.
EAA staff has observed that the ten-year annual recharge average is too vague; therefore, inhibiting permit holder’s participation. Also, only being able to use unrestricted water rights limits enrollment and increases program costs. Consequently, staff believes that consolidating the current...
Click here for full text