Title
Consider recommendation from the Permits/Enforcement Committee to approve an ASR springflow protection program forbearance agreement with Gay Nell Seewald for the Aquifer Storage and Recovery Forbearance Program, in support of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan, in the total amount of $40,400.00.
Body
STAFF RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the Permits/Enforcement Committee recommend the board approve a springflow protection program forbearance agreement with Gay Nell Seewald and the EAA for the Aquifer Storage and Recovery Program in support of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan and authorize the General Manager to execute the agreement.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the Permits/Enforcement Committee to consider an EAA staff recommendation to approve a springflow protection program forbearance agreement for the Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Program in support of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP). The EAHCP includes several measures intended to minimize and mitigate the impact of the use of Edwards groundwater on federally-listed threatened and endangered species associated with the Edwards Aquifer. A significant component of the EAHCP is the use of the ASR Project of the San Antonio Water System as a long-term conservation measure to: (1) offset SAWS pumping from the Edwards Aquifer; and (2) help maintain minimum spring flow at Comal and San Marcos Springs. Through this partnership effort, the EAA has been tasked with acquiring 50,000 acre-feet of permitted Edwards Aquifer groundwater rights through leases and forbearance agreements. Leased groundwater rights will be stored in the Twin Oaks ASR Project of the San Antonio Water System until filling of the ASR Project reaches completion. Once filling is complete, the water associated with both the leases and agreements will be left unpumped during a repeat of drought of record conditions (when the 10-year annual recharge average falls at or b...
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