Title
Consider recommendation from EAA staff to authorize the General Manager to submit proposed amendments to the EAHCP's San Antonio Water System Aquifer Storage and Recovery Springflow Protection Measure for consideration through the EAHCP Adaptive Management Process.
Body
STAFF RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board authorize the General Manager to take the steps necessary to develop and submit proposed amendments to the San Antonio Water System Aquifer Storage and Recovery Springflow Protection Measure contained in the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan for consideration through the Adaptive Management Process.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider an EAA staff recommendation regarding the submittal of proposed amendments to the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Springflow Protection Measure for consideration through the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Cconservation Plan (EAHCP) Adaptive Management Process.
The EAHCP currently includes a springflow protection program that utilizes the ASR facility owned and operated by SAWS for storage and delivery of leased Edwards Aquifer water. Broadly, the program is based on the acquisition by the EAA of 50,000 acre-feet per year of Edwards Aquifer groundwater withdrawal rights that are utilized to fill, idle, and maintain a portion of the capacity of the SAWS ASR for subsequent use to protect springflows during identified drought-of-record conditions. When specific triggers (described in the EAHCP) are reached: (1) SAWS is obligated to use the water stored in the ASR to serve as a baseload supply in its service area near the springs; (2) SAWS is obligated to offset its Edwards demand by an amount equivalent to that of the recovered water; and (3) the EAA, when not utilizing leased water to fill the SAWS ASR, is obligated to forbear all pumping of the leased water. This combination of SAWS’ pumping from the ASR (rather than from direct Edwards so...
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