Title
Consider recommendation from the Executive Committee to approve an Interlocal Cooperation Contract between the EAA and the University of Texas at Austin Bureau of Economic Geology for the installation, operations and analysis of eddy covariance for quantifying evapotranspiration, in an amount not to exceed $199,939.71, and to authorize the General Manager to execute the contract.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board adopt Resolution and Order No. 12-20-993 of the Edwards Aquifer Authority Board of Directors approving an Interlocal Cooperation Contract No. 20-041-AMS between the EAA and The University of Texas at Austin Bureau of Economic Geology, for the installation, operation and analysis of eddy covariance for quantifying evapotranspiration, in an amount not to exceed $199,929.71 for the period January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2023.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider an Executive Committee recommendation to approve an Interlocal Cooperation Contract with the University of Texas at Austin Bureau of Economic Geology for the installation, operation and analysis of eddy covariance for quantifying evapotranspiration.
Climate, vegetation, and soils each exert controls on groundwater recharge. Mean annual precipitation explains 80% of the variation in recharge across Texas [Keese et al., 2005], but the incredible diversity of vegetation and climate in Texas makes local recharge estimates very difficult to assess. In karst terrain, for example, the majority of recharge originates from focused direct recharge from losing streams while a smaller, less temporally dynamic proportion originates as diffuse recharge through the soil between the stream channels [Marclay, 1995; Wong et al., 2012]. This means that the scale of measurement and the measurements themselves become important considerations. The need to understand recharge and other water balance components are intensive given future climate variability and inc...
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