tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10455915663604561872024-03-06T01:44:24.399-06:00DROUGHT MONITORAquifer Conditions of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, Hays & Travis Counties, TexasUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger325125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-67737719352280743462022-11-01T12:16:00.001-05:002022-11-01T12:16:57.568-05:00Aquifer District Declares Critical Drought (Stage III)<p> </p><h1 style="margin-right: 9pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Aquifer District Declares Critical Drought (Stage III)</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 9pt 0in 0in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 9pt 0in 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">For Immediate Release: October 20, 2022</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 9pt 0in 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">For more information, contact: David
Marino, Communications & Outreach Manager at (512) 282-8441 or </span></b><a href="mailto:dmarino@bseacd.org"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">dmarino@bseacd.org</span></b></a><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 9pt 0in 0in;"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 9pt 0in 0in; text-align: justify;">On October 20, 2022, Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District General Manager Tim Loftus, declared Critical Drought
(Stage III). One of the District’s drought triggers, Lovelady Monitor Well,
passed below its Critical Drought trigger on October 17, 2022. Only one of the District’s
two drought stage triggers (Lovelady Monitor Well & Barton Springs) needs
to be reached for a drought declaration to be made. However, to exit a drought
stage, both Barton Springs and Lovelady must rise above their respective
drought trigger values. This latter requirement keeps the District from making
multiple declarations about drought over short periods of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 9pt 0in 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 9.0pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 9pt 0in 0in; text-align: justify;">The District hasn’t been in Critical Drought (Stage III)
since October of 2013. While drought conditions have improved across the state,
central Texas still isn’t seeing much rain. So far, we have received below
average rainfall every month this year except for February and August. May,
June, and July of 2022 were the warmest on record for Austin. Reducing water
use is now critical. With continued lack of rainfall and high rates of pumping,
water levels could drop to the extent that some wells go dry. The District has
already received reports of dry wells. Flow from Barton Springs could
eventually decrease to the point where ecological, recreational, and aesthetic
uses of Barton Springs would be damaged. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black;">Declaration of Critical Drought
(Stage III) requires all District permittees to implement mandatory measures
specified in their User Drought Contingency Plans (UDCPs) to meet monthly pumpage
reduction requirements:<br />
</span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: black;">30% for Edwards
Historical and Conditional Class A permittees,</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: black;">75% for Edwards
Conditional Class B permittees, </span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: black;">100% for Edwards
Conditional Class C and Class D permittees, and</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: black;">30% for Trinity and
Alluvial/Austin Chalk Historical permittees</span></b><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">“We can’t
afford to underestimate the threat that the current drought poses and the need
for everyone to do their part to conserve water,” said General Manager Tim
Loftus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;">End-user
customers (60,000+ existing groundwater users in the District) served by water
utilities on groundwater wells are required to comply with their utility’s
water use restrictions for this drought stage. Generally, outdoor irrigation of
lawns and landscaping is now prohibited or severely restricted. Groundwater
uses should be limited for essential indoor demands needed to preserve health
and safety with a very minor allocation provided for non-essential outdoor
water use. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">November<span style="color: black;"> is
the first month that permittees will need to meet new reductions in pumpage.
Permittees should refer to the monthly drought allocations listed in their User
Drought Conservation Plan (UDCP) and Drought Target Charts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Planting native or drought-tolerant landscapes, mulching, and using
compost can substantially reduce the amount of irrigation water required to
keep plants healthy. Making sure your irrigation system is functioning at peak
efficiency and replacing leaking gaskets and hoses can help conserve water.
Installing a rain barrel or rainwater harvesting system can make an even bigger
impact in reducing overall water use.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">The District recommends that both exempt and permitted well owners
follow these conservation tips. For additional information on groundwater
wells, please take a look at the District's <a href="https://bseacd.org/uploads/BSEACD_WellOwnerGuide_2016_web.pdf" target="_blank">Well Owner Guide</a>. If you have questions about your well,
please contact us at 512-282-8441. We encourage you to call or visit our office
(1124 Regal Row, Austin, TX) during office hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to review
our groundwater management process, receive information about the drought, or
if you need assistance with other groundwater related matters.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Useful links:<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in; vertical-align: baseline;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; text-indent: -0.25in;">Drought Management
page: </span><a href="http://bseacd.org/regulatory/drought-management/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">http://bseacd.org/regulatory/drought-management/</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-38647018158176310852022-10-13T18:50:00.003-05:002022-10-13T19:42:21.150-05:00September 2022 Aquifer Update<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #052352; font-size: x-small;">The District remains in Alarm Drought (Stage II), which was officially declared at the June 9, 2022 Board meeting. However, the declaration of Critical Drought (Stage III) could happen by early to mid-October if we do not see additional rainfall. </span></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #052352;">Despite widespread rains across Central Texas in August, a dry pattern quickly returned in September delivering only an average of 0.76 inches of rainfall between Travis and Hays counties. According to KXAN (Austin), rainfall recorded at Camp Mabry (0.47 inches) marks September 2022 as the 12th driest on record, while Austin-Bergstrom (0.14 inches) comes in as the 4th driest. This month isn’t supposed to be this dry. Typically, September is our 4th wettest month of the year, with almost 3.5 inches on average in Austin (</span><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=183950&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kxan.com%2Fweather%2Fweather-blog%2Fseptember-2022-one-of-the-driest-on-record-in-austin%2F&cfid=3934&vh=b1362d1c8f62afe6e2a15ab9c1208399c979546e34ec4ed65be54fc1d9a8847b" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank">KXAN</a><span style="color: #052352;">). As of September 29 we’ve reached the 21st straight day without measurable rain. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #052352; font-size: x-small;">With no rainfall relief, drought conditions in the Texas Hill Country continue to worsen. We have received an average of 15.2 inches - 10.2 inches behind annual average rainfall - from January through September (figure 1). Edwards and Trinity aquifer levels began to decline in spring and continue to do so.</span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none; width: 568px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="fusionResponsiveContent" style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px auto; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; padding: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="fusionResponsiveContent" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><th class="fusionResponsiveColumn" style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; width: 568px;" valign="top"><div style="overflow: hidden;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td class="fusionResponsiveImageTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: auto;"><tbody><tr><th style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; display: block;"><img alt="" class="fusionResponsiveImage" height="auto" src="https://bseacd.org/uploads/Rainfall-.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; display: block; height: auto; margin: auto; width: 568px;" width="568" /></th></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 10px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="color: #052352;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 1. Monthly deviation from avg. and monthly total rainfall in BSEACD territory</span></em></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #052352;">Climate scientists forecast that La Niña conditions (declared by NOAA on October 14, 2021) are favored to continue into winter. The continuation of La Niña means that we are predicted to receive below average rainfall and above average heat through the summer and into the winter. </span><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=183950&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.climate.gov%2Fnews-features%2Fblogs%2Fseptember-2022-la-ni%25C3%25B1a-update-it%25E2%2580%2599s-q-time&cfid=3934&vh=6621f8d0796b36756524dfe57d968f40d801e0843d83df9d4ffec989171c3082" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank">It’s not until February 2023 that forecasters predict a chance of neutral conditions</a><span style="color: #052352;"> and increasing chances of returning Central Texas to average temperature and rainfall. </span></span></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #052352; font-size: x-small;">May and June, which are historically the wettest months of the year in Central Texas, were both way below their historical monthly average (-2.8 & -2.7 respectively). Only August has provided above-average rainfall since February. May, June and July 2022 clocked in as the warmest on record for Austin. As a result, both aquifer levels and spring flows are approaching historic lows.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #052352;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lovelady crossed under the Alarm Drought (Stage II) trigger on May 26. On September 29, the well had a level of 463.7 ft msl, only 1 ft above Critical Drought (Stage III) (Figure 2). Without rain, it is expected to cross into Critical (Stage III) in early to mid-October.</span> </span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none; width: 568px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="fusionResponsiveContent" style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px auto; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; padding: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="fusionResponsiveContent" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><th class="fusionResponsiveColumn" style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; width: 568px;" valign="top"><div style="overflow: hidden;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td class="fusionResponsiveImageTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: auto;"><tbody><tr><th style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; display: block;"><img alt="" class="fusionResponsiveImage" height="auto" src="https://bseacd.org/uploads/Lovelady-1.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; display: block; height: auto; margin: auto; width: 568px;" width="568" /></th></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 10px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="color: #052352;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 2. Lovelady monitoring well water elevation level</span></em></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #052352;">Also, Barton Springs crossed under the Alarm Drought (Stage II) trigger in late June. On September 29, Barton Springs was flowing at 25 cubic feet per second (cfs) (10-day average), 5 cfs above the Critical Drought (Stage III) trigger point of 20 cfs (Figure 3). Without rain, Barton Springs is also expected to cross into Critical Drought (Stage III) in early to mid-October.</span> </span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none; width: 568px;" valign="top"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="fusionResponsiveContent" style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px auto; table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; padding: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="fusionResponsiveContent" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><th class="fusionResponsiveColumn" style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; width: 568px;" valign="top"><div style="overflow: hidden;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td class="fusionResponsiveImageTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: auto;"><tbody><tr><th style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; display: block;"><img alt="" class="fusionResponsiveImage" height="auto" src="https://bseacd.org/uploads/Barton-Springs-1.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; display: block; height: auto; margin: auto; width: 568px;" width="568" /></th></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 10px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><em style="color: #052352;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 3. Barton Springs flow</span></em></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table></th></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div class="null" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><strong style="color: #052352;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">The District could declare Critical Drought (Stage III) in the coming weeks if conditions continue to worsen.</span></em></strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #052352; font-size: x-small;">Declaration of Critical Drought (Stage III) would require all District permittees to implement mandatory measures specified in their User Drought Contingency Plans (UDCPs) to meet monthly pumpage reduction requirements. </span></p><ul><li><span style="color: #052352; font-size: x-small;">30% for Edwards Historical and Conditional Class A permittees,</span></li><li class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #052352; font-size: x-small;">75% for Edwards Conditional Class B permittees, </span></li><li class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #052352; font-size: x-small;">100% for Edwards Conditional Class C and Class D permittees, and</span></li><li class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #052352; font-size: x-small;">30% for Trinity and Alluvial/Austin Chalk Historical permittees</span></li></ul><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong style="color: #052352;"><em>Again, the District could declare Critical Drought (Stage III) in the coming weeks. We will share that information on the District's social media channels, website, through our newsletter, and put out a press release when/if Critical Drought (Stage III) declaration happens.</em></strong><strong><em></em></strong></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #052352;">Now is the time to brush up and double down on water conservation measures. Check out this great list of </span><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=183950&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.twdb.texas.gov%2Fpublications%2Fbrochures%2Fconservation%2Fdoc%2FWaterConservingTips.pdf&cfid=3934&vh=22a332fb7d0a3e09a31d1b16a3ec9922537c944fb916c40519e2a5dd101c4d9e" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank">water saving tips</a><span style="color: #052352;"> from the Texas Water Development Board.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #052352;">Generally, restricting outdoor water use, including limiting landscape irrigation, pool filling and refilling, and non-essential water use such as water fountains, are easy ways to conserve water. It's also best to only water your lawns once a week during the early morning hours. You can find more conservation tips for both indoor and outdoor conservation </span><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=183950&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fbseacd.org%2Feducation%2Fwater-conservation%2Fconserve%2F&cfid=3934&vh=851d21c3cff1496d7ccfeba9100bd43af26c89eb7ac0023c0945272acc730125" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #052352;">.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #052352;">The District recommends that both exempt and permitted well owners follow these conservation tips. For additional information on groundwater wells, please take a look at the District's </span><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=183950&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fbseacd.org%2Fuploads%2FBSEACD_WellOwnerGuide_2016_web.pdf&cfid=3934&vh=27e03c219040a8988d88daf178192a3f095318acc78800e7b097962c60a0be27" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank">Well Owner Guide</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #052352;">. If you have questions about your well, please contact us at 512-282-8441. We encourage you to call or visit our office (1124 Regal Row, Austin, TX) during office hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to review our groundwater management process, receive information about the drought, or if you need assistance with other groundwater related matters.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #052352;">Also, check out our </span><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=183950&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fbseacd.org%2Fregulatory%2Fdroughtinformation%2F&cfid=3934&vh=41d60e0a26468a08101027150462906c048442e1ac66ffe41f72c38a7297b12a" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank">drought information page</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #052352;">. We will frequently update this page.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #052352; font-size: x-small;">Other useful links:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=183950&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fbseacd.org%2Fdrought-edu%2F&cfid=3934&vh=565c9be6bde30238c0c33c11a4fba38edfcbcd545ebb7733bf30331f7f86ce50" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Drought Media Toolkit</span></a></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=183950&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fbseacd.org%2Fpublications%2Fpress-releases%2F&cfid=3934&vh=2238d086cbdbc7be9e64eb9d7fe035736092c3a0867e3fda53b8202a9482d9ea" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Press Release Archive</span></a></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=183950&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fbseacd.org%2Faquifer-science%2Fdrought-status%2F&cfid=3934&vh=9fb7d81f467155ff79b6531f9b5174ee9fcd706f0cde9493dd29883f4cbc979b" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Drought Status Page</span></a></li><li style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=183950&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fbseacd.org%2Fregulatory%2Fdrought-management%2F&cfid=3934&vh=cdd4bd81c4836bd4be2b4c4d8dc05001e50989a4d955451ca0c9417407164d31" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Drought Management Page</span></a></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-61178174778629839472022-06-09T19:45:00.000-05:002022-06-09T19:45:16.810-05:00Aquifer District Declares Stage II Alarm Drought<p> </p><div align="center">
<header class="entry-header" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"><h1 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #0b172d; font-size: 40px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Aquifer District Declares Stage II Alarm Drought</h1></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </em></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">For Immediate Release: June 9, 2022<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">For more information, contact: David Marino, Communications & Outreach Manager at (512) 282-8441 or </span><a href="mailto:dmarino@bseacd.org" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">dmarino@bseacd.org</span></a></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">On June 9, 2022, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District’s Board of Directors declared Stage II Alarm Drought at its regular Board Meeting. The District’s drought triggers, Lovelady Monitor Well and Barton Springs, passed below their drought triggers in late May and early June respectively. Only one of the two drought stage triggers needs to be reached for a drought declaration to be made. However, to exit a drought stage, both Barton Springs and Lovelady must rise above their respective drought trigger values. This latter requirement keeps the District from making multiple declarations about drought over short periods of time.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">The last groundwater drought declaration commenced on October 9, 2020, and ended on July 8, 2021. While the weather is getting warmer, strengthening La Niña (dry) conditions indicates it may be getting drier. So far, we have received below average rainfall every month this year except for February and above average heat. May 2022 was the warmest May on record for Austin. The average temperature in May was 82.3 degrees. That number was calculated by combining the high and low for each day.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Declaration of Stage II Alarm Drought requires all District permittees to implement mandatory measures specified in their User Drought Contingency Plans (UDCPs) to meet monthly pumpage reduction requirements.</p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">20% for Edwards Historical and Conditional Class A permittees,</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">50% for Edwards Conditional Class B permittees,</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">100% for Edwards Conditional Class C and Class D permittees, and</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">20% for Trinity and Alluvial/Austin Chalk Historical permittees</li></ul><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">End-user customers served by water utilities on groundwater wells are required to comply with their utility’s water use restrictions for this drought stage. Generally, restricting outdoor water use, including limiting landscape irrigation, pool filling and refilling, and non-essential water use such as water fountains, is sufficient to reach monthly pumpage targets for Stage II Alarm Drought. July is the first month that permittees will need to meet reductions in pumpage. Permittees should refer to the monthly drought allocations listed in their User Drought Conservation Plan (UDCP) and Drought Target Charts.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">The District encourages continued conservation, with July and August often being the hottest and driest times of the year. In the summer months, outdoor water use is significantly higher and can account for 60% or more of home water use. Planting native or drought-tolerant landscapes, mulching, and using compost can substantially reduce the amount of irrigation water required to keep plants healthy.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Making sure your irrigation system is functioning at peak efficiency and replacing leaking gaskets and hoses can help conserve water. Installing a rain barrel or rainwater harvesting system can make an even bigger impact in reducing overall water use.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Useful links:</span></p><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 0px; overflow: hidden;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Drought Media Tool-Kit: <a href="https://bseacd.org/drought-edu/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">https://bseacd.org/drought-edu/</a></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Press Release archive: <a href="http://bseacd.org/publications/press-releases/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">http://bseacd.org/publications/press-releases/</a></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Drought Status page: <a href="http://bseacd.org/aquifer-science/drought-status/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">http://bseacd.org/aquifer-science/drought-status/</a></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">Drought Management page: <a href="http://bseacd.org/regulatory/drought-management/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">http://bseacd.org/regulatory/drought-management/</a></li></ul></div>
</div>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-12070848874390024712021-12-07T15:30:00.000-06:002021-12-07T15:30:14.994-06:002021 Drought and Aquifer Status In Review<p>The year 2021 began with a status of Stage II Drought as below-average rainfall during the summer of 2020 wasn’t enough to keep levels from declining towards Stage II Drought thresholds. By early October 2020, Barton Springs and Lovelady crossed under their Stage II Drought thresholds and the BSEACD Board declared an Alarm Stage II Drought on October 8. Levels declined throughout the fall and winter as La Niña conditions - beginning in July 2020 - brought warmer and drier climate to the Hill Country leading into 2021. </p><p> Rainfall in 2021 began with a combined 3.5 inches of rain from January to March (3 inches below historical average), perpetuating the downward spring flow and water level trend. While some relief came with over 3 inches of rainfall in April, little recharge was seen as the dry soils soaked most of it up. The increased soil moisture from April rain set the stage for 8 inches of rain in May to generate enough recharge to reverse the downward spring flow and water level trends. The Climate Prediction Center (CPC) officially declared the end of La Niña in May 2021, beginning an ENSO-neutral (neither La Niña or El Niño) period that allowed for above average mid-spring and summer rainfall totals of 20.4 inches. Barton Springs and Lovelady water levels began to rise on May 1st for the first time since July 2020. </p><p> A combined 15 inches of spring rain fell March - June 2021, providing enough recharge to overcome the dry La Niña winter and reverse the falling spring flow and aquifer trend. With both Barton Springs and Lovelady water levels rising above their respective Alarm Stage II Drought thresholds, the BSEACD Board declared “No Drought conditions'' on July 8, 2021. An additional 7 inches fell in July and August. On August 25, Lovelady water levels began to decline, looking as if the No Drought period would be short-lived. The CPC officially declared the return of La Niña on October 14, 2021, which, oddly coincided with up to 6 inches of rainfall in the Hill Country the day before. This brought considerable recharge as stream gauges on all area creeks showed rises. Spring flow and water levels showed a rising response. </p><p> To summarize, the Austin/Hill Country area has received an average 36.4 inches of rainfall so far in 2021 (through December 7th), about 1 inch above the annual average, which means we will finish 2021with an above-average year. This may be due to the 6-month ENSO-Neutral period from March to October 14, 2021. While this might have allowed us to pass the 35.5 annual average, La Niña has officially developed again and is expected to continue into 2022. This could bring drier and milder-than-normal conditions across Central Texas, which will likely result in further declines as 2022 gets underway. Hopefully, spring of 2022 will bring its usual upward swing of recharge to keep the aquifers well-supplied.</p><div><br /></div>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-75929626916921394542021-10-26T11:11:00.004-05:002021-10-26T11:11:55.886-05:00Drought and Aquifer Status Update - Oct. 22, 2021<p> <span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The 2021 Central Texas summer has been noticeably mild, with temperatures in the Hill Country cooled by rainy and overcast days.</span><a href="https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2021-09-01/austin-weather-this-summer-was-remarkable-but-maybe-not-in-the-way-you-think" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"> This summer, Camp Mabry in Austin counted 31 days with measurable rain. That makes it the third rainiest summer when it comes to days of rainfall in the 123 years of record keeping.</a><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Between early June and Late September we received a rainfall total of 10.5 inches with July and August reporting above-average numbers.</span></p><p style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">While the above-average rainfall over the summer provided enough to keep vegetation on the surface nice and green, it wasn’t enough to generate substantial aquifer recharge to keep Edwards water levels at the Lovelady monitoring well from falling. Upper Trinity levels saw a substantial rise due to a combined 11 inches in April and May and have maintained elevated levels since. Middle Trinity levels have been declining since late June.</p><p style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Aquifer levels in the Edwards and Middle Trinity continued to decline through a particularly dry September until heavy rain fell on September 9th. The heaviest amounts were seen in central Hays County, recording between 1 to 6 inches (<a href="https://texmesonet.org/" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">texmesonet.org</a>). The Austin area saw between 0.5 to 4 inches. Even this amount of rain didn’t generate much recharge because the very dry surface soils soaked up most of it. With increased soil moisture due to that rainfall, the stage was set for the next rain event to produce more runoff to recharge.</p><p style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">That rain came on October 13th as an average of 4.2 inches spread across the Hill Country. Some areas received up to 6 inches. This brought considerable recharge as stream gauges on all area creeks showed rises. This includes the <a href="https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=08171000" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Blanco River at Wimberley</a>, where flow peaked at 11,400 cubic feet per second (cfs), <a href="https://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?08170990" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Jacobs Well Spring</a> & Cypress creek peaked at 361 cfs, <a href="https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=08158700" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Onion creek near Driftwood</a> saw peak flow of 2,400 cfs and <a href="https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=08155400" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Barton Creek above Barton Springs</a> reached 950 cfs just to name a few. Water levels as of October 19th in Edwards, Upper Trinity and Middle Trinity aquifers have seen a positive response to the rains (Figure 1). As of October 19th <a href="https://hydromet.lcra.org/riverreport" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f9ba9; outline: none 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Lake Buchanan</a> is 89% full and Lake Travis is 73% full.</p><figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_10090" style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.4em auto 1.2em; width: 470px;"><img alt="" class=" wp-image-10090" height="304" sizes="(max-width: 470px) 85vw, 470px" src="https://bseacd.org/uploads/Edwards-and-Trinity-Conditions-300x194.jpg" srcset="https://bseacd.org/uploads/Edwards-and-Trinity-Conditions-300x194.jpg 300w, https://bseacd.org/uploads/Edwards-and-Trinity-Conditions-1024x663.jpg 1024w, https://bseacd.org/uploads/Edwards-and-Trinity-Conditions-24x16.jpg 24w, https://bseacd.org/uploads/Edwards-and-Trinity-Conditions-36x23.jpg 36w, https://bseacd.org/uploads/Edwards-and-Trinity-Conditions-48x31.jpg 48w, https://bseacd.org/uploads/Edwards-and-Trinity-Conditions.jpg 1258w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 97.5%; vertical-align: middle;" width="470" /><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Figure 1<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Gray boxes show wet periods. Water-level data from three monitor wells.</figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">So far in 2021 we have received a total of 33 inches of rain, just 2.5 inches below the annual average, which means we could finish 2021 with an above-average year. This may be due to a 6 month ENSO-neutral (neither La Nina or El Nino) period from March to October 14th. This neutral period has allowed for sufficient rainfall to bring us close to the 35.5 annual average.</p><p style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">According to the latest advisory from the Climate Prediction Center, La Nina officially developed on October 14th and is expected to continue into 2022. Remember that La Nina typically brings a warmer and drier climate to Central Texas. For more on La Nina visit here.</p><p style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">It was 10 years ago, in 2011, that climate experts blamed one of the worst droughts since the 7-year drought of the 1950s on the La Nina phenomenon. 2011 was the driest year ever for Texas with only 14.8 inches of rain.</p><p style="background-color: whitesmoke; box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Hopefully we can expect more rainfall before the end of the year even with the recently developed La Nina. As drought conditions always loom in Central Texas, it’s important that we continue our community effort to conserve water.</p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-81333564482497427292021-09-08T08:48:00.001-05:002021-09-08T08:48:36.454-05:00Potential La Nina Return for the 2021/22 Winter Season.<p> The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast a ~70% probability that La Nina will reemerge by early winter of 2021/21, which would be the second winter in a row. La Nina conditions in the southwestern US typically bring warmer temperatures and below-average rainfall. This feels discouraging as Central Texas groundwater levels have began to drop in late August.</p><p>The bright side is La Nina conditions in the the western US typically brings increased rainfall. This possible return of La Nina would be a welcomed change for our friends in the western US, who have endured terrible drought and the accompanying extreme heat and devastating wildfires.</p><p><br /></p><p>Read more from NOAA's ENSO Blog <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/enso/august-2021-enso-update-rockin%E2%80%99-out-neutral" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-53270659807354089632021-07-13T14:34:00.004-05:002021-07-13T14:35:06.919-05:00Central Texas in OK shape drought-wise, but what will happen when La Niña returns in fall? (Roberto Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman) <p><span style="background-color: white; color: #303030; font-family: "Georgia Pro", Georgia, "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px;">We're waist deep into July in Central Texas, and we're drought-free?</span></p><p><a href="https://www.statesman.com/story/weather/2021/07/12/central-texas-ok-drought-wise-but-what-happens-when-la-nina-returns/7915364002/">https://www.statesman.com/story/weather/2021/07/12/central-texas-ok-drought-wise-but-what-happens-when-la-nina-returns/7915364002/</a></p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-32390953955299171682021-07-08T19:28:00.001-05:002021-07-08T19:28:54.514-05:00Spring and Summer 2021 Aquifer Conditions and Drought Status<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since the beginning of 2021, the Hill Country - Edwards and
Trinity Aquifer region has received a little over 18 inches of rainfall,
providing some relief to the Stage II Alarm Drought (declared on October 8,
2020). Consistent small rain events in March and April raised </span><a href="https://www.drought.gov/topics/soil-moisture"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">soil-moisture
content</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (amount of water present in the soil), priming
the area for runoff conditions. Ten inches received in May and June - usually
the two wettest months of the year - produced above-average rainfall,
generating plenty of runoff to area creeks and much needed aquifer recharge. On
May 1<sup>st</sup> 2021 Lovelady, the District’s drought index well, began to
rise for the first time since July 2020.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUa0aHndRq1CjpO5GNVWhMkWjlDDevWacpEmowK2QCOOAqE-CJKy5AHO2bn6m5O4Hp7fxt3Qz-nQvZ3EC-oJL0CNXqHXaqUzJq7JsYoYxGXB55eJXegIfIYXFA-OqDKze0-dxn7Sn2Eg8/s2048/A_Grapher_June2021Enews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="2048" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUa0aHndRq1CjpO5GNVWhMkWjlDDevWacpEmowK2QCOOAqE-CJKy5AHO2bn6m5O4Hp7fxt3Qz-nQvZ3EC-oJL0CNXqHXaqUzJq7JsYoYxGXB55eJXegIfIYXFA-OqDKze0-dxn7Sn2Eg8/w400-h359/A_Grapher_June2021Enews.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Figure 1.</i></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In response to the May-June rainfall, aquifer level at the
Lovelady monitor well and springflow at Barton Springs have both risen above Alarm
Stage II drought triggers (<i>Figure 1</i>). </span><a href="https://waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/travis"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lake Travis water levels</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> have
also seen an increase of about 7 feet since January 2021. The BSEACD weather
station has reported 2.7 inches in June and 1.3 inches so far in July, about 0.7
inches below the month’s historical average, but rain chances persist in July. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Happily, the majority of Texas is out of </span><a href="http://www.icontact-archive.com/archive?c=1598996&f=3934&s=13568&m=160932&t=611ace55e744a6bc5da19f6ffc1ecb28b85cc49017f6a14ec2de47cb4e511f4e"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">meteorological drought status</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,
with only a few areas in West Texas demonstrating “abnormally dry” to “severe
drought” conditions (<i>Figure 2</i>). For updated information on the drought status
throughout Texas, refer to the </span><a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?TX"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">United States Drought Monitor</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNRR5npIij5mV4i5jS_SFIkDhZKCvSexAv7xcXCiA_HOLrkkjdvo4AED6ub3cCxL5e5lQf0RShbLuQS1QuLjGNgUYN4TG689D0ZVZDvgyX1KLkl8Qwl9tebCSV6BxE_1tAADGI8gvi-E/s1056/20210706_tx_text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1056" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNRR5npIij5mV4i5jS_SFIkDhZKCvSexAv7xcXCiA_HOLrkkjdvo4AED6ub3cCxL5e5lQf0RShbLuQS1QuLjGNgUYN4TG689D0ZVZDvgyX1KLkl8Qwl9tebCSV6BxE_1tAADGI8gvi-E/w400-h309/20210706_tx_text.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Figure 2</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With both Barton Springs and the Lovelady water level currently
above their respective Alarm Stage 2 drought triggers the BSEACD Board declared
“No Drought” conditions at the </span><a href="https://bseacd.org/transparency/agendas-backup/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">July
8, 2021 board meeting</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. For the District to
declare drought conditions, either Lovelady water levels or Barton Springs flow
need to be below their respective drought thresholds. However, to exit a
drought stage, both spring flow and water level must rise above their respective
drought trigger values. This latter requirement keeps the District from making
multiple declarations about drought over short periods of time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The spring and early summer rains have helped lift us out of
drought. However, July and August are historically very hot and dry months, and
without additional rainfall this wet trend may reverse resulting in drops in
springflow and aquifer levels. <i>Figure 3</i> shows 2020 Lovelady water level trends
juxtaposed to 2021 trends. The green line indicates 2020 water levels
significantly increasing due to March-May rainfall, then declining back into
drought within 77 days of the dry summer season. 2021 currently demonstrates
the same pattern, with a much more dramatic increase during the rainy months.
With the clear correlations moving through the spring, we might predict a
similar decline through summer 2021 without additional rain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgbA-Rbu80-BROPTyTUcAVKUJgbBe6Vq_Pm3sfpE6-zV5mWRRetD8gLR5pM4IkkHb2AAChO9Jv-h4WNtXO3Yt3YQO-RHB5MmMZEfPN2tTF1IhKBMUtPwv1iPVKkmUGz_L483zbHI18MU/s2048/Grapher_DroughtCompare210708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="2048" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgbA-Rbu80-BROPTyTUcAVKUJgbBe6Vq_Pm3sfpE6-zV5mWRRetD8gLR5pM4IkkHb2AAChO9Jv-h4WNtXO3Yt3YQO-RHB5MmMZEfPN2tTF1IhKBMUtPwv1iPVKkmUGz_L483zbHI18MU/w400-h259/Grapher_DroughtCompare210708.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Figure 3</span></i></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to an unknown state meteorologist from Texas in 1927,
“Texas is a land of perennial drought broken by the occasional devastating flood.
“We see this statement ring true as 2021 rolls into summer. For now, we exit
drought status. Drought will always be a concern for our beloved home state, so
let’s maintain our dedication to conserving our most precious natural
resource. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-12748199917423727922021-04-05T15:21:00.001-05:002021-04-05T15:26:44.133-05:00World Geologist Recognition Day!<p> <b style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Stage II Alarm Drought</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Lovelady Well Height: <b>465 ft-msl</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Barton Springs: <b>approximately 33 cfs 10-day average</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Geologists Day is celebrated annually on the
first Sunday of April throughout the world. It was established by a group of
well-known Soviet geologists in April 1966. A geologist is a scientist who
studies the Earth’s physical structure and substances, the history of rocks,
the processes that act on them, as well as the organisms that inhabit the
earth. They work to understand the history of the planet we live on, to better
predict the future and explain current occurrences. Geologists are involved in
the discovery of resources that are used in all aspects of our daily lives.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1c1e21; font-family: inherit; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There are many types of geologists, including
hydrogeologists. Hydrogeology deals with how water gets into the ground
(recharge), how it flows in the subsurface (through aquifers) and how
groundwater interacts with the surrounding soil and rock (the geology). The
District wants to recognize Brian Smith, Principal Hydrogeologist, Justin Camp,
Hydrogeologist Technician, and Jeff Watson, Staff Hydrogeologist for their
contributions and hard work in the world of hydrogeology.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> Happy Geologists Day!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<u5:p></u5:p>
<u5:p></u5:p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqeQGGPkNMw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqeQGGPkNMw</a><u5:p></u5:p><o:p></o:p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><br /></b></p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-57749262280755047062021-02-12T12:42:00.001-06:002021-02-12T12:45:22.423-06:00Jacobs Well Monitoring<p> </p><p><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> As La Nina conditions
persist - bringing warmer and drier climate to Central Texas - so do drought
conditions in the Edwards and Trinity aquifers. This includes the Trinity fed
Jacobs Well Spring (JWS) in Wimberley. Flow reported at the </span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1045591566360456187/7756408641693377958"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: 13.5pt;">JWS gauge</span></a><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"> nears 0.0 cubic feet per second (cfs). JWS serves as a
drought stage indicator for the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
(HTGCD) within the</span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1045591566360456187/7756408641693377958"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: 13.5pt;">Jacobs Well Groundwater Management Zone</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">For HTGCD to protect groundwater
supplies and JWS flow they have been busy coordinating with the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS) and the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) to ensure that the data
reporting at the JWS gauge are as accurate as possible. For more info on Jacobs
Well monitoring visit <span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="https://wimberleywatershed.org/impactareas/watershedprotection/water-monitoring/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b45f06;">here</span></a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-19806403146480767982020-12-09T19:36:00.001-06:002020-12-09T19:36:33.245-06:002020 Aquifer Status In Review<p><b style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Stage II Alram Drought</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Lovelady Well Height: <b>469 ft-msl</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Barton Springs: <b>approximately 30 cfs 10-day average</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Year
2020 began with a status of No Drought due to a very wet 2018, but below-average
rainfall in 2019 caused water levels and spring flow to enter a downward trend
beginning in late July. The declining trend continued with below-average
rainfall up to 2020. The new year started out very wet with a combined 11
inches of rain from January to April (3 inches above historical average)
reversing the downward trend and avoiding crossing drought thresholds in
mid-March. A total of 35 inches of rain as of mid-December 2020 has provided
much needed recharge to the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers, but not enough to reverse
the downward trend. On October 8, 2020, the Board declared Stage II Alarm Drought.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 11pt;">To
look back in more detail, a combined 14 inches of spring rain fell in May and
June 2020 providing even more recharge to that provided in January through
April. Barton Springs flow quickly responded to these rains, propelling spring
flow further away from drought triggers. The below-average rainfall in the fall
of 2019 and additional spring 2020 rains maintained an average daily spring
flow of 58 cfs throughout 2020.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
wet spring only temporarily held off drought as summer came with a drying trend
that brought water levels and spring flow back into decline beginning in early
July. September provided 7 more inches of rain but did little to reverse the downward
trend. This decrease has continued through a dry fall season and on October 8,
2020, the Board declared Stage II Alarm Drought. The last groundwater drought
declaration commenced on July 12, 2018 and ended on October 11, 2018. This dry period
is projected through the winter and into spring 2021, as we enter a La Nina
year bringing drier and warmer conditions to the southern United States.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">To
summarize, the Austin/Hill Country area has received an average 36 inches of
rainfall so far in 2020, producing recharge for local aquifers. However, below-average
rainfall in 2019 and a relatively dry summer and fall 2020 hasn’t provided
enough recharge to stay above Stage II Alarm Drought. Official forecasts point toward
the La Nina effect bringing drier and milder-than-normal conditions across
Central Texas, which will likely result in further declines as 2021 gets underway.
Hopefully, spring of 2021 will bring its usual upward swing of recharge to keep
the aquifers well-supplied.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-44808393800898464842020-10-13T11:34:00.002-05:002020-10-13T15:08:58.182-05:00La Nina in the Tropical Pacific and its Implications on Central Texas<p><br /></p><p><b>Stage II Alram Drought</b></p><p>Lovelady Well Height: <b>476 ft-msl</b></p><p>Barton Springs: <b>approximately 38 cfs 10-day average</b></p><p> In September 2020 the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association (NOAA) issued a La Nina advisory suggesting that there's a 75% chance it hangs around through the winter. Come this October an increased 85% chance it lasts through winter and into spring 2021.</p><p>So what is La Nina? What does it mean for weather and rain in Central Texas?</p><p>La Nina is the <a href="https://schoolworkhelper.net/la-nina-el-nino-summary/" target="_blank">opposite of El Nino</a>, a cooling of the equatorial east-central Pacific Ocean. The strength of the 2020 La Nina (weak, moderate or strong) will determine what impacts it may have on the weather this winter to next spring 2021. Typically, the southern tier of the U.S. sees drier than average conditions and temperatures that are above average, while much of the Pacific Northwest and the Ohio Valley are wetter than normal and see below average temperatures. (<a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/enso/october-2020-la-ni%C3%B1a-update" target="_blank">Weather Channel</a>)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLxduDEdVPktqVLEnAMyaESQm4rYcrSWzvvNzBNN4-acfD56z0pLX9Rl_WhaAr2q4ah1sPW1yYL2IhIC7PZnHxqLozzKQvj2pmYQ2zDQVtIzLwOxLGdKMhI6Jm3tvyAW0DOm7W_gv-iY/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1255" data-original-width="2048" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLxduDEdVPktqVLEnAMyaESQm4rYcrSWzvvNzBNN4-acfD56z0pLX9Rl_WhaAr2q4ah1sPW1yYL2IhIC7PZnHxqLozzKQvj2pmYQ2zDQVtIzLwOxLGdKMhI6Jm3tvyAW0DOm7W_gv-iY/w400-h245/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>As of October 8th the Edwards and Trinity aquifers are in <a href="https://bseacd.org/2020/10/aquifer-district-declares-stage-ii-alarm-drought-2/" target="_blank">Alarm Stage II Drough</a>t. Due to a lack of rain and recharge in 2020 and the ensuing La Nina leading into 2021 it is paramount that we practice proper conservation techniques. For more info on the La Nina outlook visit: <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/department/enso-blog">https://www.climate.gov/news-features/department/enso-blog</a></p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-11640800611234514522020-10-12T11:36:00.000-05:002020-10-12T11:36:24.331-05:00BSEACD Board Declares Stage II Alarm Drought on 10/8/20<p>Stage II Alarm Drought</p><p>Lovelady Well Height: <b>476 ft-msl</b></p><p>Barton Springs: <b>approximately 38 cfs 10-day avg</b></p><p><br /></p><p>For Immediate Release: Friday, October 9, 2020</p><p>For more information, contact: Vanessa Escobar, General Manager at (512) 282-8441 or </p><p>vescobar@bseacd.org</p><p><br /></p><p>On October 8, 2020, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District’s Board of </p><p>Directors declared Stage II Alarm Drought at its regular Board Meeting. The District Lovelady </p><p>Monitor Well passed below it’s respective drought trigger in late September. Only one of the two </p><p>drought stage triggers needs to be reached for a drought declaration to be made. The </p><p>District acknowledges that indoor use may be heightened in some cases due to COVID-19 </p><p>responses, however it is still a shared duty to reduce all non-essential water use during drought.</p><p><br /></p><p>The last groundwater drought declaration commenced on July 12, 2018 and ended on October 11, 2018. </p><p>Recharge in late 2018 and early 2019 associated with above-average rainfall helped maintain water </p><p>levels in area aquifers until recently. Since July of 2019, both flow at Barton Springs and the </p><p>water level at the Lovelady monitor well have been declining. As of early April 2020, both have </p><p>been hovering near trigger levels. Recent rainfall has not generated enough runoff to sustain creek </p><p>flow in the creeks and rivers that recharge the aquifers.</p><p><br /></p><p>Declaration of Stage II Alarm Drought requires all District permittees to implement mandatory </p><p>measures specified in their User Drought Contingency Plans (UDCPs) to meet monthly pumpage </p><p>reduction requirements.</p><p>• 20% for Edwards Historical and Conditional Class A permittees,</p><p>• 50% for Edwards Conditional Class B permittees,</p><p>• 100% for Edwards Conditional Class C and Class D permittees, and</p><p>• 20% for Trinity and Alluvial/Austin Chalk Historical permittees</p><p>End-user customers served by water utilities on groundwater wells are required to comply with their </p><p>utility’s water use restrictions for this drought stage. Generally, restricting outdoor water use, </p><p>including limiting landscape irrigation, pool filling and refilling, and non-essential water use </p><p>such as water fountains, is sufficient to reach monthly pumpage targets for Stage II Alarm Drought. </p><p>November is the first month that permittees will need to meet reductions in pumpage. Permittees </p><p>should refer to the monthly drought allocations listed in their User Drought Conservation Plan </p><p>(UDCP) and Drought Target Charts.</p><p><br /></p><p>Useful links:</p><p>• Drought Media Tool-Kit: https://bseacd.org/drought-edu/</p><p>• Press Release archive: http://bseacd.org/publications/press-releases/</p><p>• Drought Status page: http://bseacd.org/aquifer-science/drought-status/</p><p>• Drought Management page: http://bseacd.org/regulatory/drought-management/</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-44986592914577566002020-09-21T11:28:00.000-05:002020-09-21T11:28:07.544-05:00Texas Needs to Prepare for a 'Megadrought,' State Climatologist Warns<p> No Drought</p><p>Lovelady Well Height: <b>478.5 ft-msl</b></p><p>Barton Springs: approximately <b>48 cfs 10-day avg</b></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125em; letter-spacing: 0.08px; line-height: 1.75em; margin: 0px 0px 1.5625rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; word-spacing: 0.4px;">Texas is no stranger to droughts. From the bone-dry stretch of the 1950s, the state’s longest drought, to the fiery months of 2011, the state’s single driest year, droughts have shaped Texas' culture and economy.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3d3d; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.125em; letter-spacing: 0.08px; line-height: 1.75em; margin: 0px 0px 1.5625rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; word-spacing: 0.4px;">But, according to the state climatologist of Texas, John Nielson-Gammon, we ain’t seen nothing yet.</p><p>Read full KUT 90.5 article here:</p><p><a href="https://www.kut.org/post/texas-needs-prepare-megadrought-state-climatologist-warns">https://www.kut.org/post/texas-needs-prepare-megadrought-state-climatologist-warns</a></p><p><br /></p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-59603995175716571972020-08-25T10:41:00.000-05:002020-08-25T10:41:33.058-05:00CITY OF BUDA DECLARES STAGE 1 WATER RESTRICTIONS Effective Monday, August 24, 2020<p><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; color: #555555; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aug. 20, 2020</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; color: #555555; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.4px; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> - </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.4px;">Effective Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, Stage 1 Water Restrictions will go into effect for City of Buda water customers in accordance with the City’s adopted Water Resource Management and Drought Response Ordinance. This is due to the lack of consistent precipitation, and higher than normal demands on our water production system. Under Stage 1, twice per week mandatory watering restrictions are now in place. Violation of the ordinance could result in a fine of up to $2,000 per offense and a surcharge on the customer’s utility bill. For more on Stage 1 restrictions and water conservation tips visit: </span><a href="https://www.ci.buda.tx.us/232/Water-Conservation" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: content-box; color: #00274d; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">https://www.ci.buda.tx.us/232/Water-Conservation</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Official City of Buda website post: <a href="https://www.ci.buda.tx.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1153">https://www.ci.buda.tx.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1153</a></p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-69372768731185080412020-08-10T15:41:00.005-05:002020-08-10T15:41:51.915-05:00Hays Trinity GCD Declares Drought for Jacob's Well Groundwater Management Zone<p>Flow at Jacob's Well has dropped below the drought threshold triggering a drought declaration by the Hyas Trinity Groundwater Conservation District at the August 6 Board Meeting. With the <a href="http://wimberleywatershed.org/2020/08/07/jwgmz_drought/" target="_blank">Jacob's Well Groundwater Management Zone (GMZ)</a> drought declaration, permittees operating wells within the GMZ are required to reduce pumpage by 20% to extend diminished groundwater supplies. - Wimberley Valley Watershed Association.</p><p>Read more <a href="http://wimberleywatershed.org/2020/08/07/jwgmz_drought/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Drought Stage" src="http://haysgroundwater.com/images/DroughtStageGraphicCriticalJW2.png" /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b>Note:</b> The Jacob's Well GMZ is in the Hays Trinity GCD boundary and not in the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservations District boundary.</p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-75583880698043521832020-08-10T15:14:00.000-05:002020-08-10T15:14:59.984-05:00When It Rains, Texans Forget Drought and Worsening Water Scarcity<p><a href="https://www.circleofblue.org/2020/world/when-it-rains-texas-forgets-drought-and-worsening-water-scarcity/" target="_blank"> Article by Keith Schneider, Circle of Blue</a></p><p>August 3, 2020</p><p>After the Pandemic, soaring population growth, development will again challenge planning and water Supply in the Texas Hill Country.</p>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-66944863833476149862020-08-03T12:01:00.001-05:002020-08-03T12:01:39.918-05:00Tropical Storm Hanna, a Record-Breaking Tropical Storm Season and a Coin-Flip La Nina for the Fall<b><font size="5">Summary:</font></b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The amount of the state under drought conditions increased from about 25 percent four weeks ago to about 36 percent</li><li>Despite drought conditions, statewide reservoir storage is normal for this time of year</li><li>Tropical Storm Hanna should improve drought conditions in Central and South-Central Texas</li></ul><div>Read full article <a href="https://texaspluswater.wp.txstate.edu/2020/07/29/outlookwater-tropical-storm-hanna-a-record-breaking-tropical-storm-season-and-a-coin-flip-la-nina-for-the-fall/" target="_blank">here</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-22965727330351928462020-08-03T11:52:00.002-05:002020-08-03T11:52:47.669-05:00Aquifer Monitoring Tools<div class="separator"><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b>No Drought</b></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Lovelady well height: <b>487 ft-msl</b></div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">Barton Springs: approximately <b>61 cfs</b> 10-day avg</div><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="color: #353540; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span></p><p style="color: #353540; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: #ffa200; font-size: 18px;"><u><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=156823&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fbseacd.org%2Faquifer-science%2Faquifer-data%2F&cfid=3934&vh=c61d3b6269c4a42cab85a8ffdeaff57045c7de72032ac99130361dc74ff93484" style="color: #ffa200;" target="_blank">MONITORING TOOLS</a></u></strong></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;"><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><font size="2">Aquifer conditions are dynamic, with water levels often fluctuating </font></span></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><font size="2">due to drought, recharge, and pumping. The use of monitor wells </font></span></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><font size="2">with specialized equipment helps track these changes in order to </font></span></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><font size="2">i</font></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small;">nform policy that protects water supplies and spring flow for all users. </span></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small;">After all, groundwater is a shared resource.</span></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2"><br /></font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">We’re often asked the question: </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2"><strong><em>“How are aquifer conditions determined?” </em></strong><em>o</em>r </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2"><strong><em>“How are aquifers monitored?” </em></strong></font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">The short answer: "<strong><em>Monitor wells!"</em></strong> </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">You can view the District (and other agency) </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">monitor wells and aquifer data <a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=156823&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fbseacd.org%2Faquifer-science%2Faquifer-data%2F&cfid=3934&vh=c61d3b6269c4a42cab85a8ffdeaff57045c7de72032ac99130361dc74ff93484" style="color: #69bbff;" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2"><br /></font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">BSEACD staff employ several types of equipment to collect </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">continuous, accurate measurements and observe aquifer </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">trends at a number of area monitor wells and for various </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">aquifers. Equipment and techniques vary from manual </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">periodic measurements with an electric tape, to automated </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">sensors that record and store measurements over time.</font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2"><br /></font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">Many well owners have seen BSEACD staff visit their wells </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">to take a manual water-level reading using an e-line. </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">A manual measurement is a reliable and accurate method </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">to measure water levels in a well and is often used to verify </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">automated sensor accuracy. However, a manual measurement </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">only represents a snapshot of a well's water level for a given </font></p><p class="paragraph-spacing-none" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><font size="2">date and hydrlogic condition and is time-consuming.</font></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"><font size="2"><img height="206" src="http://bseacd.org/uploads/WellHeadMeasure2.png" style="background-color: transparent; color: #353540;" width="248" /></font><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" dir="rtl" style="margin: 0px auto; text-align: left; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none; width: 568px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="fusionResponsiveContent" style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px auto; table-layout: fixed; text-align: center; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; padding: 0px;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="fusionResponsiveContent" style="table-layout: fixed; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><th class="fusionResponsiveColumn" dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; width: 284px;" valign="center"><div style="overflow: hidden;"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 284px;"><tbody></tbody></table></div></th></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 5px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">While all monitor wells have manual measurements, wells </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">that are only manually measured periodically are called ‘periodic’ </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">monitor wells, meaning staff will make a visit one to two </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">times a year to get a snapshot measurement.</font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2"><br /></font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><img height="258" src="http://bseacd.org/uploads/MonitorEquipment.png" style="background-color: transparent; text-align: left;" width="309" /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The most common technique the BSEACD uses to collect </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">continuous water levels is equipping monitor wells with a </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">pressure transducer probe. The probes measure the </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">water pressure above the instrument as it changes and r</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">ecords the corresponding water level every hour. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Staff stop by these transducer wells quarterly to </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">download the data, or more frequently to aid with scientific studies.</span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 0px auto; text-align: left; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none; width: 568px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="fusionResponsiveContent" style="background-color: transparent; margin: 0px auto; table-layout: fixed; text-align: center; width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; padding: 0px;"></td><th class="fusionResponsiveColumn" style="background-color: transparent; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none transparent; font-weight: normal; padding: 0px; text-align: left; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s; width: 284px;" valign="center"></th></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">While many continuous monitoring sites are active domestic wells, </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">monitoring does not interfere with operation of the well. </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">These monitor wells are often plumbed with a small PVC pipe that </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">keeps the pressure transducer and cable away from the pump wires </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">and the pipe that brings water to the surface.</font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2"><br /></font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">The newest type of monitoring technology being used for water-level</font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">measurements is a </font><a href="https://click.icptrack.com/icp/rclick.php?cid=1598996&mid=156823&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwellntel.com%2F&cfid=3934&vh=2f3707ad4ccebd4ceebfdc6d35885e775a5424db198adc7e7172e22e136a8888" style="background-color: transparent; color: #69bbff; font-size: small; text-align: left;" target="_blank">sonic (sound) sensor</a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small; text-align: left;">. This sonic sensor records</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small; text-align: left;">the depth to water from the top of the well to the water level using</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small; text-align: left;">sound pulses. The data is recorded in real-time and is transmitted via</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small; text-align: left;">WiFi to a cloud-based platform which processes and archives the data.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small; text-align: left;">Data can be retrieved at any time with an internet connection.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small; text-align: left;">Staff have deployed seven sonic sensors on Edwards and Trinity</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small; text-align: left;">wells in the last two years. One major advantage of this system</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small; text-align: left;">is the ability to display water-level readings in real-time through</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small; text-align: left;">the online dashboard (as seen in the hydrograph below) which helps</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: small; text-align: left;">to analyze trends over time.</span></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><br /></font></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2"><img height="262" src="https://bseacd.org/uploads/WellntelHydrograph1.jpg" width="393" /></font></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: left; width: 568px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px none;"><div style="background-color: transparent; border-color: transparent; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; color: #353540; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">An additional benefit is that the sensor can detect when the pump is </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">active and can label the data it collects as under the influence </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">of the pump. Several other groundwater entities are now deploying </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">these units, including Edwards Aquifer Authority, Comal Trinity GCD, </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">and Hays Trinity GCD. This is providing a larger network of real-time </font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2">monitoring.<span class="tab"></span></font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2"><span class="tab"><br /></span></font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2"><span class="tab">Water levels are the most basic information one can collect about</span></font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2"><span class="tab">groundwater resources. Understanding how water levels are changing</span></font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2"><span class="tab">over time in individual wells, and across an aquifer, can tell us a lot</span></font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2"><span class="tab">about drought conditions and the increasing demand on groundwater</span></font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2"><span class="tab">resources. Therefore, collecting accurate, long-term, frequent, real-time</span></font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2"><span class="tab">water-level data is critical to having a science-based approach to </span></font></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><font size="2"><span class="tab">conservation and management of our most precious shared resource.</span></font></p></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div>BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-66920638486598302642020-04-07T09:59:00.001-05:002020-04-23T14:36:40.753-05:00Welcomed Rain Holding Off Drought<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Lovelady well height: </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: trebuchet, "trebuchet ms", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">481 ft-msl</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Barton Springs: approximately 57</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: trebuchet, "trebuchet ms", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> cfs</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet" , "trebuchet ms" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> 10-day average</span><br />
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April 23, 2020</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Since the beginning of 2020, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer region has received a little over 10 inches of rainfall, producing some runoff and recharge to the aquifer. After about 3.5 inches of rain between April 3rd-4th, area streams are flowing (Onion Creek > 40 cfs) as well as Barton Springs ( > 60 cfs). For the moment, we are not in drought.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://bseacd.org/aquifer-science/drought-status/">https://bseacd.org/aquifer-science/drought-status/</a></div>
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It often takes time for groundwater levels to reflect changes in the weather. Drought is defined as “a period of drier-than-normal conditions that result in water-related problems.” However, there are several varieties of drought. Generally, people are most familiar with a meteorological drought—a <i>rainfall deficit </i>effecting the landscape. However, over time, the lack of rain produces agricultural and ultimately hydrological droughts. Droughts that affect the Barton Springs segment of the Aquifer can be best characterized as hydrological, but more specifically a groundwater drought. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Groundwater droughts, by the very nature of the hydrologic cycle, often have a time-lag response to high rainfall, or lack of rainfall, conditions. The District utilizes flow from Barton Springs and water levels in the Lovelady monitor well to indicate overall storage and drought status of the aquifer. Barton Springs is the primary natural discharge point and is a good measure of the overall health of the aquifer system. However, like a stream, Barton Springs can be highly sensitive to relatively minor and localized rainfall events. We’re seeing this right now with Barton Springs responding to recent rains and flow well above its drought trigger. Conversely, the Lovelady well has a muted response to minor rainfall, but is a good measure of overall storage in the aquifer. Water levels have responded to the recent rains, but continue a downward trend towards Alarm Stage Drought II.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For the District to declare drought conditions, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">either</b> spring flow <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">or</b> the Lovelady water levels need to be below their respective drought thresholds. However, to exit a drought stage, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">both</b> spring flow and water level must rise above their respective drought trigger values. This latter requirement keeps the District from making multiple declarations about drought over short periods of time. A good example occurred in 2014 when the District officially remained in Alarm Drought Stage II from July 2014 through January 2015 (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Figure 1</b>). However, during that period Barton Springs temporarily responded to two large rain events that did not result in significant increases in recharge and storage to the aquifer as indicated by water levels in the Lovelady well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Without more rain, groundwater levels could dip beneath the Drought threshold as soon as mid-May to June. The good news is we are entering the wettest months of the year in Central Texas.<o:p></o:p></div>
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More information on District’s drought trigger methodologies:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://bseacd.org/uploads/Smith-et-al_-2013-BSEACD-Drought-Trigger-Method1.pdf">https://bseacd.org/uploads/Smith-et-al_-2013-BSEACD-Drought-Trigger-Method1.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://bseacd.org/uploads/BSEACD_Tech-Note-2018-0829_DTM-MiddleTrinity.pdf">https://bseacd.org/uploads/BSEACD_Tech-Note-2018-0829_DTM-MiddleTrinity.pdf</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14amXKApJFfamI-UyuFlRAJSw-6DjN14kR3OuLpcsLR_UBiaVzLtfBvHfkjcu87p0qjS2__UtPaVJYu1PL0rVd7IQyVzeeAyftVm7W6X98XOLwkSbo6XvCdRExBvsWFUNd4oUs965l3I/s1600/2014+Alarm+stage.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14amXKApJFfamI-UyuFlRAJSw-6DjN14kR3OuLpcsLR_UBiaVzLtfBvHfkjcu87p0qjS2__UtPaVJYu1PL0rVd7IQyVzeeAyftVm7W6X98XOLwkSbo6XvCdRExBvsWFUNd4oUs965l3I/s400/2014+Alarm+stage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Figure 1. Period of Stage II Alarm Drought from 2014. </i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The BSEACD declared drought in July 2014 and then exited drought conditions in early 2015. This illustrates that Barton Springs responded to rainfall events, but did not result in significant increases in storage within the aquifer as represented by the Lovelady Well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></div>
BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-13477176560212805562020-01-10T13:44:00.001-06:002020-01-13T11:22:10.734-06:002020 Talking Points for Approaching Alarm Stage II Drought<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0in 22.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lovelady well height: 495<b> ft-msl (158 ft-Depth to Water)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Barton Springs approximately:</span> 45<b> cfs</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> (10-day average)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol"; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">How close are drought triggers to Stage II Alarm Drought thresholds? </b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">(last updated 1/10/20)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Barton Springs 10-day average discharge is at 47 cfs and continues to decline towards the drought trigger threshold of 38 cfs.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>The water level in the Lovelady Monitor Well is 17 feet above the Stage II Alarm Drought threshold (478.4 feet above mean sea level). It is expected to cross its threshold in mid-February.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Only one drought trigger below its threshold required to enter into drought.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b>What does Stage II Alarm Drought mean for homeowners?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Water utilities using groundwater are required to cut back their monthly pumping by at least 20%.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Consequently, all end users that get their water from groundwater will have to reduce their water use.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Check your water bill for monthly water use—should be below 4,000 gallons a person.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Restrict outdoor watering. Follow your water utility’s watering restrictions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "symbol";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b>What is the weather outlook for the next few months?</b> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">(last updated 1/10/20)</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/sdo_summary.php" target="_blank">U.S. Drought Outlook</a></span> is predicting a drier than average January - March <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Discharge and water levels are in steady decline; it will take consistent rainfall to saturate the soils to allow runoff to fill creeks. We need enough rainfall so creeks flow consistently for a few weeks—preferably a few months—since the majority of the recharge to the aquifer comes when creeks flow across the recharge zone.</div>
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<b style="color: #666666; font-family: trebuchet, "trebuchet ms", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-indent: -0.25in;">Where should people go to find out more information?</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";">o<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Our website… <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="http://www.bseacd.org/" style="color: #003366; text-decoration-line: none;">www.bseacd.org</a></span> or google ‘Barton Springs Aquifer District’.<br />
<span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span>
<b style="text-indent: -0.25in;">What is the drought response from other area
water agencies (updated 1/10/20)?</b><br />
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<u>Edwards Aquifer Authority:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->No drought conditions<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.edwardsaquifer.org/files/CPM_Triggers.pdf">EAA Critical Stage
Info</a> (Triggers, Stages and Reductions)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>City of Austin: <o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/department/watering-restrictions">City of
Austin is in Conservation Stage Restrictions</a> (automatic irrigation limited
to 1 day per week, before 10am or after 7pm)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Follows LCRA drought triggers (see next
section).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>City of San Marcos<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->No drought restrictions<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Lower Colorado River Authority:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Currently no declared drought.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Water storage in Lakes Travis and Buchanan are
currently at 87% full (1,748,038 acre feet, 1/10/20). Check real time <a href="https://www.lcra.org/water/water-supply/highland-lakes-overview/Pages/index.aspx">Lake
Volumes</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->When lakes reach 900,000 acre feet, firm water
customers required to reduce water use by 10-20%, and LCRA starts curtailment
of interruptible permits and environmental flow allocations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Currently no declared drought.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->See <a href="http://www.gbra.org/documents/conservation/GBRADroughtContingencyPlan.pdf">2011
Drought Contingency Plan</a> for more info. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Hays-Trinity Groundwater Conservation District:<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">o<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->No drought conditions<o:p></o:p></div>
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BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-44924794468917869932020-01-07T11:55:00.002-06:002020-01-07T11:58:02.553-06:002019 Aquifer Status Review<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>No Drought</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lovelady well height: 495<b> ft-msl (158 ft-Depth to Water)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Barton Springs<span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span>approximately:</span> 46<b> cfs</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> (10-day average)</span></span></div>
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FY 2019 began
with a status of Stage II Alarm Drought declared by the Board on July 12<sup>th</sup>,
2018. An average of 13 inches of rain in September to October provided much
needed recharge to the Edwards and Trinity aquifers. These
rains revived aquifer water levels and Barton Springs flow, elevating to above
Stage II Alarm drought warning levels. The Board subsequently updated the
drought status from Stage II Alarm Drought to NO Drought on October 11<sup>th</sup>,
2018. The calendar year ended with some of the wettest December weather ever
recorded. By New Year’s Eve, six inches of rain had fallen in Austin and the
Hill Country for the month of December, more than two times the average.
January 2019 provided about 3 additional inches, exceeding its historical
average of 1.9 inches.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A combined 14 inches of spring rain fell in May and June
2019 providing even more recharge. Barton Springs flow quickly responded to the
fall 2018 rains and additional spring 2019 rains to maintain an average daily
spring flow of 100cfs throughout FY 2019. On June 14<sup>th</sup>, 2019, water
level measurements in the Lovelady monitor well had risen to surpass the 3<sup>rd</sup>
highest peak recorded in 2003 (536.0 ft-msl or 117.4 ft-dtw). </div>
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Summer came with a drying trend.
Below-average rainfall initiated a rapid decline at the Lovelady well beginning
July 15<sup>th</sup>. This decrease has continued through a dry fall season and
is projected through the winter.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To summarize, the Austin/Hill Country area has received an
average 27 inches of rainfall in 2019, producing significant recharge for local
aquifers. However, official forecasts point toward drier and milder-than-normal
conditions across Central Texas, which will likely result in further declines
as 2020 gets underway. We hope spring will bring its usual upward swing of
recharge to keep our aquifers well-supplied. <span style="color: #666666;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-33947206212142920242019-12-10T11:38:00.000-06:002019-12-10T11:39:12.064-06:002019 Neighborhood Site Visits Complete<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This year’s Neighborhood Site Visit
program is a collaboration between the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation
District and the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. Staff
visited 46 wells in three areas: Falconwood/Summer Mt. Ranch/Hugo, Hilliard,
and Saddleridge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Staff estimated levels at each well using a hand-held sonic meter
and were able to verify the sonic measurement with the eline at 38 of the 46
wells. In the coming weeks, the depth-to-water measurements will be
converted to water-level elevations and compared to readings from nearby
monitor wells. This Neighborhood Site Visit water level snapshot will help
ensure that the monitoring network is representative of water levels in the
neighborhoods and enhance that network where there are data gaps. These data
will be useful in tracking long-term water level changes due to drought and wet
periods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Staff used nitrate/nitrite test strips to screen for a
surface water contaminant. High levels of nitrates can indicate
contamination by fertilizer, septic systems, or livestock or wildlife feces and
can endanger human health. Some of the water samples analyzed did contain
detectable but low levels of nitrate or nitrite, but all were below the maximum
concentration deemed acceptable for drinking water by the EPA. If you ever
notice a change in color, taste, or smell, you should have your well water
analyzed by an accredited lab. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Additionally, staff used a Horiba multiparameter probe to
measure basic water-chemistry such as pH, conductivity, and total
dissolved solids (TDS). Conductivity is a measure of how easily
electricity can pass through a sample; the more dissolved particles in the
water, the higher the conductivity. As water is stored underground, it
dissolves particles from its host rocks. How long the water has been
underground (its residence time) and how easily the host rock is dissolved (a
product of the rocks' chemical composition) influences the conductivity
readings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Many thanks to all the well owners who
participated in this program! Results and more about the Trinity Aquifer will
be presented at a library near you in December. Click the link <a href="https://bseacd.org/education/well-owners/#wrapup" target="_blank">HERE</a> to find
out more.</span></div>
BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-16829042135780111332019-11-25T12:59:00.000-06:002019-11-25T13:00:06.840-06:00Needmore Index Well<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="fusionResponsiveContent" style="color: black; font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; table-layout: fixed; width: 584px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>No Drought</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lovelady well height: <b>510 ft-msl (144 ft-Depth to Water)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Barton Springs approximately:</span> 61<b> cfs</b><b style="font-weight: normal;"> (10-day average)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">T</span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">he Amos Well has been established</span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"> as an index well for the currently </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">proposed Needmore Permit</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">.</span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"> Compl</span><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">iance
requirements will be based </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">on data collected at Amos. Just as the District's
Lovelady well helps </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">determine drought response, water levels at Amos will
dictate </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">pumpage reductions for Needmore. See the proposed </span></div>
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<a href="https://bseacd.org/2017/03/needmoreregpermit/" target="_blank">Needmore Permit Notice</a><span style="font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;"> for more information
about the effort to </span></div>
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While the best methods for </span></span></div>
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informed. This data </span></span></div>
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BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1045591566360456187.post-77747483971118476102019-11-04T11:04:00.001-06:002019-11-04T11:04:27.506-06:00Trinity Aquifer Sustainable Yield Study<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><b>No Drought</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lovelady well height: <b>518 ft-msl (136 ft-Depth to Water)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Barton Springs approximately: <b>79 cfs (10-day average)</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://staticapp.icpsc.com/icp/resources/mogile/1598996/a572d60e2c7fd73de3356453c96726bc.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Click here to link to the interactive monitor sites webmap" border="0" height="118" src="https://staticapp.icpsc.com/icp/resources/mogile/1598996/a572d60e2c7fd73de3356453c96726bc.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The sustainable yield of an aquifer is the amount of groundwater that can be pumped from the aquifer without causing unreasonable impacts to other water-supply wells and springs. The Trinity Aquifer is the primary groundwater supply for Hill Country residents in Hays and Travis Counties, and Trinity Aquifer springs help sustain iconic Hill Country streams. With limited water resources and exceptional population growth in Hays and Travis Counties, the effects of groundwater pumping are already being seen with reduced spring flow and long-term lowering of water levels in the Trinity Aquifer and underscore the importance of science-based policies.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">On October 22, Hays County approved an interlocal agreement that will involve installation of two groundwater monitor wells near Jacob’s Well and sampling of groundwater in the vicinity of Jacob’s Well. On October 1, Travis County approved the continuation of groundwater study for southwest Travis County. Recent strong support from Hays and Travis Counties provides funding that will help fill critical data gaps for the Trinity Aquifer Sustainable Yield Study.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Raleway, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-top: 16px;">
<span style="background-color: white;">For over 10 years, the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (District) has been collaborating with the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and local and regional organizations to study the Trinity Aquifers of Hays and Travis Counties. Since annexation of an additional portion of Hays County into the District in 2015 (with passage of House Bill 3405), these efforts have increased substantially. These efforts include geologic investigations, aquifer recharge studies, water-level studies, water-quality analyses, aquifer (pumping) tests, development of a conceptual model, and groundwater modelling.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">To effectively manage an aquifer system, scientists and managers must have a good understanding of how the aquifer functions. This is the foundation for science-based policies. Understanding of aquifer dynamics comes from a broad spectrum of studies and data. From these studies, scientists and groundwater managers can determine the sustainable yield of an aquifer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Raleway, sans-serif;"><a href="https://bseacd.org/projects/trinity-aquifer-sustainable-yield-study/">Trinity Aquifer Sustainable Yield Study web page</a></span></span></div>
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BSEACDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02953603570810305834noreply@blogger.com0