2019 Aquifer Status Review

No Drought

Lovelady well height: 495 ft-msl (158 ft-Depth to Water)

Barton Springs approximately: 46 cfs (10-day average)

FY 2019 began with a status of Stage II Alarm Drought declared by the Board on July 12^th, 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^th, 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.

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^th, 2019, water level measurements in the Lovelady monitor well had risen to surpass the 3^rd highest peak recorded in 2003 (536.0 ft-msl or 117.4 ft-dtw). 

Summer came with a drying trend. Below-average rainfall initiated a rapid decline at the Lovelady well beginning July 15^th. This decrease has continued through a dry fall season and is projected through the winter.

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. 

2019 Neighborhood Site Visits Complete

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.

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.  

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.  

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. 

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 HERE to find out more.

Needmore Index Well

No Drought Lovelady well height: 510 ft-msl (144 ft-Depth to Water) Barton Springs approximately: 61 cfs (10-day average) The Amos Well has been established as an index well for the currently  proposed Needmore Permit. Compliance requirements will be based  on data collected at Amos. Just as the District's Lovelady well helps  determine drought response, water levels at Amos will dictate  pumpage reductions for Needmore. See the proposed  Needmore Permit Notice for more information about the effort to  protect surrounding groundwater users. District staff is working to make real-time water level  data publicly viewable.  While the best methods for  monitoring and displaying data are finalized, staff  will manually update the hydrograph every few  weeks to keep the community informed. This data  will build on records collected by the  Hays-Trinity GCD (HTGCD).

Trinity Aquifer Sustainable Yield Study

No Drought

Lovelady well height: 518 ft-msl (136 ft-Depth to Water)

Barton Springs approximately: 79 cfs (10-day average)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Trinity Aquifer Sustainable Yield Study web page

6th Annual Texas Hydro Geo Workshop - October 4-6, 2019

No Drought

Lovelady well height: 531 ft-msl (122 ft-Depth to Water)

Barton Springs approximately: 95 cfs (10-day average)

The 6^th Texas Hydro Geo Workshop is scheduled for Friday, October 4^th through Sunday, October 6^th at Cave without a Name near Boerne, Texas. To register, visit https://hydrogeoworkshop.org/ Note that registration two weeks before the event has already exceeded last year’s attendance numbers so this is going to be a large event. Note that registration is capped at 300 people. 

The Workshop will have have more than 40 modules scheduled this year including a number of new modules related to aquatic biology, herpetology and mudlogging. There will also be three contests so make sure you bone up on your rock identification skills, bring a lunch for the field lunch contest, and the Yodeling and Hog Calling contest which is looking very competitive this year. We have a Professor from West Virginia University that has been practicing for the event for the last two months.

The program guide for this year’s event is now on line. You can find it at  https://hydrogeoworkshop.org/docs/HGWProgramGuide18.pdf.

Hope to see you there.

Routine Hydrocarbon Sampling

No Drought

Lovelady well height: 538 ft-msl (116 ft-Depth to Water)

Barton Springs: approximately: 105 cfs (10-day average)

Several operational pipelines cross the District territory. In 2013 the Magellan pipeline (formerly Longhorn pipeline) changed operation of the line; and in response, the District in cooperation with Magellan Midstream Partners, LLC, began a routine water quality monitoring program that screens groundwater for hydrocarbons that could be sourced from petroleum pipelines (and other sources). Each year District staff samples water from several springs and sentinel wells and since 2013 there have been no detections.

The 2019 annual screening had no detections of hydrocarbons at the eight spring and well monitoring sites. Water samples were analyzed for Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and volatiles (BTEX: Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes, and MTBE, Methyl tert-butyl ether).

Lovelady Reaches 3rd Highest Water Level on Record

No Drought

Lovelady well height: 537 ft-msl (116 ft-Depth to Water)

Barton Springs: approximately: 107 cfs (10-day average)

The water level in the Lovelady monitor well has risen to surpass the 3^rd highest peak recorded in 2003 (536.0 ft-msl or 117.4 ft-dtw). It is expected that the water level will continue to rise while recharge creeks continue to flow. A combined 14 inches of rain in May and June has provided tremendous recharge. The District's recharge enhancement facility, Antioch, in Onion Creek is currently taking recharge. The City of Austin staff report that Onion Creek features on the Water Quality Protection Lands are also receiving recharge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that we’ll remain in an El Nino advisory through the summer, bringing “cooler-than-normal” and “wetter-than-normal” conditions.

Lovelady water levels would have to climb another 9 feet to pass 2016’s 2^nd highest peak (545 ft-msl) and 11.3 ft to pass 1992’s 1^st highest peak. While water levels in the Edwards Aquifer are currently at record highs, the hydrograph period of record shows that drought will eventually return. Water conservation now helps extend the period of time out of drought and preserve water storage.

Statewide Drought Status: May 2019

No Drought
Lovelady well height: 533 ft-msl (121 ft- Depth to Water)
Barton Springs: approximately: 113 cfs 10-day average

An average rainfall of 10 inches through the Texas Hill Country this May 2019 has area creeks flowing and the Edwards and Trinity aquifer recharging.

For a summary of Texas' drought status: Click Here.

Includes:

• Large parts of East and Central Texas receive more that 10 inches of rain over the past month
• Recent rains have erased drought from the Texas landscape
• Statewide reservoir storage increases
• The odds of El Nino staying with us through the summer have increased to 70 percent

Antioch Cave Vault on Onion Creek Functioning Amidst Recent and Coming Rain

No Drought
Lovelady well height: 531 ft-msl (123 ft- Depth to Water)
Barton Springs: approximately: 100+ cfs 10-day average

Heavy rains late last week and throughout this week deposited a significant amount of water along the I-35 corridor, averaging 8.3 inches among Austin, San Marcos and Wimberley. These rains, and subsequent creekflow, have led to a significant pulse of recharge to the aquifers. District staff anticipated the surge and prepared Antioch by calibrating all instruments in use and shutting both intake valves before the storm arrived. Onion Creek at Buda reached a peak stage of 23.2 ft (8 ft above flood stage level) early Saturday (5/4) morning.

As seen on the graph below, Antioch’s automatic valve successfully opened at 10:30am Sunday (5/5) when flooding subsided and turbidity levels measured below 50 NTU. This allowed desired inflow where an acoustic doppler velocimeter took measurements of up to 10 ft/s inside the 36” intake pipe. This equates to 70 cfs or 31,400 gpm. On Monday 5/6, staff opened the manual valve to increase the amount of recharge into Antioch cave. Staff continue to monitor rain patterns and prepare Antioch for best management practice.

2019 Spring Aquifer Conditions Outlook

No Drought
Lovelady well height: 529 ft-msl (124 ft- Depth to Water)
Barton Springs: approximately: 107 cfs 10-day average

Those of us living in the Edwards Aquifer region know the meaning of drought… and the relief that comes from a season (or more) without it.  Roughly 60,000 people rely on the Edwards for their drinking water.  All experience the ups and downs of this critical resource, and the impacts of those shifts.

The District utilizes flow at Barton Springs in combination with water levels in the Lovelady monitor well to indicate overall storage and drought status of the aquifer. The graph below shows groundwater level elevation from 2009 to present. It illustrates that the past decade has been characterized by dramatic peaks and critical lows. Fortunately, the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards aquifer has been out of drought conditions for 63% of that time. Still, that 63% has been punctuated by periods of Stage 2 Alarm drought (19% of the last ten years) and Critical drought (18%).

  

We received ample recharge at the close of 2018, including 13” of rain from September to October. The result has bolstered local aquifers and reservoirs that were already at average-or-above levels. Even so, a low rainfall average this past winter has produced little additional flow in area creeks. When the creeks stop flowing, water levels inevitably begin to decline. Our graph also indicates just how quickly and significantly our water levels can drop in periods of reduced recharge. For example, it took only a year for January 2011’s surplus to drop to Critical drought by January 2012.

What we might expect moving forward:

• May 2019 could fulfill its role as the average wettest month in Austin, bringing a significant influx of recharge.
• A period of a weak El Niño (forecasted by the Climate Prediction Center) could contribute to above-average rainfall and below-average temperatures through spring and into summer.

To stay up to date with current drought status, visit the Austin/San Antonio Drought Status website.

With a little over 2” of rain in the first half of April, favorable current conditions and a weak El Niño on the horizon, our outlook for avoiding drought in Spring 2019 is hopeful. With continued efforts by our entire community to conserve water, and with help from the climate, we hope for a drought-free season.