BARTON SPRINGS-EDWARDS AQUIFER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District officially declared Stage III Critical Drought on Oct. 3. Stage III declaration restrictions will take effect Nov. 1.
This transition follows the Lovelady monitor well, one of the district’s two drought stage determinants, reaching a 10-day average of 462.6 feet-mean sea level. This measurement is below the district’s 462.7 ft-msl threshold for Stage III. The average water level elevation for the Lovelady monitor well is 492.8 ft-msl since measurements began in 1949.
Barton Springs discharge, the district’s other drought determinant, is also expected to fall below past its Stage III threshold soon. The below average groundwater levels and discharge at these sites is representative of the alarmingly low water levels of the Barton Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer and Trinity Aquifer, which provide drinking water for nearly 100,000 people from south Austin to southern San Marcos and is managed by the district.
“The downgrade in drought status is a painful reminder that our aquifers haven’t had the chance to recover since drought was declared in June 2022,” District General Manager Dr. Tim Loftus said. “It may get worse before it gets better and it’s anyone’s guess as to when that might be.”
Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District is a groundwater conservation district tasked by the Texas Legislature to work with well owners to conserve and protect the Edwards and Trinity aquifers and groundwater resources within its territory. The district spans 430 square miles across parts of Travis, Hays, and Caldwell counties, serving a population of about 400,000 people.
Prior to entering Stage III, the district had been in Stage II since March 2024. The district has now been in drought for 28 consecutive months – Barton Springs flow and Lovelady groundwater levels serve as the determinants for the district’s drought stages. Only one of these sites needs to cross below a new drought threshold for a district declaration to be made. However, to exit a stage of drought, both Barton Springs and Lovelady must both rise above their respective drought threshold values.
Stage III drought requires 30-100% reduction in pumpage by the district’s more than 120 permittees, which vary in size from individual well owners to water service providers like Creedmoor Maha Water Supply Corp, Goforth Special Utility District, and the cities of Buda and Kyle. Permittees will experience various degrees of restrictions based on their permit classification, and those who don’t meet these restrictions are subject to monthly drought penalties. While the district doesn’t enforce restrictions on end-users served by water utilities on groundwater wells, it is the permittees’ responsibility to ensure reductions are met. Water utility customers can contact their service provider for additional information on restrictions they may experience.
For groundwater resources to replenish and drought conditions to end, the area will have to experience a long period of widespread and significant rainfall over local aquifer recharge zones. As this multi-year drought continues, community members in and outside of the district’s territory can do their part by actively conserving water resources to minimize surface and groundwater depletion and help our aquifer levels recover. Groundwater use should be limited for essential indoor demands with minimal water allocated for outdoor purposes.
For more information, visit www.bseacd.org or call 512-282-8441.
