TEXAS ALLIANCE OF GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS

Fall 2014 Quarterly Meeting

October 29-30, 2014

Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District

Felix Saenz, General Manager1

Brush Country GCD History

Created by 81st Legislature in 2009 (Senate Bill 2456)

November 2009, voters confirmed by citizens in Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Brooks, and Hidalgo Counties

City of Alice excluded

Enabling Legislation codified Chapter 8852 Special District Local Laws Code

Management Plan adopted March 5, 2013, TWDB approval April 8, 2013

Rules adopted August 2013 2

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Brush Country GCD Management

and Finance

• 9 Directors serving 4 year terms appointed by Commissioners Court Brooks County:

1 director represents municipal interests of Falfurrias

2 directors represent agricultural interests outside Falfurrias, not within Kenedy County GCD, and including portion of Hidalgo County within District

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Brush Country GCD Management and Finance (cont’d)

Jim Hogg County: 1 director represents area within

Jim Hogg County WCID No. 2 2 directors represent agricultural

area outside Jim Hogg County WCID No. 2

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Brush Country GCD Management and Finance (cont’d)

Jim Wells County: 2 directors represent agricultural

interests outside Alice and not within Kenedy County GCD

Brooks and Jim Hogg Counties: 1 director represents industrial and

mining within 2 counties6

Brush Country GCD Management and Finance (cont’d)

Authority to levy ad valorem tax at a rate not to exceed three cents/$100 assessed valuation

- FY15 tax rate = 2.6 cents/$100

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Brush Country GCD Rules –

Major Points

• Wells exempt from permitting: Domestic and livestock Agricultural wells incapable of

producing 1 af/acre Small commercial well – equipped with

1.5HP or less and commercial purpose8

Brush Country GCD Rules –

Major Points (cont’d)

• Wells exempt from permitting (cont’d): Privately-owned small water system

privately owned, located on private property, not subdivided, supply domestic and livestock water for landowner, landowner family, employees, and invitees

• Maximum allowable production 2.5 af/acre• 5 year permit term with renewals longer term

permitted if substantiated 9

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Brush Country GCD – Permit Processing

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Brush Country GCD is in GMA-16

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Brush Country GCD Major Aquifer: Gulf Coast

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Brush Country GCD – Small Portion of Jim Hogg County in Yegua-Jackson

Aquifer

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Brush Country GCD – GMA 16 DFC GMA-Wide Average Drawdown of 94

feet

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Brush Country GCD – MAG 68846 AF

Brush Country GCD - Amendment to DFC

• Pumping estimates reducing to about 14000AF• Proposed drawdowns associated with DFCs:

GAM Run Chicot Evangeline Burkville Jasper

Current DFC 94 194 151 154

Scenario 1.6 94 75 63 66

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Brush Country GCD –

Upcoming Projects

• District wide well monitoring program

• Well plugging assistance program

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TEXAS ALLIANCE OF GROUNDWATER DISTRICTS

Fall 2014 Quarterly Meeting

October 29-30, 2014

Brush Country Groundwater Conservation District

Felix Saenz, General Manager18