June 2007 Priority Groundwater Management Area File Report Updated Evaluation for the North-Central Texas – Trinity and Woodbine Aquifers – Priority Groundwater Management Study Area Water Supply Division printed on recycled paper TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY UPDATED EVALUATION FOR THE NORTH-CENTRAL TEXAS – TRINITY AND WOODBINE AQUIFERS – PRIORITY GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT STUDY AREA Prepared by Kelly W. Mills, P.G. Water Rights Permitting and Availability Section Water Supply Division Priority Groundwater Management Area File Report June 2007 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..........................................................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................5 Purpose and Scope....................................................................................................................................5 Methodology and Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................5 WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCES...................................................................................................9 Surface Water Resources..........................................................................................................................9 Groundwater Resources..........................................................................................................................11 Natural Resources...................................................................................................................................16 1990 STUDY CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..............................................................19 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION .......................................................................................................................21 Initial Stakeholder Notice and Response................................................................................................21 Draft Report Notice and Stakeholder Response .....................................................................................24 WATER SUPPLY CONCERNS ................................................................................................................31 Groundwater Levels ...............................................................................................................................31 Identified Water Supply Needs and Groundwater Strategies to Address Needs....................................33 Study Area Counties in the Region C Water Planning Area..............................................................33 Study Area Counties in the Brazos G Regional Water Planning Area...............................................42 Study Area Counties in the North East Texas Regional Water Planning Area..................................43 Study Area County in the Region B Water Planning Area ................................................................43 Barnett Shale Natural Gas Exploration...................................................................................................44 Surface Water Quality ............................................................................................................................49 Groundwater Quality ..............................................................................................................................53 Natural Resource and Habitat Loss Concerns ........................................................................................54 WATER PLANNING AND REGULATION.............................................................................................59 State and Regional Water Planning ........................................................................................................59 Groundwater Conservation District Management Planning...................................................................60 Joint GCD Management Planning in Groundwater Management Areas................................................61 Federal Regulatory Agencies..................................................................................................................63 State Regulatory Agencies......................................................................................................................63 Soil and Water Conservation Districts ...................................................................................................64 Local Governments and Regional Councils ...........................................................................................65 Water Purveyors .....................................................................................................................................67 GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT CONSIDERATIONS FOR AREA ..........................73 Groundwater Management Functions.....................................................................................................73 Needed Groundwater Management Programs and Goals.......................................................................75 Economic Considerations and Impacts...................................................................................................76 Financing Groundwater Management Activities....................................................................................76 Groundwater Management Considerations and Options........................................................................79 Regional Groundwater Conservation District ....................................................................................80 Multi- and Single-County Groundwater Conservation Districts........................................................81 Actions of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007......................................................................82 Addition to Existing Groundwater Conservation District..................................................................83 iii SUMMARY................................................................................................................................................85 Water Supply Strategies and Concerns...................................................................................................86 Water Quality Concerns .........................................................................................................................88 Natural Resource Concerns ....................................................................................................................89 Water Planning, Management and Regulation .......................................................................................90 Groundwater Conservation Districts ......................................................................................................90 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .....................................................................................93 Study Area Designation Considerations.................................................................................................93 Designation Recommendations ..............................................................................................................94 Groundwater Conservation District Considerations...............................................................................96 Groundwater Conservation District Recommendations .........................................................................97 Public Comment and Response ..............................................................................................................98 Natural Resource Considerations ...........................................................................................................99 REFERENCES .........................................................................................................................................101 APPENDIXES 1. Study Area Population Projections..............................................................................................107 2. Water Supply...............................................................................................................................109 3. Total Water Demand Projections in the Study Area ...................................................................157 4. 1990 Critical Area Report Summary for Texas Water Commission...........................................163 5. 2006 Regional Water Plan Estimates of Safe Supply – Trinity and Woodbine Aquifers ...........167 6. Groundwater Use Projections for Development of Barnett Shale...............................................169 7. Proposed Boundary for Recommended Northern Trinity and Woodbine Aquifers Priority Groundwater Management Area..................................................................................................173 8. Recommended Regional Groundwater Conservation District ....................................................175 TABLES 1. Overall Water Availability for the North-Central Texas Study Area............................................9 2. Historic Surface Water Use By County.......................................................................................12 3. Historic Groundwater Use By County.........................................................................................15 4. Region C Water Plan Recommended Trinity Aquifer Overdraft Through