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Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District. Groundwater District Survey and Summary of Regulatory Methods. Jace A. Houston. Texas Groundwater 2004 November 18-19, 2004. The Role of Groundwater Districts in Texas. 1. How does Texas regulate (manage) groundwater?. Judicial doctrines:
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Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District Groundwater District Survey and Summary of Regulatory Methods Jace A. Houston Texas Groundwater 2004 November 18-19, 2004
The Role of Groundwater Districts in Texas 1. How does Texas regulate (manage) groundwater? • Judicial doctrines: • Reasonable use • Correlative rights • Restatement 2d of Torts • Rule of capture • Legislative methods: • Local, regional or state- • wide administration • Wide variety • Any combination of • doctrines or methods Rule of capture . . . . . plus . . . . . local groundwater districts.
“Regulatory Options and Considerations for GCDs” 1. The Decision-Making Process - How should science factor into the district’s decisions? - What is the district’s goal for the aquifer? - What factors influence the district’s goals? - Which regulatory method best meets the district’s goals? - What legal standard governs district decisions? 2. Overview of Regulatory Methods - What regulatory options are available to districts? - What factors determine which methods are appropriate? 3. Gulf Coast Aquifer Examples
Traditional Categories of Regulatory Methodologies • Reasonable Use • Prior Appropriation • Correlative Rights • Rule of Capture
Jace’s Categories ofRegulatory Methodologies • No spacing or production limits • Spacing • PLs based on acreage or tract size • PLs based on proportionate reduction • PLs based on “first in time, first in right” • PLs based on historical use (& grandfathering) • PLs based on rate of withdrawal • PLs based on preventing well interference or unreasonable drawdown
Water Line Clay Aquifer Confining Layer Aquifer
Water Line Clay Aquifer Confining Layer Aquifer
Water Line Clay Aquifer Clay Bad Water Line Aquifer
Water Line Aquifer Confining Layer Aquifer
Aquifer Cross-Section Beaumont Clay Chicot Aquifer Evangeline Aquifer Burkeville Clay