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State Experiences with Groundwater Management

State Experiences with Groundwater Management. Ronald Kaiser, Texas A&M University. Conflict and Change Drivers . Increasing population growth. Increasing urbanization. Protecting environmental amenities. Limited water supplies. Drought. Water shortages. Urban sprawl.

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State Experiences with Groundwater Management

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  1. State Experiences with Groundwater Management Ronald Kaiser, Texas A&M University

  2. Conflict and Change Drivers • Increasing population growth • Increasing urbanization • Protecting environmental amenities Limited water supplies • Drought • Water shortages • Urban sprawl • Groundwater supporting agriculture

  3. Groundwater Issues

  4. Ubiquitous Groundwater Issues • Over-pumping leading to • Well interference • Mining of aquifers • Sustainable levels for aquifers Water exportation—rural to urban • Future of irrigated agriculture

  5. Ubiquitous Groundwater Issues • Thirsty cities – marketing and exporting • Adequacy of allocation rules • Management approaches • State administration • State-Local shared management • Geopolitical parameters of control • Regional • Aquifer-wide • County

  6. Judicial Response Four Allocation Doctrines

  7. Groundwater Law • Four Doctrines • Capture • Reasonable use • On-site • Off-site • Permit system • Correlative rights (California)

  8. Features of Ground Water Allocation Systems

  9. Legislative Response Well Interference/Overpumping/Mining • Groundwater Districts • State vs. Local Control

  10. Groundwater Allocation Rules & Systems for Selected States

  11. Texas Legislative Response Create groundwater districts • Priority groundwater • management study • areas

  12. Groundwater Districts--62 • Groundwater Management Districts • Formation – General/Special law, PGMA • Authority varies • Well spacing • Waste prevention • Research • Purchase/sell groundwater • Groundwater Export – SB#1&SB#2 • Water availability – both areas • Effect on aquifer and permit holders • Approved regional plan

  13. Problems with Texas Districts • LIMITED REGULATORY AUTHORITY • Well Spacing/Waste Prevention • Overdrafting & Mining • Pumping Limitations • COUNTY & POLITCAL BOUNDARIES • SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS

  14. State Management Continues No Easy Answers

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