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Bryan staff outline regional water plan and first-in-state ASR storage effort
Summary
City staff described participation in a 50-year state water plan, said Bryan holds about 48,000 acre-feet in water permits, and explained an aquifer storage-and-recovery well to store water for future use. Council asked questions about export permits and Groundwater Conservation District curtailment rules.
City staff and consultants briefed the council on regional water-planning work and an aquifer storage-and-recovery project during the Nov. 11 meeting.
Dr. Jason Bartnick explained that the state water plan is prepared on a 50-year horizon and that the city currently holds roughly "48,000 acre-feet of water permits". He described ASR wells that inject water into the aquifer for later recovery and said the city is drilling and rehabbing wells to meet future growth. Bartnick said the Groundwater Conservation District regulates pumping and has curtailment rules tied to desired future conditions.
Councilors asked clarifying questions about earlier export permits that had reached up to 100,000 acre-feet and about steps taken in mediation and rule changes to increase spacing and discourage large-scale export of groundwater. Staff said the Groundwater Conservation District will be the regulatory lead and that local cooperation with neighboring jurisdictions and institutions such as Texas A&M is part of the study.
