Press Release from the Edwards Aquifer Authority  San Antonio, TX –

The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) has declared an increase from Stage 4
to Stage 5 Critical Period Management permit reductions for Edwards groundwater permit
holders in the Uvalde Pool of the EAA’s jurisdiction within Uvalde County. The EAA officially
confirmed that the ten-day rolling average water level in the J-27 index well in Uvalde was
839.8 feet above mean sea level (ft msl) as of Saturday, April 6, 2024. The last time the EAA
declared Stage 5 for the Uvalde Pool was March of 2013.

As shown in Figure 1, the EAA Critical Period Management Plan (CPM) Stage 5 for the Uvalde
Pool reduces the annual authorized withdrawal amounts available to affected groundwater
permit holders by 44 percent. These reductions apply to all Edwards Aquifer groundwater
permit holders authorized to pump more than three acre-feet annually. This includes industrial
and agricultural users, as well as, water utilities authorized to pump water from the Edwards
Aquifer for delivery to its respective customers. All affected permit holders must also report
their pumping totals to the EAA on a monthly basis.

Residents and businesses who receive their water from a public water system should follow
their respective water provider’s directives regarding water use practices. It should be noted
that the EAA does not enforce lawn watering schedules or other general water use limitations
enacted by local ordinances. Such schedules or limitations are enforced by local municipalities
and water purveyors. The EAA does not regulate the general public, but instead regulates
Edwards well owners with withdrawal permits authorizing their right to pump from the aquifer.
The EAA is a groundwater conservation district that manages, enhances and protects the
Edwards Aquifer, a major groundwater system serving approximately two-and-one-half million
South Central Texans. The EAA jurisdiction spans across 8 counties including Uvalde, Medina,
Bexar, and parts of Atascosa, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal and Hays counties.

7/24/2023

07-24-2023  Press release by the Edwards Aquifer Authority 

San Antonio, TX – The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) declares Stage 4 Critical Period Management permit reductions for counties under the purview of the Edwards Aquifer Authority – including Atascosa, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, and Medina counties within the San Antonio Pool retroactively on Friday July 21, 2023. It was officially confirmed that that the ten-day rolling average at the J-17 index well was 629.7 feet above mean sea level (amsl), and the Comal Springs was at 99 cubic feet per second (cfs). Therefore, the EAA formally declares Stage 4 permit reductions retroactively on Friday July 21, 2023.

The last time the EAA declared Stage 4 permit reductions for the San Antonio Pool was effective on October 8, 2022, when the Comal Springs ten-day rolling average was at 99 cubic feet per second (cfs).

  San Antonio, TX – The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) declares a decrease to Stage 3 Critical Period Management permit reductions for counties under the purview of the Edwards Aquifer Authority – including Atascosa, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays, and Medina counties within the San Antonio Pool effective yesterday, Wednesday, October 26, 2022. At the beginning of this month, the San Antonio Pool was in Stage 4 effective Saturday, October 8, 2022.

  Yesterday it was confirmed that the daily mean springflow for the previous day at Comal Springs was 111 cubic feet per second (cfs). The daily mean springflow has resulted in a ten-day rolling average at Comal Springs of 100 cfs which is above the threshold for Stage 4 within the San Antonio Pool, but still within the threshold for Stage 3. Additionally, the ten-day rolling average for water levels at the J-17 index well was 632.2 feet above mean sea level (ft msl) on October 26, 2022, which is above the threshold for Stage 4 for the San Antonio Pool. Hence, the EAA formally declares a decrease to Stage 3 permit reductions.

For Immediate Release_EAA Declares a Decrease to Stage 3 Permit Reductions for the San Antonio Pool_10.27.22_

San Antonio, TX – The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) declares Stage 2 Critical Period Management permit reductions for Uvalde County under the purview of the Edwards Aquifer Authority within the Uvalde Pool effective September 10, 2022. It was officially confirmed on Saturday that the 10-day average at the J-27 index well rose to 845 feet above mean sea level. Hence, the EAA formally declares a return to Stage 2 permit reductions.

Edwards Aquifer release