Topics

How is water in Uvalde County protected?·

The source of Uvalde County wells is the Uvalde Pool, a separate pool of the Edwards Aquifer that is significantly more stable than the San Antonio Pool.

The EAA sets maximum pumping limits with permits.

The EAA will immediately limit non-irrigation pumping when index wells fall to certain levels. Critical period restrictions on Uvalde County permits are based solely on the level of the Uvalde Index well and require an immediate reduction in pumping when the index well falls below 845 feet above sea level.

The Uvalde Index well has averaged 874 feet above sea level since 1960. The last time the Uvalde Index well fell below 845 feet was 1958, during the drought of the 1950's.

One-half of irrigation permits are "base permits" and are required by law to stay with the land.

If the two proposed law changes are enacted, all of the above protections named above will remain in place, plus new protections will be added.

By limiting the water able to be pumped and transported out of Uvalde County to permits originating from the Uvalde Pool, the maximum amount available to be pumped from the Uvalde Pool will never be more than it could be before the change.

Water pumped for the purpose of being transported out of Uvalde County will be pumped more evenly throughout the year, reducing the stress on the Uvalde Pool and reducing the risk of entering critical period restrictions.

With the prospect of a pipeline and higher lease values, irrigators will have a greater incentive to lease permits than sell permits outright.

How will a pipeline benefit everyone throughout the region.

Bexar County and San Antonio gain access to a new water source that is of the same high quality residents and businesses have come to expect.

San Antonio water users will save money as this new water source is less expensive than any other water project of its size under review by SAWS.

A new source of water will reduce the risk of critical period water restrictions and will support business growth on the heels of Toyota.

Communities along the pipeline (Castroville, Hondo and D'Hanis) will gain access to a new water source, while farmers and the local economy will benefit from increased demand for excess water rights.

Uvalde County farmers will have a new product with their ability to lease water to be transported through a pipeline.

Uvalde County farmers will continue to farm, produce crops and employ local workers as the State law will continue to require that one-half of a farmers water rights stay on the farm and be made available for irrigation. (As stated above, this amount is adequate for farming due to conservation equipment and methods that farmers have initiated in recent years.)

Residents and businesses in Uvalde County will benefit from a stronger and larger economy - stronger as lease payments will help diversify the economy away from traditional agriculture products and larger as payments represent new money and the creation of new jobs.

The EAA will be able to demonstrate the efficient use of the Edwards Aquifer and reduce the risk of future legislation and limits on aquifer use.