 "Photo: Peter Franklin")
The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District will continue accepting public input and commentary on proposed rule changes to improve its drought management plan through Thursday.
The changes in the district rules would address the critical stages of drought in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer affecting some 50,000 ground water users in southern Travis and northern Hays counties, according to the district's proposed drought management plan.
The proposed rule changes are a response to water pumping by permitted water suppliers, such as utility companies, but would also expand responsibility to the general public, said John Dupnik, the district's environmental permit specialist.
"In response to the things we've learned since the February drought, we are proposing provisions on the drought portion of our rules to authorize the withdrawal of water from regulated permittees," Dupnik said.
The rules would require a 30-percent mandatory reduction in authorized monthly water usage from all its permittees and groundwater users, he said.
"The new rules extend some of the responsibility for water use and reduction to the end user," Dupnik said. "Because of the drought, our end users are more aware of the situation that the Barton Springs segment is prescribed to a very large area. There should be no excess waste of water."
Under the prospective rules, failure to conserve water during a drought would lead to civil penalties authorized and issued by the district, he said.
In the current critical state of drought, the district considers domestic use of more than 10,000 gallons per connection per month excessive, according to the proposed plan.
The Save Our Springs Alliance and the Sierra Club delivered their commentary on the proposed plan and suggested revisions at the district board's Nov. 16 public hearing.
Dan Gildor, senior attorney for the alliance, said the rules are directed more toward domestic water usage instead of the industrial use of water.
The district is developing a Habitat Conservation Plan through an official Incidental Take Permit for the endangered Barton Springs salamander, he said.
"The Incidental Take Permit defines 'take' as not just killing the species, but harassing and harming the species," he said. "It also includes the destruction or modification of their habitat. Obviously, the Barton [Springs] salamander requires a certain amount of spring flow. A gallon pumped by the district from the aquifer is a gallon less for Barton Springs."
Jennifer Walker, the Sierra Club's water resources specialist, said the new rules help the district manage the water resources and emphasize the importance of domestic conservation.
"These drought rules will enable the district to take action to reduce pumping in order to protect the users, Barton Springs and the salamander," she said.
The next district board meeting is scheduled for Dec. 14.
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