The Edwards Aquifer region is no longer under mandatory groundwater restrictions, at least for the time being, as the Edwards Aquifer Authority today declared the expiration of stage I of its critical period management plan.

The expiration of stage I effectively ends mandatory reductions on the pumping of groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer for a major portion of the region. However, authority officials encouraged continued voluntary conservation and cautioned that a return to mandatory restrictions remains possible, especially as drought conditions persist.

For affected Edwards Aquifer permit holders, the end of stage I means a return to normal aquifer use within their remaining authorized withdrawal amounts. For the past 30 days, the seven-county area within the authority’s jurisdiction designated as the San Antonio Pool (including all of Bexar and Medina counties and parts of Atascosa, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays counties) had been under critical period restrictions that required a 20 percent cutback in pumping from the aquifer. The Uvalde Pool, including all of Uvalde County, is not affected by critical period stage I requirements.

The authority declared stage I of its critical period management plan on June 23 because the 10-day average of aquifer level as measured at the J-17 Index Well dropped below the trigger level of 660 feet above mean sea level (msl). On Wednesday, July 23, the 10-day average level at J-17 was at 667.3 feet msl, 7.3 feet above the stage I trigger point. Each of the other critical period indices, San Marcos and Comal springs, were also above stage I trigger levels.

The authority attributes the stabilization of aquifer levels over the past month to a combination of compulsory conservation efforts throughout the region and the return of rain to the area. Recently, however, aquifer levels have begun dropping again and, if the trend continues, could result in a return to critical period restrictions.

According to authority rules, stage I must be declared when any one of the following occurs: the 10-day average of aquifer level readings at the J-17 Index Well drops below 660 feet above msl, or the 10-day average flow of spring discharge drops below 96 cubic feet per second at the San Marcos Springs or below 225 cubic feet per second at Comal Springs.

The Edwards Aquifer Authority manages and protects the Edwards Aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in Texas serving approximately 1.7 million people. More information on the Edwards Aquifer Authority is available on line at www.edwardsaquifer.org or by calling (210) 222-2204 or (800) 292-1047.