The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District Board of Directors will address a number of items at its regular meeting this week, including a notice of alleged violations against the Aqua Texas System in Woodcreek North.
The meeting will take place at Camp Young Judaea on Thursday, May 4 at 5 p.m. In addition to the alleged violations, the conservation district is expected to discuss well updates and science reports, among other items. A full agenda can be found online at HTGCD’s website.
“Our analysis shows that the Woodcreek North Aqua Texas system drastically overpumped the amount they had been allotted [during the drought last year],” said Robin Gary with The Watershed Association. “In fact, they overpumped their base permit volume.”
According to data obtained by The Watershed Association, Woodcreek North’s Aqua Texas System in Woodcreek North pumped 374 acre-feet of water in 2022. Their permitted volume, outside of drought restrictions, is 339 acrefeet per year. Their drought-allotted volume for 2022 was 199 acre-feet.
The HTGCD went into an Emergency Stage drought for the first time in August of 2022 and has remained in the Emergency Stage since then. Currently, HTGCD monitor well levels are at their record lowest on average, according to Charlie Flatten, the HTGCD General Manager.
“Last year, Jacob’s Well Natural Area and Blue Hole Regional Park suspended swimming because flow wasn’t enough to maintain healthy water quality — given all the swimmers,” Gary said. “The Woodcreek North – Aqua Texas System directly influences flow at Jacob’s Well and therefore Cypress Creek.”
Jacob’s Well, a karstic spring in the Jacob’s Well Natural Area, normally hosts thousands of visitors every summer. This summer, it will remain closed to swimmers for the foreseeable future, according to the Hays County Parks and Recreation department.
“At this time, water levels and spring flow are still too low to safely allow swimming,” the department said in a public statement on April 30. “Jacob’s Well Natural Area is still open to the public for hiking and viewing the spring, however, no water access will be permitted.”
Those wishing to speak during the period of public comment at the May 4 meeting are required to fill out the Public Participation Form, available online at HTGCD’s website, haysgroundwater. com.
