The Texas Water Development Board has awarded more than $7 million in grants to 43 groundwater conservation districts across the state, funding research and data-collection projects intended to strengthen local groundwater management and planning.
Groundwater supplies roughly 60 percent of the water used statewide, making the management and preservation of those resources a long-standing priority in Texas. The grants, awarded in June, are designed to help districts acquire the science and data they need to manage that supply.
According to the Texas Water Newsroom, produced by the TWDB, the program was created after the 89th Texas Legislature appropriated funds through Senate Bill 1 for grants supporting groundwater research, science and data collection. The agency said applicants could seek funding in one of two categories: groundwater research and science, which covers work such as aquifer characterization, test hole drilling and monitoring; or groundwater data collection, which supports equipment for water-level monitoring, well installation and database development.
The grants address a persistent challenge, the agency said. There are 98 groundwater conservation districts in Texas, but because they are funded by local fees and taxes, their budgets vary, and resource limits can make it difficult for many to access the best available science for their areas.
Groundwater conservation districts are the state’s preferred method of groundwater management and, under the Texas Constitution, hold authority to regulate well spacing and production. The districts are grouped into 16 groundwater management areas that conduct joint planning and adopt desired future conditions every five years to guide regulatory decisions and inform the state water plan.
The agency said the funding will help districts collect the data and information needed to manage groundwater resources effectively as they plan for the future of the state’s water supplies.