Groundwater Conservation Program
The program enables the District to promote activities that conserve and preserve the water resources of Jackson County. The District promotes activities such as rainwater harvesting, efficient use of groundwater, conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water, prevention of subsidence, prevention of waste, brush management, recharge enhancement.
Contact Tim Andruss, General Manager to discuss matters related to groundwater conservation at:
- phone: (361) 579-6863
- email: tim.andruss@vcgcd.org
Sponsorship Opportunity
On April 20, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Texana Groundwater Conservation District authorized the expenditure of up to $5,000.00 for sponsorship of field trips by 4th and 5th grade students from Jackson County to the Wetland Education Center located in the INVISTA Victoria Plant Wetland for the purposes of promoting water conservation. These funds can be used to cover expenses for the field trip such as bus transportation or associated student fees. The funding for this sponsorship is available for field trips that occur before October 1, 2023.
The following form should be completed and submitted to the district to request sponsorship from the district for a field trip. PDF
The form requires the applicant to provide a description of the activities for which sponsorship is being sought. For the purposes of this preapproved sponsorship opportunity, the activities are limited to field trips to the Wetland Education Center located in the INVISTA Victoria Plant Wetland related to water conservation. To simplify the effort for applying for sponsorship, the following example of a qualifying description is provided:
Prior to submitting an application for sponsorship to the district, applicants should coordinate with Mr. John Snyder, Environmental Specialist of the INVISTA Victoria Plant Wetland to schedule the field trip for which sponsorship is sought. Mr. Snyder may be contacted at wetlandspecialist@gmail.com or (361)652-5451.
The district anticipates awarding sponsorships of $1,000.00 or less to each qualifying application within 3 days of application receipt.
The following form should be completed and submitted to the district to request sponsorship from the district for a field trip. PDF
The form requires the applicant to provide a description of the activities for which sponsorship is being sought. For the purposes of this preapproved sponsorship opportunity, the activities are limited to field trips to the Wetland Education Center located in the INVISTA Victoria Plant Wetland related to water conservation. To simplify the effort for applying for sponsorship, the following example of a qualifying description is provided:
- Approximately ______ students from _______________ class of _______________ School, with students living in Jackson County, will participate in hands-on, educational activities at the INVISTA Victoria Plant Wetland in Victoria County on ____________, 2023. During the field trip, students will learn about the important role wetlands play in conserving water by filtering sediment, absorbing pollution and excess nutrients, and slowing stormwater runoff into streams and lakes.
Prior to submitting an application for sponsorship to the district, applicants should coordinate with Mr. John Snyder, Environmental Specialist of the INVISTA Victoria Plant Wetland to schedule the field trip for which sponsorship is sought. Mr. Snyder may be contacted at wetlandspecialist@gmail.com or (361)652-5451.
The district anticipates awarding sponsorships of $1,000.00 or less to each qualifying application within 3 days of application receipt.
Useful information regarding ways to conserve groundwater can be accessed at the following web address:
- Groundwater Foundation: https://www.groundwater.org/action/home/conserve.html;
- Texas Water Development Board: https://www.twdb.texas.gov/conservation/index.asp;
The Management Plan of the District defines groundwater conservation as "the activity and practice of seeking to use a groundwater resource in a manner that appropriately balances the impacts associated with consuming the resource and preserving the resource for the future." The District under takes many activities to achieve the "appropriate balance" between groundwater use and groundwater preservation including 1) establishing conservative desired future conditions for Jackson County, 2) adopting rules that allow for limited groundwater production, 3) monitoring water levels and water quality of groundwater resources in Jackson County, and 4) evaluating aquifer conditions using scientifically-credible methods.
Promotion of Rainwater Harvesting: the District encourages all water users to investigate rainwater harvesting as a means of developing alternate water supplies. Additional information regarding rainwater harvesting can be viewed at the following website of the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension: rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/rainwater-basics/.
Promotion of Efficient Use of Groundwater: the District encourages all users of groundwater to investigate methods of increasing water usage efficiency. Additional information regarding water efficiency opportunities can be viewed at the following website of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: www.energy.gov/eere/femp/water-efficient-technology-opportunity-sprinkler-automatic-shut-devices.
Promotion of Conjunctive Use of Groundwater and Surface Water: the District encourages water users to examine conjunctive use practices when considering the development of water supply projects that involve groundwater resources. The combined use of groundwater resources with surface water may optimize the beneficial characteristics of each source and conserve and preserve groundwater resources. Additional information regarding innovative water technologies related to conjunctive use can be viewed at the following website of the Texas Water Development Board: www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/
Promotion of Subsidence Prevention: the District encourages groundwater producers to investigate causes of subsidence, the vulnerability of areas within the District to subsidence caused by groundwater production, and methods of developing groundwater resources to prevent subsidence caused by or contributed to by their groundwater production. Additional information regarding subsidence can be viewed at the following website of the Texas Water Development Board: www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/models/research/subsidence/subsidence.asp
Promotion of Brush Management: the District encourages landowners to investigate the brush management as a means of potentially enhancing recharge of groundwater resources. Additional information regarding brush management and the effect on water resources can be viewed at the following site of the United States Geological Survey: www.usgs.gov/centers/ot-water/science/effects-huisache-removal-evapotranspiration?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
Promotion of Recharge Enhancement: the District encourages large-scale groundwater producers to investigate strategies to enhance recharge, including aquifer storage and recovery projects, as a means of conserving and preserving groundwater resources through conjunctive use. Additional information regarding aquifer storage and recovery can be viewed at the following website of the Texas Water Development Board: www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/asr/index.asp
Promotion of Rainwater Harvesting: the District encourages all water users to investigate rainwater harvesting as a means of developing alternate water supplies. Additional information regarding rainwater harvesting can be viewed at the following website of the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension: rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/rainwater-basics/.
Promotion of Efficient Use of Groundwater: the District encourages all users of groundwater to investigate methods of increasing water usage efficiency. Additional information regarding water efficiency opportunities can be viewed at the following website of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: www.energy.gov/eere/femp/water-efficient-technology-opportunity-sprinkler-automatic-shut-devices.
Promotion of Conjunctive Use of Groundwater and Surface Water: the District encourages water users to examine conjunctive use practices when considering the development of water supply projects that involve groundwater resources. The combined use of groundwater resources with surface water may optimize the beneficial characteristics of each source and conserve and preserve groundwater resources. Additional information regarding innovative water technologies related to conjunctive use can be viewed at the following website of the Texas Water Development Board: www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/
Promotion of Subsidence Prevention: the District encourages groundwater producers to investigate causes of subsidence, the vulnerability of areas within the District to subsidence caused by groundwater production, and methods of developing groundwater resources to prevent subsidence caused by or contributed to by their groundwater production. Additional information regarding subsidence can be viewed at the following website of the Texas Water Development Board: www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/models/research/subsidence/subsidence.asp
Promotion of Brush Management: the District encourages landowners to investigate the brush management as a means of potentially enhancing recharge of groundwater resources. Additional information regarding brush management and the effect on water resources can be viewed at the following site of the United States Geological Survey: www.usgs.gov/centers/ot-water/science/effects-huisache-removal-evapotranspiration?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects
Promotion of Recharge Enhancement: the District encourages large-scale groundwater producers to investigate strategies to enhance recharge, including aquifer storage and recovery projects, as a means of conserving and preserving groundwater resources through conjunctive use. Additional information regarding aquifer storage and recovery can be viewed at the following website of the Texas Water Development Board: www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/asr/index.asp