Conservation Credits

for TWCA GMA/GCD PanelJune 18, 2015

• BVGCD is Brazos and Robertson Counties

• Brazos County – mostly Municipal (CS, Bryan, TAMU)

• Robertson County – mostly Farm and Ranch

• Very high reliance on Groundwater

• Cities are 100% Groundwater

• DFC for Simsboro is 270’ additional drawdown

• Since 2000, have seen 39’ actual drawdown

• Impact of growth and Vista Ridge is TBD

• Trying to put Rules in place to not exceed DFCs

• If we assume that GCDs will be able to regulate groundwater post-Bragg:

• Pumping reductions will be required as drawdown approaches the DFC

We see two methods to implement pumping reductions:

1. By acreage – reduce the “2 acre-feet/year per acre” rule

2. By permits – percentage reductions to actual pumping

Situation with the Brazos Valley GCD

• But the challenge of making reductions “By Permit” is how do you incentivize conservation now?

• Rules Committee considering a BANKING system where credits are earned for conservation now.

• Credits can be used in the future to reduce cutbacks

• Most wells pre-date the District, and don’t follow the “2 acre-feet/acre” rule

• Reductions “By Acre” become problematic

How would a Conservation Credit system work?

• For Municipalities, credits could be Banked:

– Gallon for gallon, alternative sources that reduce GW use

– Percent of usage for Inclined Rate systems

– Percent of usage for Water Loss under a given percent

– Credits for other innovative conservation measures

• Many details yet to be worked out