Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS)
Soliciting Stakeholder Ideas for Research Projects to Support Groundwater Modeling (GM) and Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS)
Submission Deadline for FY26-27: July 31, 2025
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is soliciting ideas for research projects to support groundwater modeling and brackish groundwater research in the state of Texas. The intent of this TWDB solicitation is to provide stakeholders the opportunity to provide the Groundwater Modeling (GM) and the Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS) Departments with potential research projects ideas.
Proposed research ideas may be for new projects that support groundwater modeling or brackish groundwater studies. By soliciting ideas from stakeholders, we aim to have a more thorough view of projects that could benefit our stakeholders and provide a greater understanding of Texas groundwater resources.
Every biennium, the TWDB receives appropriations from the Texas Legislature to use for research related to groundwater modeling and brackish studies as well as to support the designation of brackish groundwater production zones. This funding becomes available in September 2025 and every odd-numbered year thereafter. In August 2025, the GM and BRACS Departments will review submitted project ideas alongside internal research ideas. We will select projects that align with GM or BRACS Department goals and can be completed with available budget.
Please use the link below to access the idea solicitation form. Please contact Daryn Hardwick, GM Manager, or Kristie Laughlin, BRACS Manager, with any questions.
In 2009, the 81st Texas Legislature, approved funding to implement the Brackish Resources Aquifers Characterization System (BRACS) program to more thoroughly characterize the brackish aquifers. In 2015, the 84th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 30, directing the TWDB to identify and designate brackish groundwater production zones in the state. The 86th Texas Legislature also passed Senate Bill 1041 that extended the deadline to complete zone designations from December 1, 2022, to December 1, 2032, and House Bill 722 that established a permitting framework for developing water supplies from TWDB-designated brackish groundwater productions zones. To learn more about status of zone designation visit our webpage.
Goals of Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System:
- Map and characterize the brackish aquifers of the state in greater detail using existing water well reports, geophysical well logs, and available aquifer data.
- Build datasets that can be used for groundwater exploration and replicable numerical groundwater flow models to estimate aquifer productivity.
In 2003, a TWDB-funded study laid the foundation for determining brackish groundwater volumes and estimated Texas has approximately 2.5 billion acre-feet of brackish groundwater. However, the study was by design regional in scope, limited in a real extent, and conservative in its estimate of groundwater quantity. Completed studies to date indicate an estimated 3.2 billion ac-ft of total brackish groundwater volumes in place with TDS concentrations between 1,000 and 10,000 mg/L.
Estimated brackish storage volumes from completed studies.
TERS and BRACS volume calculation differences
Brackish salinity zone volumes are estimates of in-place groundwater storage volume. Volumes calculated for brackish aquifer studies differ from TERS volumes determined by the TWDB Groundwater Availability Modeling (GAM) program for various reasons. Differences in water quality, area, saturated thickness, and the availability of static water levels can all create differing volume estimates. Additionally, BRACS does not estimate recoverable volumes.
Legislative Reports
Reports due the the Legislature in even numbered years are included in the biennial desalination report. Reports due to the Legislature in odd numbered years are located below.