Desired Future Conditions
Desired future conditions are defined in Title 31, Part 10, §356.10 (6) of the Texas Administrative Code as "the desired, quantified condition of groundwater resources (such as water levels, spring flows, or volumes) within a management area at one or more specified future times as defined by participating groundwater conservation districts within a groundwater management area as part of the joint planning process." The specified time extends through at least the period that includes the current planning period for the development of regional water plans pursuant to §16.053, Texas Water Code, or in perpetuity, as defined by participating groundwater conservation districts within a groundwater management area as part of the joint planning process. Desired future conditions have to be physically possible, individually and collectively, if different desired future conditions are stated for different geographic areas overlying an aquifer or subdivision of an aquifer.
The following documents provide information on desired future conditions. Groundwater management area submittals of desired future conditions are listed in the table below.
For modeled available groundwater reports, please visit the individual groundwater management area pages on the right side bar.
For information on petitions appealing the reasonableness of a desired future condition, see the information below.
TWDB Documents
This guidance document concerns the scientific and technical evaluation of desired future conditions subject to a petition and is provided per 31 Texas Administrative Code §356.41(b).
Desired Future Conditions- TWDB Checklist for Submittals Explanatory Reports and Model Files
A recommendation to groundwater management areas on desired future conditions package contents that the TWDB will use in evaluation of administrative completeness.
Going from Desired Future Conditions to Modeled Available Groundwater
Presentation on how to estimate Modeled Available Groundwater (MAG) from desired future conditions (DFCs).
Dry Cells and drawdown averaging for desired future conditions:
Explanation of Dry Cells and drawdown averaging for desired future conditions.
Explanatory Report for Submittal of Desired Future Conditions to the Texas Water Development Board
Information for groundwater management areas on the required components of a desired future condition submittal and elements of the explanatory report.
Information for groundwater management areas on how the TWDB will calculate total estimated recoverable storage, designation of relevant and non-relevant aquifers, and how the DFC statements should be expressed.
A recommendation to groundwater management areas on submitting model files and other technical data to the TWDB for the development of modeled available groundwater.
How to Submit Desired Future Conditions to the Texas Water Development Board
An information sheet detailing what TWDB expects to receive in submission packets for desired future conditions.
A Streetcar Named Desired Future Conditions: The New Groundwater Availability for Texas (2008)
A paper presented at the State Bar of Texas 'The Changing Face of Water Rights in Texas' conference held in Bastrop, May 8-9, 2008. This paper discusses groundwater management areas, desired future conditions, and the role of managed available groundwater.
A Desired Future Condition and Aquifer Slivers in Groundwater Management Areas (2008)
The majority of groundwater management areas have small areas, or slivers, of aquifers that exist within their boundaries. Because of their size these slivers may not currently be used either as a supply that is permitted by a groundwater district or have exempt wells withdrawing groundwater. The purpose of this paper is to identify these areas and to recommend how groundwater conservation districts in groundwater management areas may consider desired future conditions in these areas.
Balancing the Groundwater Checking Account Through House Bill 1763 (2007)
An analysis report on the impacts of House Bill 1763 on groundwater management practices in the State of Texas. Includes discussion of practices prior to bill, changes in practices created by the bill, an introduction into what the desired future condition of an aquifer is, and a description of how to translate a Desired Future Condition into managed available groundwater.
Opinion issued by the legal department of the Texas Water Development Board regarding participation of unconfirmed groundwater conservation districts in their respective groundwater management area.
2016 Joint Groundwater Planning
Desired Future Conditions
| ID | Date | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMA1_DFC_01 | 7/7/2009 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Ogallala and Rita Blanca aquifers |
| GMA1_DFC_02 | 6/3/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Blaine and Dockum aquifers |
| GMA2_DFC_01 | 8/5/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Ogallala, Dockum, and Edwards-Trinity (High Plains) aquifers |
| GMA3_DFC_01 | 8/9/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Capitan Reef Complex, Dockum, Edwards-Trinity (Plateau), Pecos Valley, and Rustler aquifers |
| GMA4_DFC_01 | 8/13/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Bone Spring-Victorio Peak, Capitan Reef Complex, Edwards-Trinity (Plateau), Igneous, Marathon, Presidio-Redford Bolson, Rustler, Upper Salt Basin, and West Texas Bolsons aquifers |
| GMA4_DFC_02 | 5/19/2011 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Edwards-Trinity (Plateau) Aquifer in Brewster County |
| GMA6_DFC_01 | 7/22/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Blaine, Dockum, Ogallala, and Seymour aquifers |
| GMA6_DFC_02 | 7/19/2011 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Blaine and Seymour aquifers |
| GMA7_DFC_01 | 7/29/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Capitan Reef Complex, Dockum, Edwards-Trinity (Plateau), Ellenburger-San Saba, Hickory, Lipan, Marble Falls, Ogallala, and Rustler aquifers |
| GMA8_DFC_01 | 12/17/2007 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Blossom, Brazos River Alluvium, Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone), Nacatoch, and Woodbine aquifers |
| GMA8_DFC_02 | 5/19/2008 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Ellenburger-San Saba, Hickory, and Marble Falls aquifers |
| GMA8_DFC_03 | 9/17/2008 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Trinity Aquifer |
| GMA8_DFC_04 | 3/16/2008 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Blossom and Nacatoch aquifers |
| GMA8_DFC_05 | 4/27/2011 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Blossom, Brazos River Alluvium, Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone), Ellenburger-San Saba, Hickory, Marble Falls, Nacatoch, Trinity, and Woodbine aquifers |
| GMA8_DFC_06 | 6/23/2011 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Brazos River Alluvium, Nacatoch, and Woodbine aquifers |
| GMA9_DFC_01 | 8/29/2008 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Edwards Group of the Edwards-Trinity (Plateau), Ellenburger-San Saba, Hickory, and Marble Falls aquifers |
| GMA9_DFC_02 | 7/26/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Edwards Group of the Edwards-Trinity (Plateau) and Trinity aquifers |
| GMA10_DFC_01 | 5/17/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Leona Gravel Aquifer |
| GMA10_DFC_02 | 8/4/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the fresh and saline Edwards Aquifer |
| GMA10_DFC_03 | 8/23/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Trinity, Austin Chalk, Buda Limestone, and Leona Gravel aquifers |
| GMA11_DFC_01 | 4/13/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, Sparta, and Yegua-Jackson aquifers |
| GMA12_DFC_01 | 8/11/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, Sparta, Yegua-Jackson, and Brazos River Alluvium aquifers |
| GMA12_DFC_02 | 6/30/2011 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Yegua-Jackson Aquifer |
| GMA13_DFC_01 | 4/9/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, and Sparta aquifers |
| GMA13_DFC_02 | 8/12/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Edwards and Yegua-Jackson aquifers |
| GMA13_DFC_03 | 7/13/2011 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Leona Gravel Aquifer |
| GMA14_DFC_01 | 8/25/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Gulf Coast, Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen City, Sparta, Yegua-Jackson, and River Alluvium aquifers |
| GMA15_DFC_01 | 7/14/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Gulf Coast Aquifer |
| GMA16_DFC_01 | 8/30/2010 | DFC submission | Desired future conditions for the Gulf Coast Aquifer |
Appeal of Desired Future Conditions
For desired future conditions adopted after September 1, 2015, state law changed so that an affected person may file a petition with a groundwater conservation district.
Petition Documents
The following is a list of groundwater management areas whose desired future conditions were challenged on the basis of reasonableness during the 2010 joint planning process. Please note that any petitions filed during the current round of desired future condition adoption may be filed with a groundwater conservation district.
- Groundwater Management Area 1 - Petition process documents
- Groundwater Management Area 7 - Petition process documents
- Groundwater Management Area 9 - Petition process documents
- Groundwater Management Area 10 - Petition process documents
- Groundwater Management Area 11 - Petition process documents
- Groundwater Management Area 12 - Petition process documents
- Groundwater Management Area 13 - Petition process documents