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, please visit our DFC petition page.

TWDB Documents

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.

How will the Texas Water Development Board Support Development of Desired Future Conditions Statements and Review Desired Future Conditions Submittals?

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.

How to Submit a Groundwater Availability Model Run or Aquifer Assessment for the Development of Modeled Available Groundwater

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.

What is the Process to Appeal the Approval of a Desired Future Condition of an Aquifer?

An information sheet detailing how to file a petition with the TWDB appealing the reasonableness of a desired future condition.

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.

Participation by Unconfirmed Groundwater Conservation Districts in the Groundwater Management Area Process (2007)

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.