Soliciting Stakeholder Ideas for Research Project to Support Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS)
Submission Deadline for FY24-25: June 30, 2023
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is soliciting ideas for a research project to support brackish groundwater characterization in the state of Texas. The intent of this TWDB solicitation is to provide stakeholders the opportunity to provide the Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS) Department with potential research project ideas utilizing the BRACS research budget.
Proposed research ideas may be for a new project that support brackish groundwater studies or ideas that build upon previous studies and research projects from the BRACS Department. 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 brackish groundwater resources.
Every biennium, the TWDB receives appropriations from the Texas Legislature to use for research related to brackish studies and to support the designation of brackish groundwater production zones. This funding becomes available in September 2023 and every odd-numbered year thereafter. In August 2023, the BRACS Department will review submitted project ideas alongside internal research ideas. The research ideas will be evaluated according to the rubric below and the BRACS Department will select projects that align to the BRACS Department goals and can be completed with available budget. The submitted project ideas and rubric scores will be posted publicly on this webpage.
The main goals of the Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS) Department are to:
- 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 brackish groundwater exploration and replicable numerical groundwater flow models to estimate aquifer productivity in brackish aquifers.
- Fund and oversee external contracts to develop supporting data and to develop new studies that support brackish groundwater resource characterization and brackish groundwater production zone designation.
Please use the links below to download the scoring rubric and access the idea solicitation form. Please contact Kristie Laughlin, BRACS Manager, at kristie.laughlin@twdb.texas.gov with any questions.
Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS)
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 narrow in its assessment of groundwater quality. Completed studies to date indicate an estimated 3.8 billion ac-ft of total brackish groundwater volumes in place with TDS concentrations between 1,000 and 10,000 mg/L.
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.
2022 Meeting Announcements
- GMA 8 meeting, July 26, 2022, Cleburne, TX
- 2022 Summit, Multi State Salinity Coalition, February 23-25, 2022, Las Vegas, NV
- Texas Groundwater Protection Committee meeting, TGPC, April 13, 2022, Austin, TX
Recent Maps
Recent Reports
Brackish Groundwater in the Hill Country Trinity Aquifer and Trinity Group Formations, Texas
Brackish Groundwater in Aquifers of the Upper Coastal Plains, Central Texas