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(soothing acoustic guitar)

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- [Voiceover] Historically,
groundwater in Texas

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has been governed by the rule of capture,

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which grants landowners the right

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to pump the water beneath their property.

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The rule of capture allows any landowner

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to pump whatever they can,

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even if it results in drying
up the neighbor's well.

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Whoever has the biggest pump,

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and the deepest well,

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can keep on drawing down the water level,

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sometimes leaving neighboring
landowners high and dry.

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However, the landowner must use the water

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for a beneficial purpose,

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and cannot waste the water.

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Unlimited pumping of groundwater

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could eventually affect the
longevity of Texas aquifers.

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Without proper groundwater stewardship,

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Texas water costs would rise,

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land could subside in some areas,

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water quality could degrade,

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and people in some areas
could run out of water.

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- [Voiceover] In response
to these potential problems,

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Texas Legislature authorized

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groundwater conservation
districts to manage pumping.

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A groundwater conservation district

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can be formed by citizens

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to jointly manage their
groundwater resources.

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A district has the local
authority to set rules

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for conserving, protecting, recharging,

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and preventing waste of groundwater.

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For instance, it can
establish pumping limits,

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and spacing between wells.

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Landowners and other stakeholders

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work together on governing their district.

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Today groundwater conservation districts

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are legally recognized as the preferred

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groundwater management method in Texas.

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Some districts are composed of one county,

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or even a portion of a county.

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However, a larger groundwater
conservation district

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may contain all, or parts
of, as many as 14 counties.

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At the beginning of 2013

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there were a total of 99
confirmed districts in Texas.

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- [Voiceover] Stakeholders
manage their groundwater resource

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by first asking themselves the question,

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"What do we want our aquifer to look like

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"in 10, 20, or 50 years?"

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The answer to this question is
the Desired Future Condition.

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A Desired Future Condition

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is a set of measurable targets

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that are related to
the groundwater budget.

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Examples of Desired Future Conditions

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include acceptable average
water level declines,

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maintaining spring flow levels,

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and preserving aquifer storage volumes.

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Once the Desired Future
Condition is adopted,

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the district develops management policies

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such as setting pumping
limits to achieve each target.

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The Texas Water Development Board

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provides important technical
knowledge resources

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for the districts.

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The board works with the districts

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to analyze Desired Future Conditions,

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and calculate the amount of groundwater

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that may be produced on
an average annual basis

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to achieve those desired conditions.

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This amount of water

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is known as Modeled Available Groundwater.

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In 1998, the board initiated

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the Groundwater Availability
Modeling Program

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to develop computer models for all major

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and minor aquifers in Texas.

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These models are used by the board

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to estimate Modeled Available Groundwater

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for the districts and
for planning purposes.

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The models are by no means black boxes

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that are indecipherable to the public.

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Each model was developed in a partnership

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between stakeholders and scientists.

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The stakeholders supply local
information on the aquifer

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such as pumping test data,

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and groundwater demands
to use as model inputs.

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The Texas Water Development Board

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conducts public meetings to
communicate model assumptions,

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and explain model results
to the stakeholders.

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Stakeholders may also submit
petitions to the board

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if they question the reasonableness

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of a Desired Future Condition.

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- [Voiceover] Groundwater planning

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does not end at the local or county level.

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The management policies in one district

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can impact another district,

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especially if they are
using the same aquifer.

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For instance, a district that
raises its pumping limits

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can draw down not only
its own water table,

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but also that of its neighboring district.

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To facilitate aquifer level planning,

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the Texas Water Development Board

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used the boundaries of major aquifers

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and political regions

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to define 16 groundwater
management areas throughout Texas.

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The agency reviews the
Desired Future Conditions

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within each management area

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to ensure that they do
not conflict each other.

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Meanwhile, every five years,

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each of the state's 16 planning groups

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adopt a regional water plan.

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Then the following year,

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the state of Texas
incorporates these plans

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into a state water plan

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to serve as a guide to state water policy.

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The state water plan compiles and projects

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the water needs of all water user groups:

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homes, cities, farmers, factories,

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ranchers, miners, and power companies.

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The plan is submitted to the governor,

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and the Legislature of Texas,

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and includes recommendations
on water projects

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to meet water demands 50
years into the future.

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Within the plan, all sources of water,

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surface, groundwater,

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and new technology such as
desalination are considered

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as well as the effects
of water conservation.

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- [Voiceover] Estimates of
Modeled Available Groundwater

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form the basis for how much groundwater

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is available to use now,

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and throughout the planning horizon.

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Through the Groundwater
Availability Modeling Program,

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local, regional, and state groups

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are using local knowledge,

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scientific know-how,

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and policy expertise to provide clear,

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in-depth, and science-based guidance

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for management of Texas
groundwater resources.