The document summarizes updates from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). It discusses legislative outcomes from the 2023 session including bills related to data modernization, the TWDB sunset bill, and TexMesonet funding. It also outlines TWDB's exceptional item requests to the legislature for funding related to water data, groundwater monitoring, and TexMesonet, and the amounts that were approved. Finally, it provides information on groundwater availability model releases and updates in progress, guidelines for model amendment requests and brackish aquifer characterization projects, and potential future research projects.

1. Texas Water Development
Board Updates
Natalie Ballew, P.G.
Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts June Business Meeting
June 6, 2023

2. Legislative outcomes
HB 1 & SB 30 | Budget / Data Modernization / Ag. Conservation Grants
HB 1565 | TWDB Sunset Bill (effective 9/1/23)
HB 2759 | TexMesonet (effective 9/1/23)
HB 2489 | TNRIS  Texas Geographic Information Office (TXGIO)
SB 28 | Texas Water Fund / New Water Supply Fund / Water loss
SB 1047 | Funding for Produced Water Consortium

3. TWDB Exceptional Item Requests
Data enhancement and modernization package
Water Data for Texas
Rebuild for uniform data visualization platform
~$2.65 million
8 new staff
Groundwater Monitoring
Additional funding for Recorder Well, Springs Monitoring, and
Groundwater Quality programs
~$1 million
3 new staff
TexMesonet
Complete full network build out by end of 2028
~$4.75 million
11 new staff
Asked for…

4. TWDB Exceptional Item Requests
Data enhancement and modernization package
Received…
Water Data for Texas
$1,325,968
4 new staff
Groundwater Monitoring
$522,038
1.5 new staff
TexMesonet
Nada

5. TWDB Exceptional Item Requests
Agricultural Water Conservation Fund
To continue to provide grants and loans in rural
areas to support projects to improve irrigation
efficiency
$15 million cash deposit in fund
1 new staff
Asked for…
$600,000
1 new staff
Received…

6. TWDB-tracked GW bills that are now laws
as of 5/31/23
Requires UT Bureau of Economic Geology to identify and
map suitable areas for aggregate production operations.
May cooperate with the TWDB and other entities.
(effective 9/1/23)
Relates to brine mining regulation by the Railroad Commission
(effective immediately)
SB 1186
SB 2196

7. Keeping our eyes on…
HB 3059
HB 3278
Adds more specificity regarding comments received
during public comment period for proposed desired
future conditions (DFCs). Requires explanation of why
comments were or were not incorporated into DFCs
GCD export fees. Fees can be used for mitigation,
alternative supplies, and monitoring, data collection,
and aquifer science.

9. Groundwater Availability Model
Releases
Southern Carrizo-Wilcox, Queen
City, and Sparta aquifers
May 2023
Central and Southern Gulf Coast
Aquifer System
May 2023

10. Groundwater Availability Models
In Progress
Northern Edwards
(Balcones Fault Zone)
Aquifer
Northern Gulf Coast
Aquifer System
Regional Edwards and
Trinity aquifers
Southern portion of
the Trinity Aquifer

11. Groundwater Availability Model
Update Requests
www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/models/other/RequestGAMModification_Guidance_May2023.pdf

12. BRACS
www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/bracs/doc/BGPZ_Amendment_Guidance_May_2023.pdf

13. Groundwater and Wells FAQs
www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/faq/faqgwm.asp

14. What’s on the Horizon

15. Groundwater Availability Model
Research Projects
Share your ideas by
June 30!
Pumping estimates for the Blaine and Seymour
aquifers
Remote sensing techniques to identify and
quantify groundwater/surface water interactions
Statewide aquifer/well test database

16. Brackish Aquifer Characterization
Research Projects
Share your ideas by
June 30!
Core testing
Seismic survey interpretation
Simulating well logs
High salinity groundwater sampling

17. Natalie Ballew, P.G.
Texas Water Development Board
Groundwater Division Director
natalie.ballew@twdb.texas.gov
512-463-2779