Jacob’s Well GMZ enters 30% curtailment

Effective April 7, the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District Board of Directors voted to move the Jacob’s Well Groundwater Management Zone into 30% Drought Curtailment. The Jacob’s Well springflow is declining due to reduced aquifer storage. As of April 1, 2022, the 10-day flow rate was 2.94 cubic feet per second.

“It’s been a very dry spring” said Linda Kaye Rogers, HTGCD Board Vice President “It is critical that we all conserve where we can by cutting back on outdoor usage.”

The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District reports that district-wide, district and volunteer citizen wells are experiencing declining water levels.

Curtailments are designed to help prolong groundwater availability for all users. Permittees are required to reduce usage to extend supplies until the area receives enough rainfall to sufficiently recharge the aquifer. Groundwater users—whether served by a water utility or well-should reduce water use. The easiest way to make reductions is by limiting outdoor water use.

District General Manager Charlie Flatten also cautioned users to limit unnecessary pumping to protect your pump from burning out.

Jacob’s Well springflow is the district’s trigger for drought curtailment in the JWGMZ, because it is an indicator of groundwater storage within the zone. Curtailment of 30% is called for if flow drops below a 10- day average of three cubic feet per second (CFS) as measured by the US Geologic Survey (USGS) flow gauge at the spring. Average spring flow exceeding 6-CFS over a 10- day period will bring the JWGMZ out of drought curtailment.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts very little rainfall and higher than average temperatures through the rest of the summer.

Please visit the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District website for more drought information and tips on conservation at home.