A dispute over a 30-foot drawdown of the Trinity Aquifer adopted by a regional group of groundwater districts known as the GMA 9 (Groundwater Management Area 9)—and recommended by staff at the Texas Water Development Board in an appeal by the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association—led CARD to support carving out an area for Jacob’s Well to be known as the Jacob’s Well Specific Groundwater Management Area (SGMA). The concern is the 30-foot drawdown over the next 50 years, known as the “desired future condition” or DFC, will dry up the springs that feed Cypress Creek, the Blanco River and Jacob’s Well and negatively impact the city-owned Blue Hole regional park, local wells and tourism-driven economy of Wimberley.

The following resolution was read and submitted to the Wimberley City Council at its meeting on Feb.16, 2012. After hearing testimony from Dr. Andy Sansom of the Texas River Institute, concerned citizens and CARD, the Wimberley City Council voted to support the concept of creating a separate SGMA for the Jacob’s Well area that would allow less than a 30-foot drawdown of the aquifer. CARD supports no more than a 5-foot drawdown (DFC) over the next 50 years.

WHEREAS, the Groundwater Management Area 9 adopted a Desired Future Condition (DFC) for the Trinity Aquifer that authorizes an average thirty-foot decline in the aquifer over the next fifty years, and;

WHEREAS, the Citizens Alliance for Responsible Development (CARD), a citizens group in western Hays County, circulated a petition calling for a revised DFC for western Hays County with no more than a five-foot aquifer decline, and;

WHEREAS, the CARD petition was signed by over 600 citizens of Hays County and was presented to the directors of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD), and the Hays County Commissioners Court and;

WHEREAS, CARD and many citizens of western Hays County believe that a thirty-foot decline of the Trinity Aquifer would cause widespread failure of private water wells, severe reduction of spring flows that feed area creeks and rivers, a reduction in property values resulting from lack of available groundwater, and a general decline of the area economy which is heavily dependent on tourism, and;

WHEREAS, the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association (WVWA) has filed an appeal of the thirty-foot DFC with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB);

WHEREAS, Jacobs Well, a Trinity Aquifer spring that sources Cypress Creek, and Blue Hole are public treasures and Texas water jewels, and;

WHEREAS, Jacobs Well, Cypress Creek, and Blue Hole are in danger of drying up under the DFC, and;

WHEREAS, the WVWA understands the TWDB Staff appeal defense recommends that the local HTGCD can better address specific local issues through its management plan, rules, and site specific information , and;

WHEREAS, the HTGCD will need to create a Specific Groundwater Management Area (SGMA) for Jacobs Well, and;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY OFFICIAL RESOLUTION OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE CITIZENS ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2012, THAT:

CARD and over 600 citizens of western Hays County continue to support the appeal of the thirty-foot DFC by the WVWA, and;

CARD supports the WVWA continuing effort to reconsider the DFC and create a Specific Groundwater Management Area for Jacobs Wellas a necessary action;

CARD urges municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals to support the Jacobs Well SGMAand avoid a calamity to the prosperity of Wimberley, Woodcreek, and surrounding areas in Hays County.

STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE CITIZENS ALLIANCE FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT: James R. McMeans, Chair; Louis Parks, Vice Chair; Linda Kaye Rogers, Treasurer; Cynthia Marion, Secretary; Larry Calvert; Susan Cook; David Glenn; Jack Hollon; Barbara Hopson; Dorothy Knight; Linda Lang; Christine Middleton; Rusty Middleton; Roberta Shoemaker-Beal; Herb Smith; Frank Sullivan; Pam Sullivan; Alice Wightman; Donna Williams; Susan Zimmerman

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