The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) has declared a significant portion of the region out of Stage II drought restrictions and back to Stage I, which means less rigorous limits on pumping from the Edwards Aquifer, at least for the time being. Citing recent rainfall and diminished demand on the aquifer, the EAA ordered the lifting of Stage II and return to Stage I.
Despite recent rains, the EAA had delayed declaring the San Antonio Pool back to Stage I as a cautionary measure to ensure aquifer levels had risen and stabilized sufficiently to avoid an immediate return back to Stage II. Officials continue to warn that aquifer levels remain below historical averages and a return to Stage II early in 2012 is possible, if drought conditions persist. In the meantime, the lifting of Stage II means a reprieve from mandatory 30 percent pumping reductions for Edwards groundwater permit holders and a return to the less severe cutback of 20 percent required under Stage I.
The EAA San Antonio Pool, including all of Medina and Bexar counties and parts of Atascosa, Comal, Hays, Caldwell, and Guadalupe counties, had been under Stage II since June 2, and was under Stage I prior to that since April 18. The Uvalde Pool, consisting of all of Uvalde County, remains under Stage II, and has been there since June 27. Stage II for Uvalde means a cutback in pumping of five percent for Edwards groundwater users in that county.
According to the EAA, aquifer levels have generally stabilized this fall as a result of the seasonal diminished demand on the aquifer and, more recently, levels have risen due to moderate, but much-needed rainfall. Even so, the EAA notes that for the first time in its history, dating back to 1996, the region will enter a year under critical period restrictions. Pumping restrictions at the start of the year could particularly impact agriculture users who may need to begin irrigating their fields for the planting season in January, if warranted by low soil moisture.