The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall
have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Words defined in Texas Water Code Chapter 36, Groundwater Conservation
Districts, that are not defined here shall have the meanings provided
in Chapter 36.
(1) Affected Person--An owner of land in the management
area, a district in or adjacent to the management area, a regional
water planning group with a water management strategy in the management
area, a person or entity who holds or is applying for a permit from
a district in the management area, a person or entity who has groundwater
rights in the management area or any other person defined as affected
with respect to a management area by Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality rule.
(2) Agency--The Texas Water Development Board.
(3) Amount of groundwater being used on an annual basis--An
estimate of the quality of groundwater annually withdrawn or flowing
from wells in an aquifer for at least the most recent five years that
information is available. It may include an estimate of exempt uses.
(4) Board--The governing body of the Texas Water Development
Board.
(5) Brackish groundwater production zone operating
permit--A permit issued by a district under Texas Water Code §36.1015.
(6) Conjunctive use--The combined use of groundwater
and surface water sources that optimizes the beneficial characteristics
of each source, such as water banking, aquifer storage and recovery,
enhanced recharge, and joint management.
(7) Conjunctive surface management issues--Issues related
to conjunctive use such as groundwater or surface water quality degradation
and impacts of shifting between surface water and groundwater during
shortages.
(8) Designated brackish groundwater production zone--An
aquifer, subdivision of an aquifer, or geologic stratum designated
under Texas Water Code §16.060(b)(5).
(9) Desired future condition--The desired, quantified
condition of groundwater resources (such as water levels, spring flows,
or volumes) within a management area at one or more specified future
times as defined by participating groundwater conservation districts
within a groundwater management area as part of the joint planning
process.
(10) District--Any district or authority subject to
Chapter 36, Texas Water Code.
(11) Executive administrator--The executive administrator
of the Texas Water Development Board or a designated representative.
(12) Groundwater Availability Model--A regional groundwater
flow model approved by the executive administrator.
(13) Major aquifer--An aquifer designated as a major
aquifer in the State Water Plan.
(14) Minor aquifer--An aquifer designated as a minor
aquifer in the State Water Plan.
(15) Modeled Available Groundwater--The amount of water
that the executive administrator determines may be produced on an
average annual basis to achieve a desired future condition.
(16) Most efficient use of groundwater--Practices,
techniques, and technologies that a district determines will provide
the least consumption of groundwater for each type of use balanced
with the benefits of using groundwater.
(17) Natural resources issues--Issues related to environmental
and other concerns that may be affected by a district's groundwater
management plan and rules, such as impacts on endangered species,
soils, oil and gas production, mining, air and water quality degradation,
agriculture, and plant and animal life.
(18) Office--State Office of Administrative Hearings.
(19) Petition--A document submitted to the groundwater
conservation district by an affected person appealing the reasonableness
of a desired future condition.
(20) Projected water demand--The quantity of water
needed on an annual basis according to the state water plan for the
state water plan planning period.
(21) Recharge enhancement--Increased recharge accomplished
by the modification of the land surface, streams, or lakes to increase
seepage or infiltration rates or by the direct injection of water
into the subsurface through wells.
(22) Relevant aquifer--An aquifer designated as a major
or minor aquifer.
(23) State water plan--The most recent state water
plan adopted by the board under Texas Water Code §16.051 (relating
to State Water Plan).
(24) Surface water management entities--Political subdivisions
as defined by Texas Water Code Chapter 15 and identified from Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality records that are granted authority
under Texas Water Code Chapter 11 to store, take, divert, or supply
surface water either directly or by contract for use within the boundaries
of a district.
(25) Total Estimated Recoverable Storage--The estimated
amount of groundwater within an aquifer that accounts for recovery
scenarios that range between 25% and 75% of the porosity-adjusted
aquifer volume.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §356.10 adopted to be effective December 31, 2012, 37 TexReg 10238; amended to be effective November 26, 2014, 39 TexReg 9209; amended to be effective June 23, 2016, 41 TexReg 4491; amended to be effective February 11, 2021, 46 TexReg 931 |
