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2015 EAA Work Plans

2015 EAA Work Plans. Science Committee Review: Applied Research and Ecological Model Work Plans on April 8. Biological and Water Quality Monitoring Work Plans on May 8. Refugia Work Plan. Program Management

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2015 EAA Work Plans

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  1. 2015 EAA Work Plans

  2. Science Committee Review: • Applied Research and Ecological Model Work Plans on April 8. • Biological and Water Quality Monitoring Work Plans on May 8. • Refugia Work Plan

  3. Program Management Long-term objective – to manage and oversee day to day operations in coordination with Applicants resulting in a valid and continued Incidental Take Permit.

  4. 2015 Work Plan • Manage, facilitate and coordinate the public meetings and activities of the • Implementing Committee, • Science Committee, • Stakeholder Committee, • Regional Water Conservation Monitoring Committee. • Procure and oversee contracts. • Oversee Applied Research studies. Program Management

  5. Oversee City of New Braunfels and City of San Marcos/Texas State University Work Plan activities. • Enhance public outreach initiatives including HCP website. • Prepare Annual Report. • Support the Science Review Panel. • In coordination with HCP committees, will evaluate recommendations on the models, monitoring and research programs. Program Management

  6. Aquifer Storage and Recovery Long-term objective – to acquire 50,000 acre-feet of permitted groundwater withdrawal rights (GWRs) as leases or options to be made available to SAWS for the purposes of storage or crediting the ASR balance.

  7. 2015 Work Plan • 2015 ASR Goal – continue to solicit GWRs to meet program goals; Tier 1 goal of 16,667 acre-feet by the end of 2015. • Target permit holders who are identified as having un-pumped and un-marketed GWRs in previous years, especially with the end of Aquifer Management Fee rebates for municipal and industrial users in 2013. • Use leasing agent for acquisition of leases. • Participate in ASR Regional Advisory Group. • Manage interlocal contract between EAA and SAWS for use of Twin Oaks ASR project for contribution to spring flow protection. Aquifer Storage and Recovery

  8. Regional Water Conservation Program Long-term objective- to conserve and reduce water use by 20,000 acre-feet of permitted or exempt Edwards Aquifer withdrawals.

  9. 2015 Work Plan • Continue to contact communities, including major municipalities. • Search for reuse and industrial technology opportunities. • Expand the “lost water” program. • Identify all potential non-Edwards Aquifer water sources. • Seek partners for treated effluent, greywater, etc. • Work with community environmental groups. • Seek opportunities for Texas Water Development Board funding. Regional Water Conservation

  10. Voluntary Irrigation Suspension Program Options (VISPO) Long-term objective- to enroll 40,000 acre-feet of groundwater withdrawal rights.

  11. 2015 Work Plan • Monitor J-17 trigger levels on October 1. • Communicate to enrollees their commitment to VISPO. • If 40,000 acre-feet is not met in 2014, • continue to acquire agreements(and pray for rain). VISPO

  12. Biological Monitoring Long-term objective- Monitor changes to habitat availability and population abundance of covered species.

  13. 2015 Work Plan • Aquatic vegetation • Fountain darter • - Dip-net, drop-net and SCUBA transects • - Dip-net at 50 fixed sites* • Fixed station photography • Thermistors (water quality) • Fish Community • Macroinvertebrate food source • Comal Springs salamander • Comal Springs invertebrates • Comal Springs discharge • San Marcos salamander • TX wild-rice physical measurement • Land Lake flow partitioning • *Added for 2014, based on discussion by Science Committee • **Based on analysis of 2013 data, one additional reach added to San Marcos River and one additional reach added to the New Channel of the Comal River for 2014. Biological Monitoring

  14. Water Quality Monitoring Long-term objective- Detect water quality impairments that may negatively impact the listed species.

  15. Summary of Current Sampling Program • Surface water (base flow) twice annually at each spring group. • Five sample sites at Comal Springs and Seven at San Marcos Springs. • Storm water twice annually at each spring group, across the hydrograph. • Sediment sampling annually at each surface water sample site. • Passive diffusion sampling at each surface water site six-times annually. • Real time monitoring for DO, pH, Turbidity, Conductivity, and Temperature. • Three locations for Comal Springs and two locations for San Marcos Springs Water Quality Monitoring

  16. Minor changes in 2015 Work Plan • Sediment Sampling • Current Interval is 0 to 18-inches below the surface • Recommended change for sample year 2015 0 to 3-inches below the surface • Real Time Water Quality Instrumentation • Currently, the downstream sample point at San Marcos is not monitored in real-time • Recommend adding a downstream instrument to monitor Willow Creek and I-35 • (approximately one river mile downstream, difficult to time storm samples) Water Quality Monitoring

  17. Ecological Modeling Long-term objective- to develop a comprehensive mechanistic ecological model to assist in Adaptive Management decisions.

  18. 2015 Work Plan • Literature Review • Food sources • Aquatic vegetation scour • % Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Cover to Biomass Component • Fountain Darter Modeling Component • Aquatic Vegetation Modeling Component • Prototyped in two study reaches (Comal & San Marcos) • Model calibration • Sensitivity and robustness analysis Ecological Model

  19. Applied Research Long-term objective- to evaluate effects of low-flows on covered species and provide information to be used in the Ecological Model.

  20. 2015 Projects (as ranked by the Science Committee) • Ludwigiarepensinterferenceplant competition. • Suspended sediment impacts on Texas wild-rice (and other aquatic plant) growth characteristics, and aquatic macroinvertebrates. • Algae dynamics. • Effects of sediment shear stress on submerged aquatic vegetation. Applied Research

  21. 2015 Projects (continued) • Comal Springs riffle beetle habitat connectivity (surface, riparian and submerged). • Fountain darter food source temperature refinement and response to plant species. • Does the fountain darter exhibit compensatory reproduction, and if so, when and what causes it? • What are the behavioral impacts of the fountain darter under different turbidity levels in relation to feeding success? Applied Research

  22. Stage V Critical Period Management Long-term objective- to decrease withdrawls and maintain adequate spring flows at both Comal and San Marcos Springs during times of drought.

  23. 2015 Work Plan • Monitor aquifer and spring flow levels daily. • Issue Notice of Commencement - 5 newspapers, permit holder mail out, website, EAA office. • Monitor compliance of monthly water use reporting requirements. • Provide online Critical Period Management (CPM) calculators available to permit holders to assist with calculating CPM reductions. • Assess receipt of annual groundwater withdrawal report submitted by EAA permit holders on January 31st.  Stage V Critical Period Management

  24. Rio Vista Real Time Station Water Quality Monitoring Proposed Willow Creek Real Time Station

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