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Stage 3 Water Restrictions -

June 21, 2022

NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT STAGE III CRITICAL PERIOD
FOR SAN ANTONIO POOL
The purpose of this notice is to advise Edwards Aquifer (Aquifer) groundwater withdrawal permit holders that the General Manager of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) determined that the criteria for declaring Stage III of the EAA Critical Period Management Plan (CPM) have been satisfied. The General Manager hereby gives notice of implementation of Stage III of the CPM in the San Antonio Pool effective June 13, 2022. When water levels of the Aquifer or springflows of Comal Springs or San Marcos Springs decline below certain levels, the CPM requires reductions in withdrawals from the Aquifer. This plan is designed to slow the rate of decline of Aquifer levels or springflows. During a stage of the CPM, a permit holder’s groundwater withdrawal amount authorized within an Initial Regular Permit is adjusted downward by the calculations in § 715.218 of the EAA rules. For the San Antonio Pool, permitted withdrawal amounts are reduced by 35% during Stage III.


In accordance with EAA rules, once per calendar year, irrigators in the San Antonio Pool may claim an exemption from critical period reductions in order to finish irrigating a crop already planted. In order to take advantage of this exemption, an irrigator must demonstrate that he/she is within 30 days or less of exceeding his/her permitted groundwater withdrawal amount (including applied reduction), at such time a Notice of Intent to Finish Out a Crop form may be filed with the EAA. See EAA RULES § 715.219. These notice forms are available on the EAA website at www.edwardsaquifer.org, or may be obtained by requesting a copy. To aid in calculating the groundwater withdrawal amount authorized, permit holders may use the EAA Groundwater Calculator also available on the website.


If any interested person has questions or would like additional information, they may contact the EAA’s Critical Period team at (210) 477-1883 or (866) 931-3239 or visit the EAA offices at 900 E. Quincy, San Antonio, Texas. Provisions of the EAA Critical Period Management Plan can be found in Chapter 715, Subchapter E of the EAA rules. The rules are available on the EAA website or can be obtained at the EAA offices.
ISSUED THIS 13 th DAY OF JUNE 2022.