Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District Board
The Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District board of directors discussed the modeling, makeup and flow of the aquifers in its four-county area during the regular meeting Thursday, Jan. 8 in its Stephenville office.
MTGCD is a statesanctioned body responsible for permitting and regulating the spacing and production of groundwater wells in Erath, Comanche, Bosque and Coryell counties. They also offer services like water quality tests to well owners in the district.
A water chemical study was presented to board members by hydrogeologist Alysa Sule with Freese and Nichols. In introducing the study, Sule said the study had the following goals:
■ Statistical and Geochemical Trend Analysis
■ Expanding Sampling in Under sampled Aquifers
■ Targeted Sampling in Areas with Elevated Constituents (She provided the example of studying why Coryell’s water is more brackish than the other counties)
■ Establish Baseline and Trend Tracking
■ TCEQ Regulatory Implications “This helps better understand how groundwater flows across the district,” said Sule. “It reinforces the idea that all water is not created equal across the district.”
She presented graphs of chemical properties in 700 samples of water taken from across the district that indicated several trends and provided evidence of how the aquifers in MTGCD’s counties flow and mix.
The study highlighted the difference in groundwater across the large district and Sule said that the district can examine management zones to help better manage it.
Sule added that the report and code for the Freese and Nichols study is being provided so they can continue to update with new samples and compare.
MTGCD general manager Patrick Wagner also informed the board that he and hydrologist James Beach are examining the way the Paluxy and Glen Rose aquifers are being modeled under Groundwater Management Area 8 to ensure it aligns with MTGCD’s own data and will provide for accurate planning.
In regular reports, Wagner advised that the district’s internship program will be in the summer, fall semesters and that a new monitoring well is being installed under Lake Whitney near data centers. He is also keeping current on data centers in the area and whether they are using groundwater to cool.
The drought report indicated near normal to slight drought but that drought conditions are likely to increase.
Field Tech Johnny Wells provided the data from Bosque wells monitored in December and reported he did 8 water quality tests in Erath County which revealed no issues.
The board unanimously approved the annual investment policy and to continue supporting the 4-H Water Ambassador program which allows sponsoring youth to visit educational sites around the state and gain knowledge of water issues that they share with others.
The board appointed Ed Dittfurth as secretary and Shane Tucker as assistant secretary. To ensure financial accountability and oversight, Barbara Domel was added as the second director on the district’s checking account and Kenneth Bullington and Robert Payne were added to the TexPool investment account.