Partnering with Groundwater Districts for Data Sharing and Aquifer Health

Major (left) and minor (right) aquifers in Texas and county boundaries. Image: Texas Water Development Board

The Federal Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a WaterSMART Applied Science Grant to BBCA—in partnership with the groundwater conservation districts of Brewster, Culberson, and Presidio Counties. The $48,000 grant will help fund a common data management platform that will enable the three districts to centralize data from ongoing monitoring programs, integrate historical data, and provide the public with access.

The project will also fund a shared data module, so that groundwater districts can form a more holistic picture of the health of shared aquifers that cross county boundaries. According to Summer Webb, General Manager of Brewster and Culberson County Groundwater Conservation Districts, “Aquifers don't recognize political boundaries. Having the ability to look at our shared aquifers more holistically will drastically improve our ability to research, permit and plan for the future health of our aquifers and communities.”

The highly competitive WaterSMART program funds the development of tools and information to support and enhance water management and improve water supply reliability. The project builds on the success of the Presidio County Underground Water Conservation District, which implemented software last year and provides a model for the project.

BBCA worked with the three groundwater districts to write the grant and will fund the shared data module with a match from the Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation. The module is being developed so that any groundwater district using the same software platform can freely adopt it, helping make available and promote the benefits of shared data across Texas.

Press

Big Bend Sentinel, “Grant awarded to Big Bend Conservation Alliance and local groundwater districts.” October 6, 2021.

Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation has generously provided the match, which supports the development of the shared data module.