AWWA ACE54521

Intense groundwater pumping in the Houston and Galveston area of Texas resulted in land subsidence of up to ten feet, increased flooding, significant declines in water levels in the aquifers, increased fault activity, loss of wildlife habitat and wetland areas, failure of water wells, and some declines in groundwater quality due to saltwater intrusion. The Harris-Galveston Coastal Subsidence District (the District) was created in 1975 to control subsidence and manage groundwater resources in Harris and Galveston Counties, through regulation of groundwater withdrawal, conservation, and cooperation withsurface water suppliers to assure adequate future supplies of water for beneficial uses. All groundwater withdrawals within the District, with a few exemptions, are subject to permitting and regulation by the District. All permitted groundwater withdrawals are subject to a base permit fee. Funds generated by the base permit fee are utilized for regulatory functions of the District. The District has also adopted an additional permit fee that is intended to serve as a disincentive to continued groundwater pumping and to facilitate compliance with the 1999 District Regulatory Plan. The Regulatory Plan contains the schedule for conversion from groundwater to surface water. The Regulatory Plan also required that a study be conducted to recommend an appropriate rate for the disincentive fee, identify necessary financial management structures, and establish procedures for administering funds obtained from the fee. This paper examines the history of the District, including the correlation between groundwater withdrawal and subsidence. It also reviews the legal issues surrounding the establishment of the permit fees, the degree of surface water conversions to date, and the requirements of the 1999 District Regulatory Plan. The methodology utilized for determination of the disincentive fee is described, the components of the fee are explained, anticipated compliance with the fee is examined, and the recommended administration and use of any funds generated by the fee is outlined in this paper. This unique study was completed by Black & Veatch in November 1999, and the fee was adopted by the District in December 1999. It is believed that this is the first disincentive fee to be adopted for the control of groundwater withdrawal. Includes reference, figures.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

06/01/2001

Number of Pages:

15

File Size:

1 file , 390 KB