New Study Areas Approved

The District's depletion rule establishes a 1.25% acceptable annual decline rate for the aquifer. It is a mechanism put into place to meet the District's 50/50 Standard (to have at least 50% of the current saturated thickness of the aquifer remaining after 50 years, benchmark was established in 1998.) The depletion rule sets production floor rates that guarantee minimum about of water allowed to be pumped. 

In implementing the depletion rule study areas can be created around any area that exceeds the 1.25% decline rate which results in mandatory metering and extra measurements taken throughout the year. A conservation area can be created if an area has been in a study area for at least 2 years and continually breaks the cumulative decline trend which results in production limitations.

All new proposed study areas within Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District were approved by the board during the hearing on August 20 in White Deer, Texas. The new study areas approved include 14-1 in Carson County and 14-2 in Wheeler County. All previous study and conservation areas will remain.