Thank you to Jeremy Baker - KENS 5 at KENS 5 & Kens5.com for this week’s weather update! ☀️ We’re seeing some warm temperatures this week, with a cool front expected to move in through the weekend. While recent rain is welcome news, conserving water remains essential to help sustain the... Edwards Aquifer and protect this vital resource for generations to come. 💧🌎

Did you know the plants in your yard can directly impact our water supply? 🌿💧

At the Edwards Aquifer Authority, protecting the Edwards Aquifer starts from the ground up, literally! Jewell, EAA Aquifer Environmental Scientist, is here to break down the difference between native and ...non-native plants and explain why native plants and grasses are better options for planting in your yards or gardens.

Native plants are adapted to our region’s climate and soil, meaning they require less water, promote better soil absorption, and deeper roots mean water makes its way down into the ground and eventually the aquifer. 🌎✨

Tune in to learn how small landscaping choices can make a big difference in water conservation!

EAA Board Meeting today at 1 p.m. ➡️Tune in here or at https://edwardsaquifer-org.zoom.us/j/97723163101

Why are conservation easements so important to aquifer protection?

In this video Casey, EAA Aquifer Sustainability Supervisor, breaks down how a conservation easement works, how it helps protect the Edwards Aquifer, and why landowners choose this path for their property.

A ...conservation easement allows landowners to preserve the natural landscape of the property while still maintaining ownership. This in turn, helps protect critical lands within the 3 zones of the Edwards Aquifer System, and ultimately positively impacts the quality and quantity of water that enters and is withdrawn from the aquifer for generations to come.

It’s about stewardship, legacy, and protecting the resources we all depend on.

Follow along to watch and to learn more about how conservation easements support both landowners and long-term aquifer protection. 💧

Wells play an important role in withdrawing water from the aquifer, but they can also pose a threat to groundwater if they are not properly maintained since they span hundreds of feet below ground surface.

🤝That’s where our Groundwater Regulations Team comes in, because for the past ...8 years they have been working with well owners and their contractors to address abandoned wells. This initiative has resulted in 449 abandoned well issues being resolved. This team also documents and inspects registered wells, monitors the jurisdiction for unregistered wells, and searches for abandoned wells.

💧This National Groundwater Awareness Week, we encourage you to learn more about well ownership by reading our guide to responsible well ownership here:
https://www.edwardsaquifer.org/groundwater-users/wells/

Spring forward tomorrow as daylight savings time begins! Here are some things to consider later this month as we enter the spring season.💧

As part of the Edward’s Aquifer Authority’s Next Generation Initiative, we continue to explore and promote innovative tools designed to make life easier for our permit holders.

One major advancement is the deployment of Automated Meter Reading (AMR) technology, which streamlines the ...entire meter reading process.

Traditionally, permit holders submit their meter readings to the EAA once per year – and during Critical Periods, most permit holders are required to report monthly. These reports are essential to effective aquifer management and monitoring.

With AMR, manual readings are a thing of the past. The equipment reduces the need for multiple monthly visits by the user but also provides near real-time and conservation. Additionally, the data supports our science teams in modeling and managing the Edwards Aquifer more efficiently.

The AMR station is a self contained unit featuring a transceiver (transmitter and receiver), batteries, and a solar panel, all housed in a secure cabinet mounted on a pole next to the meter. Installation and maintenance of the AMR equipment come at no cost to permit holders. Because readings are automated, accuracy is guaranteed. Our team only performs occasional inspections to ensure everything operates as expected.

If you are an EAA permit holder, learn more about this technology at https://www.edwardsaquifer.org/groundwater-users/groundwater-use-reporting/automated-meter-reading/