Amending Groundwater Withdrawal Permits

Permit holders may amend the point(s) of withdrawal; purpose of use; place of use; or permittee name of their initial regular or regular permits. Amending the terms of a permit are subject to approval of an Application to Amend by the EAA General Manager. If you have any questions regarding permit amendments, please contact EAA Staff.

Amend Permit Application

Consolidating Permits

Same Owner, Place, Purpose and Withdrawal Points

To qualify for a permit consolidation of two or more initial regular permits (IRPs) or regular permits (RPs), all permits being consolidated must have the same Place of Use, same Purpose of Use, same Point(s) of Withdrawal, and be listed under the same Owner.

Consolidate Permit Application

Different Owner, Place, Purpose or Withdrawal Points

When consolidating permits have differing owner, place, purpose or withdrawal points, a separate application to transfer or application to amend the permit must also be completed, approved and processed by the EAA before applying for a permit consolidation. The consolidations are subject to approval of an Application to Consolidate (PDF) by the EAA General Manager. If you have any questions regarding permit consolidations, please contact EAA Staff.

Consolidate Permit Application Amend Permit Application VISPO Transfer Lease Application

Converting Base Irrigation Groundwater Rights

Base Vs. Unrestricted

Irrigation groundwater rights are classified in two subcategories:

• Base irrigation groundwater rights, which are significantly restricted in how they may be transferred and used
• Unrestricted irrigation groundwater rights, which are less limited

Base Irrigation Groundwater Rights
Base irrigation groundwater rights are restricted for use only on the irrigated land where the water was originally used and authorized and, consequently, these rights must be transferred with the land whenever it is sold. However, base irrigation groundwater may be leased to other users for irrigation purposes for periods of up to 10 years.

Unrestricted Groundwater Rights
Unrestricted irrigation groundwater rights, on the other hand, may be transferred (sold or leased) and used elsewhere for other (non-irrigation) purposes within the EAA’s jurisdictional boundaries, except to withdrawal points east of Cibolo Creek (see Cibolo Creek Transfers below).

Converting Base to Unrestricted

Base irrigation groundwater rights can be converted to unrestricted irrigation groundwater rights under two circumstances:

Upon the installation of water conservation equipment that results in savings of base irrigation groundwater used

Convert Base Irrigation Groundwater Install Conservation Equipment Form

when there is a clear change in land use such that it no longer qualifies as agricultural.

Application to Convert Base Irrigation Goundwater Developed Land or Land No Longer Practicable-to-Farm

These conversions are subject to approval of an Application to Convert Base Irrigation Groundwater by the EAA Board of Directors. If you have any questions regarding historically irrigated land or base irrigation groundwater, please contact EAA staff.