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The project team consisting of Daniel B. Stephens & Associates, Inc., Freese and Nichols, Turner, Collie and Braden, and George Veni and Associates has screened 25 studies and 8 strategies through a decision analysis process to identify any study or strategy that could be used to justify an adjustment of the Edwards Aquifer withdrawal cap. At present, two implemented water management strategies, The Edwards Aquifer Authority’s (Authority’s) Precipitation Enhancement Program and the San Antonio Water System’s (SAWS) Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project, passed the water-budget based screening process. These strategies currently appear to fall somewhat short of meeting some of the objectives required to justify adjusting the withdrawal cap.

The ASR strategy appears to be the more promising of the two. As the SAWS ASR project goes forward, and an operational track record is established, it may well provide the basis for a cap adjustment in the future.

In addition to the SAWS ASR project and the Precipitation Enhancement Program, the project team identified several other studies and strategies that have the potential to support an adjustment to the withdrawal cap once more conclusive information is developed or more reliable performance records are developed.