What does “draw-down” resulting from groundwater pumping look like on a map? As you may know, the Desired Future Conditions are established in terms of the draw-down, in feet, of aquifers in Bastrop and Lee counties and throughout the District.
Recently, Environmental Stewardship obtained visual images based on the Groundwater Availability Model (GAM) used by the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District to evaluate the impact of proposed pumping from current permit applications on the Simsboro Aquifer. Draw-down, measured in feet, is indicated on the contour lines of the maps below.
NOTICE: Please keep in mind that the images below (except for Image 1) are for the PROPOSED permits ONLY (124,226 acre-feet/year) and DO NOT include EXISTING permits (45,365 acre-feet/year).
Image 1. PERMIT THIS – The draw-down, in feet, expected when the Adopted Desired Future Conditions (DFC) are met in Bastrop and Lee counties. The dark area in Burleson County is from Post Oak Savannah GCD pumping. Click on Map to Enlarge
Image 2. NOT WATER BANKRUPTCY – The draw-down, in feet, expected if ALL current applications are approved and pumped to the maximum permitted. Notice the red area in Lee county where draw-down is 1000 ft, and orange area in Bastrop County where draw-down is 750 ft. Click on Map to Enlarge

Image 4. WATER BANKRUPTCY – The majority of draw-down, in feet, in Bastrop County is from the proposed End Op well field, which is directly below Houston Toad habitat. Click on Map to Enlarge
Image 5. This image depicts Forestar pumping reduced to 25% of requested pumping volume but DOES NOT include existing permits. Click on Map to Enlarge
Image 6. This image depicts End Op pumping reduced to 25% of requested pumping volume but DOES NOT include existing permits. Click on Map to Enlarge