MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas-The Region D Water Planning Group elected officers heard a report on brackish groundwater studies being conducted on area aquifers and also heard an update on the next round of state water planning during their regular meeting Wednesday.
Brandon Belcher was elected to represent the environmental interests in Hunt County, and Fred Milton was elected to represent the water districts in Bowie County. Belcher is a project manager for the Nature Conservancy and Milton represents the city of New Boston on the Riverbend Water Resources District Board of Directors.
Jean Perez and Alan Andrews, groundwater hydrologists studying innovative water technologies for the Texas Water Development Board, also gave a presentation on a study they're conducting to determine the salinity in aquifers across the state. The Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System was funded in 2009 by the 81st Texas Legislature to characterize brackish areas in the aquifers for potential water usage. Brackish water is saltier than freshwater, but less salty than seawater, and cannot be used alone or without being treated to remove or reduce the salt it contains. Perez said that's something that could be done with desalinization plants in the future if the water was needed, but for now, they're seeking input and water sample data from stakeholders along the Nacatoch and Blossom aquifers. They're also studying the geology of each to determine how deep and where water wells would need to be drilled to access the water.
"That's what we're trying to figure out, is how deep can you get usable water from the aquifer," Andrews said. "That's kind of the purpose of this study is to figure out where this aquifer goes to."
Nacatoch runs under 15 counties in the northeastern portion of the state, including Bowie and Red River, and Blossom is a minor aquifer underneath Bowie, Red River and Lamar counties. A project stakeholder meeting is scheduled in April in Greenville, with another meeting scheduled for August in Austin. The details on the April meeting haven't been determined yet, Andrews said. The projects are expected to be complete in May. More information is available at twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/bracs/.
In other business, Tony Smith with Carollo Engineering gave a report on where Region D stood in relation to the 2021 State Water Plan. They are now in the fifth cycle of planning, and on schedule, Smith said. The water planning group sent a $1 million funding application to the state in September 2016 requesting money to complete the fifth cycle, and they are now completing the paperwork to receive the funds.
The next meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. April 5 at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center, 1800 N. Jefferson, Mount Pleasant, Texas.