This bill amends Section 36.1132 of the Water Code to introduce a new regulation regarding the issuance of groundwater permits by groundwater conservation districts. Specifically, it adds a new subsection (d) that prohibits a district from issuing a permit for the production and transfer of groundwater if doing so would allow the applicant to exceed five percent of the total modeled available groundwater allocated to the district, as determined by the executive administrator. This measure aims to ensure sustainable groundwater management by limiting the amount of groundwater that can be extracted and transferred out of the district.

The new provision applies only to permits issued on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session. This legislative change reflects a commitment to responsible groundwater conservation practices and aims to protect the water resources within the district from over-extraction.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Water Code 36.1132 (Water Code 36)