TGR NEWS - Winter 2024
If you missed a previous issue of our newsletters, just click here to read and or download those issues.
This winter TGR Resource quarterly newsletter was published on Friday, November 22, 2024.
No Rain, No Gain
With water well levels already near historic lows and rainfall deficits around seven inches for the year so far, the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District (TGR) declared STAGE 3 water restrictions on November 1 in compliance with the District’s Drought Conservation and Management Plan, which was updated this year.
“We are seeing very negative trends in our Trinity Aquifer monitoring water well levels continue. Additionally, we’re seeing a similar pattern with the Edwards Aquifer,” said TGR General Manager Amanda Maloukis. “Stage 3 is the highest level of required conservation measures for our district and they’re being invoked due to this persistent drought which has prevented water wells from replenishing to get us back to somewhat normal water levels.
“The last 3 years of below average precipitation and record heat has compounded our declining water levels. Years with normal rainfall amounts help water supplies recover and keep up with ongoing demand, so we are in a place where we need normal rainfall amounts and more to experience recovery from the aquifer drought levels.”
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The month of October made several new records:
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San Antonio went for 53 consecutive days without measurable rain. The measurable rain that was received for month totaled to 0.01 inches.
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This was the driest October since 1954 and the hottest on record since 1895.
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Measurable rain for the year is 6.99 inches below normal. We have received 21.31 inches so far.
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“How can people help our aquifers? First of all, the growing season has stopped, so there should
absolutely be no lawn watering happening,” Maloukis stated in her call to action. “Even though our Stage
3 irrigation measures limit watering to once every other two weeks, that restriction is really written for
summer months when landscapes do need a little water to stay alive. So, please, turn off all sprinkler
systems and hand water only where and when necessary. Then, we would ask families to talk about
conserving water. We can save a lot of water by taking short showers, washing only full loads of clothes
and dishes and never just letting a faucet run. You must have an active purpose for using water to turn the faucet on.”
You can download a complete copy of TGR’s Drought Stage Plan and the District’s latest drought brochure “Managing Drought” at our website. www.trinityglenrose.com/drought-information. The TGR Conservation page has additional ways each household can help save water during these very dry weather conditions. You can find those tips at this link. If you’re interested in capturing rain water, you can learn how to build your own rain barrels at the TGR District website. Just click here.​​
Stage 3 Extreme Drought Restrictions
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Water use reduction goal of 15%.
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Watering with a hand-held hose may occur any time and any day.
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Watering with a spray irrigation system, sprinkler, or soaker hose is allowed once every other week, from 5-10 a.m. and 9 p.m.-12 a.m. on your designated watering day as determined by your address in Stage 1.
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Watering with drip irrigation may run one day a week, on Friday, from 5-10 a.m. or 9 p.m.-12 a.m.
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Residential car washing should occur only once a week, during drought on Saturday or Sunday as long as there is no water waste.
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Installing newly planted landscapes is highly discouraged.
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Alternate sources of water usage are highly encouraged such as rainwater harvesting, reclaimed condensate, reclaimed grey water, recycled water that has no adverse effects to public health and safety, and other non-groundwater sources.
The chart below is the watering day chart for all drought stages. There is no watering on weekends.
You can download a complete copy of TGR’s Drought Stage Plan and the District’s latest drought brochure “Managing Drought” at our website. www.trinityglenrose.com/drought-information.
The TGR Conservation page has additional ways each household can help save water during these very dry weather conditions. You can find those tips at the link.
Handy Links to Learning More About Water Savings
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The local news media has published some very thorough articles about the current drought conditions
the area is dealing with. Here is a link to a well-written piece by San Antonio Express-News.
Here are some other links with pertinent drought information.
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Palmer Drought Severity Index Map
WATER WELL MAPS | TrinityGlenRoseGCD - TGR Monitor Wells with real-time readings
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Rain Sensors - rain sensors should be installed and maintained on all irrigation systems equipped with automatic irrigation controls and inspected annually.
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Xeriscape Option - Homebuilders and/or developers subdividing lots and/or constructing new single family residential homes should offer a xeriscape option in any series of landscaping options offered to prospective home buyers.
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Rainwater Harvesting Systems - Homebuilders, developers, Homeowner Associations, and homeowners should consider the installation of rain harvesting systems. Rain harvesting systems can reduce reliance on common water supplies with a low-cost investment.
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Watch Out for Waste! Allowing groundwater to run off into a ditch, or drain, failing to repair a controllable leak, including lawn watering overspray and runoff is considered waste.
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Watering Times - Watering before 10 a.m. or after 9 p.m. to prevent water loss through evaporation.
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Give us a Hand - Water with a hand-held hose every chance you get.
Six Ways
to Saving
Lots of Water
TGR DISTRICT
NEWS
BRIEFS
TGR District has a New Email Address
We are in the process of updating our IT system which will include a new email for the office. That new email address is: office@TGRGCD.org.
Upcoming Meetings of Interest
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Trinity Glen Rose District Board Meeting - 10:00 am on Thursday, December 12, 2024, to be held at the TGR District office 12274 Bandera Rd. Suite 106, Helotes, TX.
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GMA-9 Regional Meeting - 10:00 am, Friday, December 13, 2024, at the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District office, 9 Toepperwein Road, Boerne, TX.
TGR District Continues Support of the Texas 4H Water Ambassadors
At this year’s Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts Groundwater Summit, the Trinity Glen Rose District was recognized for its continued support of the 4H Water Ambassadors. This Texas 4-H program was formed in 2017 in an effort to educate youth about water resources in Texas.
Every spring, up to 30 high school youth are selected to participate in a summer 4-H2O Leadership Academy (tour). Students travel throughout Texas to learn how water is collected, conveyed, treated, conserved and managed to meet the need of our economy and citizenry.
TGR District Moves its Board Meeting Location to New Office
The October meeting of the TGR District
Board was its first to be held in the new
office space located at 12274 Bandera Rd. Suites 106-107. Of note, all of the board members have now been officially sworn in. Each of the board members were elected to their precinct seats this year. You can click on this link to read about each board member and view their terms of office.
GARDENING
GO
Check out what’s happening in the May edition of your favorite landscape show - Go Gardening!
Go Gardening Wraps Season Three
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To close out Season Three of the Go Gardening Show, the team made a trip to Herff Farm in Boerne. There we discovered an educational facility that really has done things right. They are community oriented and love teaching people about Texas native plants, vegetable gardening, pollinators and conserving water. This is a wonderful facility where kids and adults alike can learn more about nature's beauty and uniqueness. Don't miss this segment. It was definitely a fun segment to shoot and produce.
Stop two on our agenda was the Garden Safari in the Del Webb neighborhood on the city's far westside. There we saw a spectacular water feature that took up nearly an entire back yard. The owners had also decorated with the right types of potted plants, native plants, solar lights for the evening and a nice-sized koi pond. Then we headed over to visit with a neighbor who has taken all types of gardening classes and has the "show room" type landscape to prove it. There's a great mixture of raised beds, in-ground plantings, hardscape and a water fountain all perfectly placed to create a back yard respite.
Now is the time to make plans for next spring to take out some of that water-guzzling turf grass and replace with colorful, water-saving native plants. You’ll be glad you did!
We appreciate your support in watching each month and telling your friends and neighbors about the show.
You can watch Go Gardening at: www.TrinityGlenRose.com/gogardening.
DROUGHT
MONITOR
The U.S. Drought Monitor depicts the location and of drought across the country. The map uses 5 classifications: Abnormally Dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought (D1–D4).
Our area is in an Extreme Drought situation, according to the Palmer Drought Index and Texas Drought Monitor. This map is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to trigger some disaster declarations and loan eligibility.
Individual states and water supply planning may use additional information to inform their
declarations and actions.
You can find out more information where Texas drought conditions stand each day by visiting the U.S. Drought Monitor website at: https://www.drought.gov/states/texas.
So how does the rest of the United States looking in terms of drought? Just click this link to see.
San Antonio
Did you know…
The start of winter is a great time to check off a few water-saving items on your to-do list. First, make sure your automatic sprinkler system is off. Next, make sure you don’t have any leaks in your indoor plumbing.
Download the Trinity Glen Rose District 2023 Annual Report
The Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District published its 2023 Annual Report after TGR board approval in April.
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The 2023 Annual Report provides good background on the:
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purpose of the district
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district management plan goals/accomplishments
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current leadership
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well monitoring work
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financial position, and
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community outreach programs
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