NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT STAGE III CRITICAL PERIOD
FOR SAN ANTONIO POOL
The purpose of this notice is to advise Edwards Aquifer (Aquifer) groundwater withdrawal permit
holders that the General Manager of the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) determined that the
criteria for declaring Stage III of the EAA Critical Period Management Plan (CPM) have been
satisfied. The General Manager hereby gives notice of implementation of Stage III of the CPM in
the San Antonio Pool effective September 21, 2026. When water levels of the Aquifer or
springflows of Comal Springs or San Marcos Springs decline below certain levels, the CPM
requires reductions in withdrawals from the Aquifer. This plan is designed to slow the rate of
decline of Aquifer levels or springflows. During a stage of the CPM, a permit holder’s
groundwater withdrawal amount authorized within an Initial Regular Permit is adjusted downward
by the calculations in § 715.218 of the EAA rules. For the San Antonio Pool, permitted withdrawal
amounts are reduced by 35% during Stage III.
In accordance with EAA rules, once per calendar year, irrigators may claim an exemption from
critical period reductions so they can finish irrigating a crop already planted. To take advantage
of this exemption, an irrigator must demonstrate that irrigation of the crop through harvest would
require the irrigator to exceed his or her reduced permitted groundwater withdrawal amount.
Persons finishing out a crop may file a Notice of Intent to Finish Out a Crop with the EAA at any
time during the calendar year; however, such a form shall not be filed after December 1st. See
EAA RULES § 715.219. These notice forms are available on the EAA website at
www.edwardsaquifer.org, or may be obtained by requesting a copy. To aid in calculating the
groundwater withdrawal amount authorized, permit holders may use the EAA Groundwater
Calculator also available on the website.
If any interested person has questions or would like additional information, they may contact the
EAA’s Critical Period team at (210) 477-1883 or (866) 931-3239 or visit the EAA offices at 900
E. Quincy, San Antonio, Texas. Provisions of the EAA Critical Period Management Plan can be
found in Chapter 715, Subchapter E of the EAA rules. The rules are available on the EAA website
or can be obtained at the EAA offices.
ISSUED THIS 21st Day of September 2026.