The Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District is developing a flood warning system in Bandera County. Their mission is to protect and preserve the county's water resources. They monitor wells and groundwater, perform lab services, investigate illegal dumping, and work to preserve headwaters and rivers. They partner with other organizations on water quality sampling and invasive species management. They educate the public through school and community programs about water conservation, quality, and natural resources. They also monitor drought, rainfall, and floods.

1. Development of a Flood Warning System in
Bandera County
Dave Mauk, General Manager
June 15, 2018

2. Our Mission
“The principle mission of the Bandera County River Authority and
Groundwater District is to protect and preserve the county’s water
and natural resources for the State of Texas. The District is also
tasked with maintaining local accountability of the county’s water
resources to help safeguard the property rights of the citizens of
Bandera County.”

3. Preserving & Protecting the Aquifer

4. Well Nuisance Investigations
➔ Inspect all wells drilled in the County
➔ Before, during, and after drilling
➔ Collect and test groundwater samples

5. Monitor Well Program
➔ 42 monitor wells
➔ Static levels collected monthly
➔ Water Quality samples
collected quarterly

6. Abandoned Well-Plugging Program

7. Geophysical Logging Program

8. ➔ The public may bring in well water
samples to be analyzed for bacteria
and pertinent mineral content
➔ Plate counts for E. coli are performed
on surface water quality samples
Laboratory Services

9. Environmental Investigations

10. Illegal Dumping Litter Abatement Program
Illegal dumping includes the following possible violations:
➔ Sewage or septic tank failures
➔ Illegal trash dumps
➔ Violations of TCEQ or EPA rules on dumping waste including but not limited to harmful chemicals,
VOCs, heavy metals, etc.
➔ Any waste of water as defined in the Texas Water Code and BCRAGD rules

11. Preserving & Protecting the
Headwaters

12. Clean Rivers Program
➔ Quarterly water quality assessments and samples
taken from sites on the Medina River Basin and the
Nueces River Basin
◆ 8 Medina River sites
◆ 5 Medina Lake sites
◆ 2 Diversion Lake sites
◆ 3 Sabinal River / Seco Creek sites
➔ BCRAGD partners with San Antonio River Authority
and Nueces River Authority for Quality
Assurance/Quality Control, Data Entry, and
Laboratory Services
➔ Aquatic Life Monitoring with SARA during the
summers

13. HISTORY OF PARTNERSHIP IN CRP
From SARA 2016 Basin Highlights Report

14. In-House Surface Water Quality Sampling
➔ Initiated to monitor surface water quality for the purpose of protecting the
resource and public health in frequented recreational areas
➔ 22 sites in the Medina and Sabinal Rivers, and Seco Creek are sampled
quarterly during the year
➔ Recreational hotspots are sampled bi-weekly during the summer
➔ Results are posted on the BCRAGD website and submitted to the local
newspaper

15. Medina Lake Management
➔ Safety Bouys installed to alert public
of potential boating hazards
➔ BCRAGD staff works with TPWD to
monitor for the invasive species
Zebra Mussels
➔ Nonpoint Source Pollution Initiative
concluded last summer
➔ Potential collaborative project with
USGS to look at Medina Lake water
quality

16. Invasive Species Management
➔ BCRAGD monitors for and manages the spread of
invasive species
➔ Species of particular interest are Arundo donax and
Zebra mussels

17. Education & Outreach Programs

18. K-12th Grade Education Programs
➔ Water Resource Stewardship Education
Program
◆ Partnering with Nueces River Authority since
2012
◆ Taught at Bandera, Medina, and Utopia ISDs
➔ 6th Grade Ag Day
➔ Expanding Your Horizons at Schreiner
University
➔ Major Rivers Curriculum
➔ “Science in Action” at Bandera Middle
School

19. ● Prioritizing the education of best management
practices through presentations and hands-on
workshops
○ Water conservation
■ Aquaponics
■ Rainwater harvesting
○ Water quality protection
■ Nonpoint source risks
■ Abandoned well plugging
○ Riparian system function
○ Flood awareness and mitigation
○ Invasive species management
IN THE COMMUNITY
Water Conservation &
Natural Resource Stewardship

20. In the Community- Water Conservation & Natural Resource Stewardship
● Medina River Protection
Fund Board (MRPF)
● Lake Medina
Conservation Society
(LAMCOS)
● Madrona Garden Club
● Local Ag and Natural
Resource Committee

21. Regional Resource Planning
➔ Groundwater Management Area 9
➔ Region J - Plateau Regional Water
Planning Group
➔ GSA BBASC
➔ Member of Texas Alliance of Groundwater
Districts

22. Drought Monitoring

23. Rainfall Monitoring
➔ Gages and Weather Stations
◆ USGS gages track precipitation
◆ BCRAGD was granted access to a
weather station provided by the Edwards
Aquifer Authority through a HOBOlink.
➔ BCRAGD has a network of volunteers
called Rainspotters that submit rainfall in
inches that they record each month

24. Flood Awareness Program