Rusk County Groundwater
Conservation District
DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANNING
The Rusk County Groundwater Conservation District has identified 15 wells throughout Rusk County to be used as monitor wells. The purpose of these monitor wells is to monitor the level of the aquifers located under Rusk County.
Each month, (started in February 2006) the RCGCD staff will make a check on the depth from ground to water in each of these wells. This data will be recorded and used in conjunction with the Palmer Drought Index and the Countys precipitation to provide the citizens of Rusk County with an index of groundwater conditions. Click on the Link above to view the report in PDF format.
RUSK COUNTY RAIN GAUGE
The Rusk County Groundwater Conservation District has started to monitor the precipitation throughout Rusk County. Eight sites have been established to insure coverage throughout Rusk County. The data will be updated monthly, normally the first week of each month for the previous month. By comparing the precipitation data with the rise and fall of the aquifer under Rusk County, we believe that we will be better able to predict drought conditions that warrant contingency action. Click on the title to see more information..
GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT
The Rusk County Groundwater Conservation District has contracted with Hydrex Environmental, Inc. to assist the district in gathering scientific data that will be used for the management of the groundwater under Rusk County. The first year of this ongoing project will involve the following four tasks:
1. Refine Well Distribution for Water Level Monitoring to gather data covering the entire County. It is anticipated that the well monitoring program will increase from 15 to 100 monitoring wells.
2. Map Wilcox Sands to provide residents with scientific data that will show where groundwater can be found.
3. Map Water Quality to provide residents with scientific data that will show the water quality in each of the sands in their area.
4. Generate Hydrographs based on water level measurements to compare Texas Water Development Board groundwater availability model predictions with actual data that will allow them to improve model predictions.
For more information please contact Len Luscomb by phone or Email.
CONTACT
WATER QUALITY TESTING
MARTIN LAKE
The Rusk County Groundwater Conservation District engaged ANA-LAB Corp. to conduct testing on six samples of groundwater taken from wells near Martin Lake for low level mercury. This testing was conducted in response to concerns by Rusk County residents that mercury from the power plant at Martin Lake could be seeping into our drinking water. The results of the testing showed that there was no detectable levels of mercury down to 0.00526 ug/L. This roughly equates to 0.005 parts per billion. The EPA has set the maximum limit for mercury in drinking water at 2.0 parts per billion.
This is great news and the Rusk County Groundwater Conservation District would like to thank those residents who allowed us to sample water from their wells for this testing.
WATER WELLS FOR OIL/GAS EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION
Your Rusk County Groundwater Conservation District has been working on a rule change for the past four months. This Rule change address the drilling and production of water wells to support oil/gas exploration and production. After discussing with our attorney, TCEQ, RRC, and TDLR, the District has completed it’s investigation of this proposed rule addition.
The board will present this rule for public comment at their regular meeting on August 4, 2008. To facilitate the enforcement of this rule the District has purchased a “Down-Hole” video camera that will allow us to inspect the construction of water wells to insure they are in compliance with State and District regulations.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PROPOSED RULE
