The purpose of this web page is to improve transparency on the behalf of the District and improve the efforts of the District to inform the public of important developments related to groundwater resource management at the Bowers and Saha Aquaculture, LLC – Boca Chica Farm in Jackson County, Texas. 

The following map illustrates the location of the aquifer monitoring sites at the Bowers and Saha Aquaculture, LLC – Boca Chica Farm​ in Jackson County, Texas: 

Status regarding Groundwater Production Curtailment - Updated on September 1, 2023

Groundwater production under permit OPWF-20191219-01 and WV-20191219-01 from water wells of the the fresh groundwater zone is required to be curtailed.

Groundwater production under permit OPWF-20191219-01 and WV-20191219-01 from water wells of the brackish groundwater zone is required to be curtailed.

Establishment of Initial Conditions
On March 12, 2020, the District submitted the following information to Ekstrom Aquaculture regarding the Initial Conditions established under waiver WV-20191219-01.

Approval of Waiver and Permits

On May 7, 2020, the District authorized the amendment of drilling permits DP-20101219-03, 04, 05, 06, and 07 to extend the permit expiration date until June 16, 2021. 
​On December 16, 2019, the District authorized the issuance of 1) waiver WV-20191219-01; 2) drilling permits DP-20191219-01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, and 07; 3) drilling permits DP-20191219-08, 09, 10, 11, 12, and 13; and 4) production permit OPWF-20191219-01 upon completion and registration of the wells drilled under the approved drilling permits.  The maximum production rates for the subject well field are 9,210 gallons per minute and 5,884 acre-feet per year.  

Permitting Process Details

On December 11, 2019, the State Office of Administrative Hearings remanded the case to the District.
On December 10, 2019, the District, the Landowner Parties, and Ekstrom Aquaculture entered into an agreement to support the proposed waiver and withdraw the protests to the case.
​On June 7, 2019, Ekstrom Aquaculture requested the permitting request be referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
On May 20, 28, and 31, 2019, the District received notices of intent to contest the permitting requests associated with Ekstrom Aquaculture Fish Farm.
On April 22, 2019, the District filed a protest to the applications for the drilling permits and production permit for the proposed well field.
On April 15, 2019, the District provided public notice of the consideration of the permitting requests associated with the Ekstrom Aquaculture Fish Farm at a meeting of the Board of Directors to be held on April 25, 2019. 
On March 6, 2019, the District receive application AWV-20190307-01 related to a waiver request for the propose well field, comprise of all existing and proposed wells, at the Ekstrom Aquaculture Fish Farm and associated drilling permit applications.
On March 4, 2019, the District received application AVW-20190304-02 related to the validation of historic use of a grandfathered well owned by Ekstrom Aquaculture and application AOWF-20190304-03 related to a production permit for a well field at Ekstrom Aquaculture.
On September 4, 2018, the District received application AWV-20180904-01 requesting a waiver request for the proposed well field, comprise of all existing and proposed wells, at the Ekstrom Aquaculture Fish Farm and associated drilling permit applications.
On August 29, 2018, the District received application AOWF-20180829-01 related to a production permit for a well field at Ekstrom Aquaculture.
On August 21, 2017, the District received applications related to drilling six non-grandfathered water wells the Ekstrom Aquaculture Fish Farm.