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<br />3. Water Balance - The purpose of this task is to compile all of the data and develop a defensible and <br />reliable water bal ance that quantifies the amount of water used or leaving the Basin annually, the <br />amount of water gained or returned to the Basin annually, and the estimated amount of water in <br />storage. Additionally, changes in the water table will be evaluated regarding p otential environmental <br />or recreational impacts. <br /> <br />The final deliverable for the project is a report describing the components of the Water Balance, the results <br />of the Water Balance, and the technical conclusions. <br /> <br />Threshold and Evaluation Criteria <br />The appli cant addresses and meets the four threshold criteria. The applicant does not address the evaluation <br />criteria as it is a grant request from the Basin Account. <br /> <br />Funding Overview <br />The applicants are asking for $ 45,000 in grant funding from the Arkansas Basin Account. Funding from the <br />W SRA constitutes 90 % of the total project cost. The District is providing $5,000 in matching funds <br /> <br />Discussion : <br />Overall the application for funding was well prepared and the study is needed to help put the waters in the <br />Basin to maximum beneficial use in a sustainable way. The application was approved by the Arkansas <br />roundtable’s Needs Assessment Sub - Committee and subsequently approved by consensus by the full <br />roundtable. The study will assess consumptive and nonconsumptive wat er needs and compare the needs <br />against the available water supply via a water balance assessment approach. The study will also include how <br />a lowered water table may affect threatened species, wetlands, and other environmental or recreational <br />amenities. T he project will compare the needs with the annual recharge to the Basin to determine <br />sustainability and will compare the water in storage to determine if water table lowering is expected. The <br />Water Balance will provide the District with a technical basis upon which to make water management <br />decisions. <br /> <br />This project is needed to ensure that the Basin’s alluvial ground water resources are accurately quantified. <br />Once the resource is quantified, the District can make decisions to appropriately manage ground wa ter by <br />determining if additional ground water well permits can be granted and thereby avoid over - appropriation of <br />the ground water. <br /> <br />It is important to note that this project represents a portion of work which was included in a previously <br />submitted grant a pplication (Severance Tax Trust Fund Operational Account application filed with the <br />CWCB in January 2007). The applicant states that “ any money received from the Severance Tax Trust Fund <br />will be used to further expand the work proposed in that scope and d uplication of previous or on - going work <br />between the two projects will be avoided. ” The District’s Severance Tax application was for $153,000 and <br />the Board approved $60,000 (available July 1, 2008) contingent upon a n overall Severance Tax funding level <br />of $1.2 million. <br /> <br />Issues/Additional Needs: <br />The applicant notes that this project represents a portion of work which was included in their January 2007 <br />Severance Tax Operational Account application . Please further describe the relationship between these two <br />p rojects. This description should include but not be limited to: 1) a description of which tasks are being <br />funded through the Severance Tax Operational Account and which are bei ng funded through the WSRA; 2) <br />how the overall project will be completed if the Severance Tax application is not funded; and 3) how a <br />duplication of previous or on - going work between the two projects will be avoided. <br /> <br /> 2 <br />