Timeline of Major Events

in the Management of the Groundwater of the Greater Baton Rouge Area

For over 50 years, scientists have been aware of the challenges facing Baton Rouge’s groundwater reserve, the Southern Hills Aquifer. Experts and decision-makers have been guided by decades of research and analysis.

As saltwater encroachment continues, and the demand on our aquifer increases, it is time to take definitive action to ensure the sustainability of our precious drinking water.

FEB 2022

Jul 2021

Baton Rouge Water Company files suit against the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission, preventing new metering of water wells.

Legislative Auditor releases 2021 Status Update on Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission (CAGWCC) performance.

May 2021

Comprehensive metering plan approved.

Nov 2020

feb 2020

Sep 2020

Jun 2020

Louisiana Legislative Auditor publishes 2019 Performance Audit of the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission, Regulation of Groundwater Resources.

2019

USGS Report, Simulation of Groundwater Flow and Chloride Transport in the “1,500-Foot” Sand, “2,400-Foot” Sand, and “2,800-Foot” Sand of the Baton Rouge Area, Louisiana.

CAGWCC commissions Long-term Sustainability Plan from The Water Institute of the Gulf with the CPRA.

CAGWCC is authorized to continue funding through 2022 for the U.S. Geological Survey proposal titled, Development and Maintenance of a Computer Model to Simulate Groundwater Flow and Saltwater Encroachment in the Baton Rouge Sands, Louisiana.

CAGWCC adopted the “Plan for the Management of Salt Water Migration in the “1,500-foot” and “2,000-foot” sands of the Baton Rouge Aquifer System.”

Legal Advisor to the CAGWCC advised that "state ethics law could bar commissioners from drawing a salary from the big groundwater users they were supposed to regulate, like Baton Rouge Water and ExxonMobil."

USGS Report: Simulation of Groundwater Flow in the “1,500-Foot” Sand and “2,000-Foot” Sand, with Scenarios to Mitigate Saltwater Migration in the “2,000-Foot” Sand of the Baton Rouge Area, Louisiana.

CAGWCC adopts “Plan for Management of the Southern Hills Aquifer System in the Baton Rouge Area” which:

• plans for a Baton Rouge Water Company “scavenger well” to intercept salt water

• caps current water withdrawal from the 1,500-foot sands at current rates of production

• lowers the existing cap on East Baton Rouge Parish total withdrawal from the 2,000-foot aquifer sands by 1.5 million gallons per day

• reduces industrial district withdrawal from the 2,000-foot aquifer sands from 17.5 million gallons a day to 15.5 million gallons a day

"A Case History of Use and Management of the Baton Rouge Fresh Water Aquifer System," Masters Thesis by A. Hays Town, Louisiana State Univeristy.

Commissioner of Conservation, DNR, reccommends that the CAGWCC develop a "full-scale plan of action...for the long-term resolution of the saltwater intrusion issue," and offers the full support of the Office of Conservation.

CAGWCC adopts resolution endorsing use of scavenger well(s) to withdraw encroaching saltwater from the lower portion of the 1,500 ft. sand as a sound scientific approach.

Office of Conservation, DNR, conducts public hearing regarding: Water Table Under East Baton Rouge Parish.

CAGWCC enters into agreement with Baton Rouge Water Company to fund research by Dr. Frank Tsai, entitled Scavenger Well Operation Model to Assist BRWC to Identify Cost-Effective Approaches to Stop Saltwater Intrusion toward the BRWC Water Wells in the “1,500-foot” Sand of the Baton Rouge Area.

CAGWCC receives results of study by URS for alternative water supply sources for industrial users, stating that the use of reclaimed treated effluent is technically feasible, but would require economic and financial incentives, or strong political and legislative initiatives.

USGS Report, Water withdrawals and trends in ground-water levels and stream discharge in Louisiana.

CAGWCC completes connector well aimed at controlling saltwater encroachment.

CAGWCC adopted the following conservation policy for the “2,000-foot” sand in the Baton Rouge area. The policy would apply to the area bounded by Chippewa Street, the Mississippi River, Irene Road-Heck Young Road extended east, and Plank Road.

• Moratorium on installation of new industrial wells in the “2,000-foot” sand in the area defined above, except for replacement wells or as approved by the CAGWCC.

• Limit for the annual pumping rate in the “2,000-foot” sand in the area defined above of 26 million gallons per day.

• Maximum water level for the “2,000-foot” sand in the defined area of 320 feet below land surface.

• Development of alternate aquifers or surface water sources as sources of supply.

• Use of shallow aquifers or the Mississippi River for cooling water and deeper aquifers for process, boiler feed and drinking water.

USGS Report, The Southern Hills regional aquifer system of southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi.

CAGWCC passed resolution authorizing the Director to petition the Environmental Protection Agency to declare the Southern Hills Aquifer System a “sole source of drinking water”.

Resolution is passed reserving the “1,000-foot”, “1,500-foot”, and “1,700-foot” sands for public supply use.

The Capital Area Ground Water Conservation District (CAGWCC) is created by the Louisiana Legislature through Act 678 of 1974 due to concerns in the region including water level declines of as much as 400 feet, saltwater encroachment in several local aquifers, and land subsidence caused by over-pumping of groundwater. The District’s governing commission begins work in January 1975.

Legislative Act No. 682 establishes the Greater Baton Rouge Water Conservation District.

Louisiana Water Resources Research Institute proposes study of possible solutions to saltwater encroachment.

Louisiana Geological Survey report: “Water Levels” and “Salt-Water Encroachment in Aquifers of Baton Rouge Area, Louisiana,” Water Resources Bulletin No. 13, Dept. of Conservation & Louisiana Dept. of Public Works, Aug. 1969.

Louisiana Water Resources Study Commission formed to investigate falling water levels in city supply wells.

Learn more about the history of the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission here: