Our Groundwater Conservation

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OUR STATE LEGISLATORS RECENTLY (March 2024) approved changes which makes it easier for new wells on tracts 10 acres and larger.   

Their votes and actions show that they are not considering that tax-paying individuals are at serious risk of losing access to water for their families and/or livestock.

Recent legislation makes it easier for Subdivisions, Developments, to drill more wells with less permitting, regardless of negative impact on neighboring residents.   The recent change to the state law now exempts 10+ acre tract subdivisions from County Subdivision Regulations, and that means no water availability requirements either.  10+ acre tracts, with wells pumping 17 gpm capacity or less, are exempt from permitting. 

Example:  a subdivision with thirty-five 10 Acre Tracts, can drill 35  new wells without permits, without accountability of a 50 year water availability requirement, showing no harm to groundwater supply and neighbors for 50 years out (as recommended by water conservation entities.)

For details see section § 3.67 Permit by Rule for Certain Nonexempt Wells Located on a Tract of Land that is Ten Acres or Less    

Read the March 27, 2024 District Rules document here:   https://www.centraltexasgcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CURRENT-RULES-As-Revised-March-27-2024.pdf

Have you ever had your water well go dry?    

For your family or your livestock, it is your worst nightmare.

4 Important signs your water well is running dry  https://www.middlegawater.com/4-important-signs-your-water-well-is-running-dry 

Drought Stage Status  https://www.centraltexasgcd.org/drought-status/

Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District https://www.centraltexasgcd.org/

With  the recent rains, green grasses, wildflowers, it is hard to imagine  that we are in a drought, but, we are in a multi year drought.  After  two brutally hot, dry summers, 2022 & 2023, we still need weeks of  consistant soaking rains for healthy groundwater reserves in order to support the rapidly increasing number of water wells in our County.  

WE MUST CHANGE THE WAY WE LOOK AT WATER.

Texas has three agencies focused on water: the Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Public Utility Commission, which have all recently gone through the Sunset Committee review process, optimizing accountability and efficiency across the State. 

Texas Water Development Board

Dive in to all things water at the Texas Water Development Board's data-driven website.

 Groundwater Data Viewer

This interactive mapping application provides access to water-related data for Texas. The viewer contains several GIS datasets relating to water resources, including TWDB groundwater data, brackish groundwater data, and data from the Submitted Driller's Reports Database. For more information on TWDB groundwater data resources, please visit the following links:

• TWDB Groundwater Database
• Brackish Groundwater Database
• Submitted Drillers Reports Database

Rainwater Harvesting  FACTS, Tax Incentives, and 

ABOUT RAINWATER HARVESTING https://www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/rainwater/

FAQ  https://www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/rainwater/faq.asp

Did you know that every inch of rain, about 600 gallons of water can be collected from 1,000 sq. ft. of roof area. So a house with 2000 sq. ft. of roof area may collect over 30,000 gallons a year.  A rainwater collection system can be purchased tax-free - just another tool to consider!  

The peaceful, quiet ranch lands of northeast Burnet County - where we live! - are being targeted for new developments, new homes, apartment complexes, businesses, new roads, highways, to attract & encourage growth.

Picture this nightmare:   four-lane 80 mph Toll Loop 130 extends from I-35 over to  Florence, and cuts westward through Northeast Burnet County - a huge outer loop around Austin, similar to Loop 6 and Loop 99 around Houston.  Seems far-fetched now. but maybe not so much in 20 years. 

It is inevitable.  We need to be informed.  Water shortages not only affect rural families, farmers, ranchers, but urban and suburban families as well.   We must reach out to our legislators.

Growth benefits developers, realtors, brokers, taxing authorities, and hurts long time and new residents and land-owners,  tax-payers, who are already experiencing a WATER CRISIS.    

JUST SAY NO to developments which will jeopardize our ALREADY FRAGILE WATER SUPPLY.

PGMA - Priority Groundwater Management Area

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/groundwater/groundwater-planning-assessment/pgma.html#whatis 

A PGMA) is an area designated and  delineated by TCEQ that is experiencing, or is expected to experience,  within 50 years, critical groundwater problems including shortages of  surface water or groundwater, land subsidence resulting from groundwater  withdrawal, or contamination of groundwater supplies. 

What is our incentive to partner with Travis County or Williamson County on growth planning, as we watch our lands and our WATER disappear.  How does this benefit our grandchildren.

NORTHEAST BURNET COUNTY TRANSPORTATION STUDY

https://www.campotexas.org/local-plans-and-studies/northeast-burnet-county-transportation-study/?fbclid=IwAR38R6eJ9cpY_KcGEWUY6QglXnNEfAKwtCX6igUOJkQdhAsuMYpQp1OsepM 

Scroll to bottom of page for additional important Resources and Contacts

** The CTGCD web site contains very interesting maps, graphs, monitoring maps, and more

https://www.centraltexasgcd.org/

Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District

Click Here for District Rules as of LAST REVISED March 27, 2024 

Will we be out of water in 30 years?    or 50 years?    or much sooner?

What we, as Burnet County Residents, can and should do.  Educate yourself, neighbors, and family,  and SPEAK OUT.    Contacting State Officials is tedious and time consuming, but every phone call, every message left, every letter mailed, every email sent, every fax, helps. See above

If we as a Burnet County resident want to ensure the availability of groundwater for ourselves, our children and grandchildren we need to all work together to have more tools to deal with the effect of being a county near a large metro area. 

Also, please think of what you can do to conserve groundwater and prevent waste. There is a limit to our resources, and we need to take groundwater conservation very seriously.  Will it require running out of water to take it seriously? 

Explore rainwater collection. You’ll be surprised how much can be collected.  SCROLL DOWN FOR RAINWATER HARVESTING FACTS, TAX BENEFITS, FAQs

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Make this a county-wide effort by ALSO contacting your local leaders and related agencies.

County Commissioners, the entire County Commissioners Court  [contact info below)

Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District https://www.centraltexasgcd.org/contact-us/ 

Burnet County Agri-Life https://burnet.agrilife.org/contact/ 

Emergency Services District Districts: https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/esd.home 

Bertram Fire ESD#4    https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/esd.4 

Briggs & Oakalla ESD #8   https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/esd.8

Local Fire Departments 

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2023 Disappointing NEWS regarding new development, further jeopardizing our water

Approval of Estates at Dominion Ranch Subdivision -  210 lots on 996.426 acres

June 27, 2023  CLICK to view Meeting Minutes   

Motion  is made by:  Commissioner Precinct 2 Damon Beierle, Seconded by:  Commissioner Precinct 3 Billy Wall to approve the preliminary plat for The Estates at Dominion Ranch, a subdivision consisting of 210 lots on 996.426 acres located in the 6700 block of FM 2657.
Vote: 4 - 0 Passed - Unanimously 

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The following is a personal comment based on facts:

     Yet there are subdivisions being approved for development, with lots of 2 ac. or more, which will require wells on each one!  While we, who are already here, are asked to reduce our water consumption 30%.  If you have a glass of water and keep adding straws, drinking the water from the glass, eventually that glass will be empty. Our aquafers are not being replenished by rainwater as quickly as needed to keep up. We are in a drought and our area (according to specialist) is becoming more arid. Yet on smaller parcels of land, we continue to poke holes in the ground, sucking out the water from a shrinking aquafer. Laws need to be changed at the state level, then local. Unfortunately, that is unlikely anytime soon. But perhaps changes can be made in some other way.

     Collecting rainwater is a wise decision. And perhaps necessary consideration. You would be surprised how much you can collect from an inch of rain. Even collecting the condensation from air conditioners can be used for watering plants, etc. 

It is possible to collect over 5 gallons in two days from a unit only used during the daytime.

     Consider the possibilities!  - DC

*** Will we be out of water in 20 or 30 years?    or 50 years?    or much sooner?  ***

PLEASE Take a few minutes to WRITE THIS WEEK if you can

our State Leaders need to hear from thousands, not hundreds, of Burnet County Residents.  

You can make a difference if you act ASAP, as recommended by our County Commissioners

WHO to CONTACT:  our STATE LEADERS

WHAT to  REQUEST:    Ask that Burnet County become a PGMA. designated county.

Ask them to give Burnet County the legal means with which to better deal with development as we seek to conserve groundwater resources and prevent the waste of such a valuable resource.

 What is a PGMA?     Priority Groundwater Management Area

 https://www.tceq.texas.gov/groundwater/groundwater-planning-assessment/pgma.html#whatis 

 A Priority Groundwater Management Area (PGMA) is an area designated and  delineated by TCEQ that is experiencing, or is expected to experience,  within 50 years, critical groundwater problems including shortages of  surface water or groundwater, land subsidence resulting from groundwater  withdrawal, or contamination of groundwater supplies. 

HOW to CONTACT:     snail mail, phone calls, email contact from within their websites

Texas State Senator Pete Flores- District 24    

Committees:    Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs , Border Security Vice-Chair, Criminal Justice Vice-Chair, Education, Finance,

Contact  https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=24

PO Box 12068, Capitol Station

Austin, TX 78711         Phone: 512-463-0124

Texas State Representative Ellen Troxclair-District 19

Blanco, Burnet, Gillespie, Kendall, Travis (part)      

Committees:  Community Safety, Select, Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Homeland Security & Public Safety, Sustainable Property Tax Relief, Select Study           

Contact   https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=19  

PO Box 2910,  Austin, TX 78768         Phone: 512-463-0490

Texas State Representative, Terry Wilson, Dist. 20   (our former rep*)

* Formerly was our state rep. and owns property in Burnet County

Committees Agriculture & Livestock , Defense & Veterans' Affairs - Chair

PO Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768; 512-463-0309

Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District  

Read the Notice here:  https://www.centraltexasgcd.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Stage-4-Critical-Drought-Without-Mandatory.pdf#page=1&zoom=auto,-222,797 

PHDI from -4.00 to -4.99

Water Reduction Goal – 30%

Continue to encourage the practice of water conservation methods and reduce overall usage by 30%.

• Re-use and re-circulate water whenever possible
• Check for and repair all leaks
• No watering of lawns or landscapes.
• No vehicle washing
• Do not use water to wash sidewalks, driveways, parking areas, streets, tennis courts, or any outdoor surfaces except when required for human or animal health and safety reasons, or fire hazard prevention.
• Providing groundwater to ponds, tanks, lakes, reservoirs, swimming pools, or other surface impoundments for holding water regardless of capacity is prohibited.
• Water for dust control only when required by law.
• Watering livestock in leak-proof troughs is highly recommended.

Links to Resources, Contacts:

Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District  www.centraltexasgcd.org

        Contacts:   https://www.centraltexasgcd.org/contact-us/ 

        Monthly Meetings & Minutes:  https://www.centraltexasgcd.org/meetings-hearings/

TECQ Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 

     https://www.tceq.texas.gov/groundwater/groundwater-planning-assessment/pgma.html 

Burnet County Commissioners    contact info for each is listed down below

     https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/commcourt.home

Texas State Senator Pete Flores- District 24

The Honorable Pete Flores     Contact https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=24 

PO Box 12068, Capitol Station

Austin, TX 78711         Phone: 512-463-0124

Texas State Representative Ellen Troxclair-District 19

PO Box 2910          Contact   https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=19  

Austin, TX 78768         Phone: 512-463-0190

Texas State Representative, Terry Wilson, Dist. 20 (who formerly was our state rep. and owns property in Burnet County). PO Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768; 512-463-0309

Burnet County Commissioners

Precinct 1     Jim Luther, Jr.     commissionerpct1@burnetcountytexas.org

m. 512-715-4112;  512-715-5233   

Precinct 2     Damon Beierle     dbeierle@burnetcountytexas.org

m. 512-715-2611;  o. 512-585-8215 

      Damon:  https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/comm.pct2

      Damon: 

Precinct 3     Billy Wall    commissionerpct3@burnetcountytexas.org

m. 512-715-5236;  830-265-0483

Precinct 4     Joe Don Dockery   jdockery@burnetcountytexas.org

m. 512-715-5235;  512-715-2911