Community Announcement: Groundwater Conservation and Our Water Future

The La Ventana Water Committee has spent considerable time studying the long-term challenges facing the Trinity Aquifer and the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD). While short-term regional water supplies appear adequate, continued population growth and rising groundwater demand mean that the long-term management and viability of the aquifer are critical issues for our neighborhood's water security and overall property values. A central challenge facing HTGCD is its structural funding limitation. Unlike most Texas groundwater conservation districts operating under Water Code Chapter 36, HTGCD cannot impose production fees on high-volume commercial and utility pumpers, leaving it chronically underfunded. Ongoing legal disputes have further depleted the district's operating resources. Because our Aquifer is a designated Priority Groundwater Management Area, a financial crisis or bankruptcy at the district level could prompt the state, through TCEQ, to take over operations or consolidate it with an adjacent district. These issues are coming to a head in preparation for the upcoming legislative session. While specific new bill numbers are not assigned until the pre-filing window opens, local water leaders and lawmakers are actively shaping next-generation legislation modeled after the core concepts of previous groundwater revenue bills, particularly SB 2660. Residents can monitor newly submitted water bills, track upcoming committee hearings, and set up automatic text alerts using the official public portal for Texas Legislature Online. Supporters of these upcoming statutory changes believe that granting equal production-fee authority is essential for robust local conservation, scientific research, and effective rule enforcement. Conversely, opponents raise concerns regarding potential regulatory overreach, the preservation of private property rights, additional fee burdens, and the need for stricter safeguards for landowners and existing water utilities. Because these regulations are determined in Austin, the individuals elected to represent our community in the Legislature will have a direct hand in deciding the outcome of these legislative efforts and the future of our groundwater management. The Water Committee believes the protection of our shared aquifer is a paramount priority. Early voting begins here on October 19, and Election Day is November 3. The Water Committee does not endorse or recommend any specific candidate. Instead, we strongly encourage all La Ventana residents to research the candidates thoroughly. As you cast your ballots, we urge you to keep these vital water positions front and center—evaluating where each candidate stands on groundwater conservation, local water-management authority, the regulation of high-volume commercial pumping, and the balanced funding of our conservation district. For more background and the Committee’s detailed findings, please review the La Ventana Water Supply Technical Report available in the Water Committee Document folder on our PS Management web portal.