PECAN VALLEY GROUNDWATER
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
LOCATED IN THE CUERO PLAZA MALL, SUITE 1129
CALL US: 361-275-8188
FAX US: 361-275-9635
E-MAIL US: pecanvalleygcd@yahoo.com
MAILING ADDRESS: 1129 N. Esplanade, CUERO, TX 77954
CONSERVE......PRESERVE......PROTECT
HOW THE
PECAN VALLEY GROUNDWATER DISTRICT
WAS FORMED .... AND WHY
With the
passing of Senate Bill 2, concerned citizens of DeWitt Country seized the
opportunity to take control of local water resources and approved the formation
of the Pecan Valley Groundwater District.
With the help of the County Commissioners’ Court and Representative Geanie Morrison, DeWitt County became a member of the growing number of counties in the
State of Texas to form a groundwater district. This is a joint, state-wide effort to
establish solutions to depleting water resources for urban and local areas. The District conducted hearings at the State
and County level, passed all necessary requirements, and began to set in motion
the formation of a Management Plan and Rules for the Pecan Valley Groundwater
Conservation District. Public referendums were held in accordance with the laws
of the State, and the voters of DeWitt granted us the opportunity to become a
viable entity.
In
forming the District, directors took steps to insure that landowners in DeWitt County would be protected with the very minimum of taxing required
to maintain operation of the District.
We have the lowest taxing rate of any of the eighty-four existing
district in the State. With the pressure of large urban areas pursuing water
rights anywhere at any cost, new districts are being formulated and filed
monthly. In determining the groundwork
of the District, a decision was made that all wells drilled prior to the
formation of the District would be exempt from any regulation, and that no
wells would be denied as long as there was compliance with regulations required
by the State of Texas Water Code & the Management Plan of the
District. As well, the power of eminent
domain would not be used by the District, and no wells would be metered unless
supplying water for municipal use, irrigation, rural water corporations, or
export purposes out of DeWitt County. The Texas Water
Code specifies that every landowner is guaranteed 25,000 gallons of water daily
for domestic and agricultural use. This
is a large amount of daily water allowance that is promised to the populace of DeWitt County, and the District has no reason or intent to impose
restrictions. The engineering currently
being discussed indicates we have plenty of water available to the highest
bidder. While it is recognized that we have
an abundance of water in our area, it is our mission that it be shared, not
sold to the highest bidder. We have the obligation to maintain our local water
resources for future growth in our own back yard.
Initially
there were concerns as to the function of the groundwater district. Some misconceptions were that the district
would meter wells, force landowners to comply with a lot of complicated rules,
disallow drilling, and regulate water usage.
In reality, the district was formed to prevent DeWitt County residents the threat of metering and regulation. If steps had not been taken to formulate a
district, there would be no control preventing the large urban water sellers
from entering DeWitt County and draining our water resources. The present laws of the
State of Texas, under the Rule of Capture, give any landowner the right to
sell as much available water without regard to the detriment of neighboring
landowners.
After
public hearings, the Pecan Valley Groundwater District, on February 16, 2004 passed its Management Plan for DeWitt County. Currently, the
Pecan Valley Groundwater Conservation District is in the process of recording
and permitting wells. EVERYONE is
required to file a permit request with the PVCD office before drilling a
well. This keeps the District aware of
the growth rate of new well drilling, location of the wells, and what current
water levels can be maintained. In order
to sustain our resources, we must know what our resources are. Along with the
permit application, there is a $50.00 deposit required. This deposit is refunded once the well is
completed and the drilling log filed with the District office within a 120 day
period. While complying with the local
water district rules requires extra effort on the part of drillers and
landowners, it is an opportunity to exert some control over what happens in our
county. The permit process is an effort
to insure that we have a record of the drilling logs from which we gather
information on the availability of water for the area, and maintain our well
levels. If the District can determine that water is being depleted in an area
of DeWitt County, we can then try to locate the problem and find a solution
beneficial to all concerned.
The
board of directors is locally elected by county precinct, and is in direct
control by the voters. In the next few months, the Pecan Valley GCD will hold
public hearings to address any questions and/or concerns. If you would like to schedule a meeting with
representatives of your local board or entity, please contact the office of the
District at 361-275-8188.
We
have had numerous meetings, hearings, and various public forums available to
the voters of DeWitt County. Some were well
attended, and some were not. Public
input is essential, as this is an on-going effort. Water issues will be the
primary focus of the next session of the Texas Legislature. The water rights that we now take for granted
will be challenged. Rural areas
with historically adequate supplies of water will be asked to provide for the
growth of other parts of Texas that have limited, or radically declining resources. Involvement in the process can only increases
awareness of what we face regarding water issues in this part of Texas. We have a water
problem, please be part of the solution.
To contact the Pecan Valley GCD:
Kay
Wild – General Manger
361-275-8188
Directors by Precinct:
PRECINCT 1 – Ted Aven
PRECINCT 2 – Gary Colman
PRECINCT 3 – Wilbert Sauermilch
PRECINCT 4 - Bob Davis
AT LARGE
- Errol John Dietze