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