Local Opposition Forces Delay in Water Well Project
A plan to pump more than 15 billion gallons of water a year from East Texas has been put on hold, and now the fight is moving to a formal hearing process at the state level.
On Thursday, the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District board delayed a decision on two large groundwater permit applications after hearing strong opposition from local leaders and residents. The permits, requested by Pine Bliss, LLC and Redtown Ranch Holdings, would allow the companies to drill 43 wells in Henderson and Anderson counties and send the water elsewhere.
The board voted to start a formal hearing process and set a 90-day timeline for a final decision. That hearing will take place through the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), where cities, counties, and others can bring evidence, ask questions, and speak against the permits. SOAH is a state agency that conducts formal hearings to resolve disputes over permits and other regulatory matters.
The move comes after weeks of public concern, including official letters from the City of Athens and elected leaders like Rep. Cody Harris, Sen. Robert Nichols, and Rep. Keith Bell. All three lawmakers say the proposal puts East Texas water at risk and could hurt local communities that rely on the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer for drinking water, farming, and everyday use.
As chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Harris has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, July 15, at the Texas Capitol. The hearing will focus on high-capacity groundwater production and its effect on East Texas. Only invited guests will speak, but residents can submit comments online. https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c390
“East Texas water is not for sale,” Harris said in a Facebook post. “I will not stand by while our water is drained for someone else’s gain.”
For now, the plan has been paused, but the debate is far from over.