Science & Data Best Way To Protect, Manage Our Groundwater Resources

Letter From Hays County Commissioner Will Conley

Hays County – We are blessed in our community to have several different aquifers throughout Hays County. Every square toot of our county has some relation with these aquifers. These aquifers provide so much to our quality of life. From our basic water needs here at home, to the flowing creeks and springs. As our county continues to change it is essential we understand these assets and managed them properly.

Our groundwater conservation districts are directly responsible for this work in our county. This is the way the state designed it to work. They are responsible for conserving, preserving, and protecting our aquifers. Now these districts all have some differences, but this is the basic mission. In order for them to do their best, it is essential we have data based off unbiased science for these policy makers to be able to best accomplish their goals. Without science, we are throwing darts at a board, taking risk on our resources, and potentially being unfair to land owners. These organizations have done a lot to get closer to this goal but more work is needed.

I believe a wat in which the county can help these organizations is to partner with them to help develop the science and monitoring that we need to make informed decisions. That’s why next week I will sponsor an agenda item that will create a partnership (with Commissioner Court approval) with the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District along with other partners to increase groundwater monitoring and data collection where it is lacking and support the efforts of the Texas Water Development Board to further develop the science.

You may recall our fight to get HB 3405 passed last session. An important piece of that legislation was the language that stated no project could be harmful to existing well owners. This language was fought hard by the special interest, but we were able to keep it in our legislation. It is more important than ever that we have the science and monitoring across our entire county in order for us to know what is going on, so that we can clearly set policy and enforce legislative intent when necessary. This science and monitoring will go a long way towards improving our ability to have sound policy and processes.

I look forward to working with all groundwater districts and the State to do our best to manage and protect these precious resources in our county. It’s also important that we go through these processes in a manner that is balanced and fair to land owners across Hays County as well. I am confident that this science-based approach to policy making and resource management will improve Hays County for the better.