LPGCD Launches Agricultural Flow Meter Program

With the help of a $50,000 matching grant from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District (LPGCD) is launching a new initiative to install flow meters on agricultural and irrigation wells across Bastrop and Lee Counties. These meters will provide producers with valuable data to monitor and reduce groundwater use, supporting both agricultural productivity and long-term aquifer health.

Irrigation accounts for nearly 70 percent of groundwater use in Texas, so this program has the potential for meaningful impact in our region. Similar programs in the Texas Panhandle have resulted in water savings of about 10 percent, and LPGCD hopes to achieve comparable, if not greater, results here. We are grateful to TWDB for investing in our communities and helping advance water sustainability in agriculture.

Did you know that agricultural wells producing up to 200 acre-feet per year are required to have meters? LPGCD is here to help! Through our new Agricultural Flow Meter Cost-Share Program, we purchase the meter, the producer installs the meter, then we provide reimbursement for installation costs. Together, we can track use, improve efficiency, and protect our aquifers.

When producers know how much water they’re using, they can plan smarter and save more water. Real data means smarter management for both agriculture and aquifers. Smarter water management means cost savings for farms and sustainable water for the future.

Interested in participating? Join our Agricultural Flow Meter Program today! Call (512) 360-5088 to learn more.

Next Middle Yegua Creek Watershed Protection Plan Stakeholder Meeting on December 2

Local efforts to protect and improve water quality in the Middle Yegua Creek watershed are continuing to move forward this winter. After the Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) received official acceptance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency earlier this year, stakeholders across Lee, Bastrop, Milam, and Williamson Counties are now working together to turn the plan’s strategies into action.

The watershed has long faced challenges in Yegua streams from elevated E. coli bacteria, low dissolved oxygen, and declining aquatic habitats. Addressing these issues requires participation from the entire community, and the WPP outlines practical, science-based steps to reduce pollution from livestock, septic systems, feral hogs, pet waste, and illegal dumping. Protecting our overlaying watersheds is critically important to protecting our underlying aquifers. Safe Water Supplies Begin with Healthy Watersheds. That is why LPGCD is taking an active role as a stakeholder in achieving the goals of the Middle Yegua Creek Watershed Protection Plan.

The plan includes several key action areas such as voluntary conservation plans for landowners, soil testing programs, feral hog management, septic system repair or replacement, education for new and small acreage landowners, and ongoing monitoring and public outreach. These efforts are designed to protect local creeks, support healthy ecosystems, and promote safe recreational use of our waterways.

Regular working group meetings remain at the heart of the process, giving residents the opportunity to learn, ask questions, and help shape the future of the watershed. These meetings are open to the public and are a great way to stay informed about local water quality and resource protection.

Upcoming Meeting – December 2

The next Middle Yegua Creek WPP meeting will be held:

Tuesday, December 2

5:30 PM

Eleanor’s Cottage, 183 E. Hempstead St., Giddings (Across from the Courthouse)

This month’s special guest speaker is Travis Tidwell with Texas Parks and Wildlife, who will present on the Spills and Kills Team and their role in responding to fish kills, pollution events, and environmental emergencies in Texas waterways.

Everyone is invited to attend, learn more about watershed health, and participate in discussions that will guide future conservation and restoration efforts.

To get involved or to learn more, visit:

Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board – Middle Yegua Project 

Texas Water Resources Institute – Middle Yegua

Together, we can protect the Middle Yegua Creek and keep our water clean and healthy for generations to come.

Investing in a Sustainable Water Future for Bastrop and Lee Counties

As 2025 comes to a close, the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District (LPGCD) is celebrating a year marked by community engagement, program growth, and continued investment in a sustainable water future for Bastrop and Lee Counties.

This year, LPGCD expanded its outreach and education programs, hosting five rainwater harvesting workshops that reached more than 100 participants. These workshops, led in collaboration with the Lee County AgriLife Extension Service, the Lost Pines Master Gardeners, Aqua Water Supply Corporation, Bastrop Community Gardens, and Giddings Nursery & Garden Center, helped residents learn practical ways to conserve water and capture rain for home and garden use.

Through the Rainwater Harvesting Rebate Program, residents installed systems totaling nearly 39,425 gallons of storage capacity, turning workshop lessons into measurable conservation action. The District also launched two new initiatives: the Agricultural Flow Meter Program, supported by a Texas Water Development Board grant, to help producers track and reduce groundwater use, and the Well Capping & Plugging Program, which assists landowners with safely sealing abandoned wells to protect groundwater quality.

Meanwhile, the Well Watch Program continued to grow, with dozens of new property owners volunteering their wells for regular water level monitoring to support long-term groundwater management.

LPGCD also made significant progress in student outreach and youth leadership. The Senior High School Essay Scholarship Contest invited graduating seniors from Bastrop and Lee Counties to share their ideas on groundwater sustainability and conservation, with top essays earning scholarship awards. The District also partnered with Texas 4-H to sponsor a Water Ambassador Scholarship, giving one local student the opportunity to attend the statewide Water Ambassador Leadership Academy and gain hands-on experience in water management and leadership.

In addition, the annual Student Art Contest engaged K–12 students in creative water conservation awareness through original artwork. Winning pieces are featured in the District’s 2026 Water Conservation Calendar.

“The new LPGCD community programs implemented in 2025 has made this a year of real progress,” said General Manager Elvis Hernandez. “When the public becomes involved in groundwater stewardship, it helps to protect the resources we all depend on.”

As 2026 approaches, the District will continue to strengthen community collaborations and expand opportunities for residents and students to get involved. Plans for next year include increased rebate promotion, enhanced educational programs, and continued efforts to protect and preserve the water resources that make Bastrop and Lee Counties thrive.

From the Board and staff at LPGCD, thank you for being part of our mission to protect, preserve, and promote the water resources that sustain our communities.

Learn more or get involved at www.lostpineswater.org.