Planning for Our Water Future: Upcoming GMA 12 Vote

Later this month, Groundwater Management Area 12 (GMA 12) will hold a vote on proposed Desired Future Conditions (DFCs) for the aquifers that supply water to our region. This vote is expected to take place at either the April 16 or April 27 GMA 12 meeting. Meetings are open to the public and take place at 10:00 AM at the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District, 310 Avenue C, Milano, TX (https://posgcd.org/gma12/).

So what does that mean for you? In Texas, groundwater is managed locally, but planning happens regionally through a process established under Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code. Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) within a shared region, like GMA 12, come together to plan for the long-term future of our aquifers. The GMA 12 is made up of five districts: Brazos Valley GCD; Fayette County GCD; Lost Pines GCD; Mid-East Texas GCD; and, Post Oak Savannah GCD.

Every five years, these five districts engage in a joint groundwater planning process to define DFCs, which are essentially our shared metrics for what we want our aquifers to look like in the future. These conditions may describe water levels, spring flows, or available groundwater over a 50-year planning horizon.

This process is science-based and considers a wide range of factors, including:

1. Aquifer uses and conditions;
2. Water supply needs and water management strategies;
3. Hydrological conditions for each aquifer including recoverable storage, recharge, inflows, and discharge;
4. Environmental impacts likes impacts on spring flow and interactions between groundwater and surface water;
5. Impact on subsidence;
6. Socioeconomic impacts;
7. Impact on private property rights;
8. Feasibility of achieving the DFCs;
9. Any other relevant information.

All of this work leads up to the proposed DFC vote later this month at the GMA 12 meeting. In order to establish the proposed DFCs, the vote must pass by a supermajority, meaning at least four of the five districts must vote in favor.

What Happens After the Proposed DFC Vote?

Once GMA 12 approves the proposed DFCs, the process moves into an important next step: public input. The proposed DFC vote triggers a 90-day public comment period, during which each of the five Groundwater Conservation District, including Lost Pines GCD, will hold a public hearing. Notice of these hearings will be provided to the public. Residents, landowners, and stakeholders will have the opportunity to learn more and provide feedback. This is a key opportunity for the community to be part of shaping how groundwater is managed for future generations.

Why It Matters

Here in Bastrop and Lee counties, we rely 100 percent on groundwater for our water supply. The decisions made through this process directly influence how we balance growth, water use, and long-term sustainability. The DFCs we set today help answer an important question: What do we want our aquifers to look like in 50 years? Your voice plays a role in that answer. As the public comment period begins, we encourage you to stay informed, attend a hearing, and be part of the conversation about the future of groundwater in our region.