Please help protect HENDERSON COUNTY RESOURCES
Board of Directors
Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District
501 Devereux St., Suite 201
P.O. Box 1387
Jacksonville, TX 75766
Subject: Formal Opposition to Proposed High-Capacity Water Well Permits in Henderson and Anderson Counties
Dear Members of the Board,
I am writing to formally express my concern and opposition to the pending permit applications for 43 high-capacity groundwater wells—22 in Henderson County and 21 in Anderson County—representing a combined annual withdrawal request exceeding 15.3 billion gallons from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.
While I acknowledge the District’s role in managing groundwater resources and the necessity to evaluate each application within the framework of established rules, I respectfully urge the Board to adopt a cautious and comprehensive approach given the magnitude and potential long-term impacts of these withdrawals.
Available information indicates that these wells are intended to serve interests outside the local region, potentially including large-scale municipal or industrial users in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Exporting water on this scale from East Texas threatens to undermine the sustainability of the aquifer, impact existing domestic and agricultural wells, and compromise the future water security of residents, landowners, and municipalities within the District.
Our region has a longstanding cultural and economic dependence on reliable groundwater access. It is not merely a resource—it is a lifeline. Large-volume withdrawals such as those proposed could have cumulative effects that exceed the aquifer’s natural recharge capacity, especially during periods of drought. The District’s stewardship obligation should encompass rigorous modeling and impact assessments that account for current usage, recharge rates, and regional climate trends.
Accordingly, I respectfully request the following:
1. That the District deny or substantially limit the proposed permits unless and until independent hydrological studies clearly demonstrate that such withdrawals will not impair existing users or aquifer sustainability;
2. That the District hold a public hearing to ensure full transparency and community input before final determinations are made;
3. That the District consider adopting or reinforcing policy mechanisms to prioritize local use and long-term regional water needs over interbasin transfers or exports for non-local benefit.
Thank you for your service to the community and for your thoughtful consideration of this matter. I trust that you will weigh these concerns carefully in the interest of fairness, transparency, and environmental stewardship.
Sincerely,
