GBRA permit hearing extended to Oct. 11 at Gonzales Courthouse

The Gonzales Underground Water Conservation District extended a public hearing from Sept. 13 to Oct. 11 regarding a permit request by Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) to drill three additional water wells in the Carrizo Aquifer. The Oct. 11 hearing has been moved to the Gonzales County Courthouse to accommodate the public.

These three wells will increase GBRA’s authorized production and exportation limits under its existing permits by a total of 9,000 acre-feet per yer to a total limit of 24,000 acre-feet per year. The water will be used for utilities along the I-35 corridor and the Kyle area on a need-based system. A good portion of Caldwell and Guadalupe counties will also be receiving water.

GBRA refused to comment about the permit or the project under the grounds that they are currently still in a public comment period for this permit. 

Any water permit requests that are over 500 acre-feet are eligible to concede to a contested case hearing. Interested persons may request a contested case hearing on the applications not later than the end of the public hearing.

All requests for contest case hearings must be in writing and can be addressed to GUWCD 522 Saint Matthew St, Gonzales, TX and must also be provided to GBRA at 933 Court Street, Seguin, TX. There is nearly seven days left to make a contested case hearing, as it has to be 30 days after the prior board meeting. 

GCUWCD has a mitigation fund to offset the effects of pumping in the district. Landowners can contact GCUWCD with their contact information and location of the well for inspection

“Every one of the large production companies that comes in and transports water has to pay into a mitigation fund,” said Laura Martin, general manager of GCUWCD. “That mitigation fund is there solely to provide assistance to landowners in the Carrizo Aquifer if they need to lower their pump, if they need to increase their power, or if they have a well that has been adversely affected by pumping in the area.”

The next water level report will be provided to the public at the Oct. 11 hearing. More updates are to come.