Gonzales County’s water at risk due to overpumping, stressed wells

Texas is deep into its 2026 state water planning cycle, a critical process to plan water supplies for many years ahead. Gonzales and Caldwell counties are in the Region L - South Central Texas Water Planning Group which includes 21 counties.

Region L has already issued its 2026 Initially Prepared Plan (IPP) consisting of over 1,100 pages describing various water projects referred to as "water management strategies" to supply regional water needs through 2080.

For residents within the Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District (GCUWCD), which regulates the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in most of Gonzales County and the southern part of Caldwell County, the IPP's proposed projects are concerning.

The IPP outlines various new projects to pump and export more groundwater — this is on top of the GCUWCD's already permitted 92,000 acre-feet/year from the Carrizo aquifer, most of which is permitted to exporters. The IPP also includes aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects in Gonzales County.

ASR projects involve injecting treated water into the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer for later recovery. While promoted as a drought solution, ASR carries serious risks. Studies on ASR warn that poorly managed ASR projects can degrade water quality by introducing contaminants, alter aquifer chemistry or mobilize toxins like arsenic, potentially causing long-term harm to the aquifer. Such damage could make groundwater unusable for Gonzales County residents.

The continued push by the state water planners for more groundwater projects in Gonzales County, in addition to the already over-permitted levels, is alarming. Long-term heavy pumping from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer will lower aquifer levels and stress local wells. Our aquifers are the sole source of water for many family farms and ranches, while the cities have multiple sources and continue to waste massive amounts of water with leaking pipe distribution systems.

The Region L Water Planning Group has 32 voting members, representing interests like municipalities, water utilities, industries and river authorities. San Antonio Water System, Schertz-Seguin Local Government Corp and Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority each sponsor projects and have a voting member, giving them significant influence over the plan.

However, Gonzales County has no direct voting member, leaving its residents without a direct voice in decisions impacting their groundwater — this lack of representation makes public comment important.

The Region L 2026 IPP is a draft and still open for public comment until July 20, 2025, at 5 p.m. — citizens of Gonzales County are encouraged to submit their concerns and comments now. Let's protect our aquifers for future generations and ensure sustainability.

Submit your comments and concerns to Caye Castillo, Administrative Agent for Region L, at ccastillo@sariverauthority.org. Written comments can be mailed to San Antonio River Authority, Attn: Caye Castillo, 100 E. Guenther St., San Antonio, TX 78204.

To review the full Region L 2026 IPP, look at the Region L planning website www.regionltexas.org. Residents can also attend public meetings hosted by Region L, which provides more information about the plan. For information on GCUWCD’s permitting process, visit www.gcuwcd.org.

Ted Boriack is a member of the Water Protection Association and Gonzales County landowner dedicated to preserving local water resources.