Groundwater Conservation Districts

 The 81st Texas Legislature has funded a study of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer which will look at a number of issues related to management of the aquifer.  The study will involve 24 Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) and three Groundwater Management Areas (GMAs).

The Groundwater Planning and Assessment team processes, reviews, and facilitates landowner petitions for creating groundwater conservation districts. The team evaluates filed legislative bills that create new or modify existing Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs). The TCEQ creates GCDs within Priority Groundwater Management Areas (PGMAs). The team processes and coordinates limited oversight of GCDs relating to groundwater management plans and joint-district planning in common groundwater management areas, providing educational and technical assistance upon request.

• Map of Texas GCDs (April 2012, pdf)
• GIS files for current GCD map
• Summary Description of GCDs (August 2011, pdf)
• Contact List for Created and Confirmed GCDs (February 2012, pdf)

Publications

• Priority Groundwater Management Areas and Groundwater Conservation Districts, Report to the 82nd Texas Legislature (TCEQ SFR-053/07, January 2011, pdf)
• TCEQ District Registration Form (TCEQ-00179, October 2004, pdf)

Related Links

• Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts web site 
• Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Resources Division web site 
• 30 TAC, Chapter 293, Subchapter C 
• Groundwater Conservation Districts (The Natural Outlook, Winter 2010)

Texas AgriLife Extension Service (TAES) Publications

• Groundwater Conservation Districts: Success Stories (TAES B-6087) 
• Managing Texas Groundwater Resources through Groundwater Conservation Districts (TAES B-1612) 
• Questions about Groundwater Conservation Districts in Texas (TAES B-6120)