Groundwater Conservation Districts

The Groundwater Planning and Assessment team processes, reviews, and facilitates landowner petitions for creating Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) and evaluates filed legislative bills that create new or modify existing 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 within Groundwater Management Areas (GMAs), providing educational and technical assistance upon request.

• Map of Texas GCDs (June 2023)
• TCEQ GCD GIS data can be found on the agency's GIS Data Hub (click on the "Water" link under the "Explore Our Programs" heading).
• Summary Description of GCDs (February 2023)
• An interactive, online map ("Viewer") is available that allows users to obtain spatial information about designated PGMAs and created and confirmed GCDs. See the User Guide for more information.
• Contact List for GCDs (May 2023)

TCEQ Groundwater Conservation District Performance Review

In accordance with the Texas Water Code Sections 36.301 - 36.303, the TCEQ is responsible for Groundwater Conservation District (GCD) performance review and action if:

• a GCD management plan is not adopted, readopted, or submitted to the Executive Administrator of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) within statutory deadlines (Note: this is by far the most common violation);
• the Executive Administrator of the TWDB denies approval of a submitted management plan and the GCD does not address and obtain management plan approval within statutory deadlines or has exhausted all appeals of the denial;
• the State Auditor determines that a GCD is not operational; or,
• a petition requesting a TCEQ inquiry of a GCD has been accepted and a review panel has submitted a report and recommendation to TCEQ.

TCEQ Performance Reviews

• Post Oak Savannah GCD Petition Inquiry
(search on Docket Number 2022-0299-mis)
• Starr County GCD Petition Inquiry
(search on Docket Number 2019-1092-mis)
• 1st Public Meeting Notice (January 7, 2020)
• 2nd Public Meeting Notice (February 13, 2020)
• Starr County GCD is currently working under a TCEQ Order (April 2, 2020)
• Saratoga Underground Water Conservation District (UWCD) Petition Inquiry
(search on Docket Number 2023-0343-mis)

Publications

• Priority Groundwater Management Areas and Groundwater Conservation Districts, Report to the 88th Texas Legislature (TCEQ SFR-053/22, January 2023)
• TCEQ Groundwater Conservation District Registration Form (TCEQ-20867, February 2023)
  • Note: Please download the form to your computer and open it with either Adobe Acrobat Reader or Pro, and then use the electronic signature and email with the SUBMIT button.
• Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer Study - Final Contract Report (University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, March 2011)

Related Links

• Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts web site  
• Texas Water Development Board Groundwater webpage  
• 30 TAC, Chapter 293, Subchapter C  

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Publications

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service on-line Bookstore offers a number of publications on groundwater management such as:

• "Managing Texas Groundwater Resources Through Groundwater Conservation Districts" (B-1612)
• "Questions About Groundwater Conservation Districts in Texas" (B-6120)
• "Groundwater Conservation Districts: Success Stories" (B-6087)
• "Priority Groundwater Management Areas: Overview and Frequently Asked Questions (B-6191)"

Hard copies or free electronic downloads of these publications are available after setting up an account.