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I have been writing columns for the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District for a couple of months, but I’d like to take a short hiatus from our usual water conservation tips to explain who we are, what we do and how you can get involved.
In the words of Rodgers and Hammerstein from “The King and I,” “Getting to know you. Getting to know all about you. Getting to like you. Getting to hope you like me.” I hope this column helps you better understand the Lost Pines GCD.
Who We Are
Water rights in Texas depend on the source. Surface water is owned by the state, requiring permission to access, while groundwater generally belongs to the landowner, allowing them to pump and capture available water. This is known as the Rule of Capture, but it has limits, which groundwater conservation districts manage and regulate.
The Lost Pines GCD was established after fierce local opposition to a 1998 Alcoa/San Antonio Water System project that aimed to export nearly 18 billion gallons of water from the Simsboro Aquifer annually. In 2001, voters in Bastrop and Lee Counties approved the formation of the Lost Pines GCD to protect our local aquifers from overuse and exploitation.
For almost 25 years, we have balanced property rights with the conservation, protection, recharging and prevention of waste of our groundwater. Texas has 99 other GCDs, each addressing unique groundwater needs while implementing policies to balance use with conservation.
What We Do
Our goal at the Lost Pines GCD is to manage groundwater sustainably, ensuring a reliable supply for current and future needs. We provide tools, rules, permitting guidelines, well programs, groundwater research and educational outreach initiatives. Through our permitting and enforcement frameworks, we protect existing groundwater users by establishing minimum spacing between wells and setting limits on water level changes in our aquifers.
Our major aquifers, such as the Simsboro and Carrizo Aquifers, as well as minor ones, are the lifeblood of Bastrop and Lee Counties. The Tonkawa tribe lived on this land over 2,000 years ago, thriving in a water-rich environment. Today, our region still relies on groundwater for mining, agriculture, livestock and daily use.
As our communities grow, sustainable management, effective regulation and community involvement are essential to maintaining our groundwater resources for generations to come.
This Is Where You Come In If you use water — and everyone does — please be proactive in conserving it. Simple actions like turning off faucets, running full laundry loads and watering lawns in the early morning or evening can make a difference.
Well owners can join our free Well Watch Program to monitor water levels and quality. We invite you to attend our monthly board meetings or follow us on social media @LostPinesGCD for updates. To receive alerts about board meeting agendas or our monthly newsletter, subscribe at www.lostpineswater. org/list.aspx.
In the spirit of getting to know you, I hope this column fosters a deeper connection with the Lost Pines GCD. We look forward to your participation in protecting our most precious natural resource — groundwater. Together, we can ensure that Bastrop and Lee Counties continue to thrive on water for generations to come.
