Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District

Founded in 1991

The creation of groundwater conservation districts is authorized by state law (Texas Water Code, Chapter 36) and such districts are empowered and charged to conserve, preserve, protect, recharge, and prevent waste of groundwater resources within their boundaries. Groundwater conservation districts are the state’s preferred method of groundwater management.

Priority Groundwater Management Areas

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may administratively create a groundwater conservation district in response to a landowner petition only if the proposed area is included in a groundwater management area. A groundwater management area is an area delineated and designated by the Texas Water Development Board that is suitable for the management of groundwater resources. A priority groundwater management area is an area that, after extensive public participation and scientific study, is delineated and designated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality because critical groundwater problems exist or will exist within a 25-year planning horizon. Landowners are required to create a groundwater conservation district when the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality designates an area as a priority groundwater management area; however, if landowners do not take such action, TCEQ is mandated to do so (Texas Water Code, Chapter 35).

Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District is part of the Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area.

District History: Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District was created by
House Bill No. 1463, Chapter 693, Acts of the 72nd Texas Legislature in January, 1991 as Headwaters Groundwater Underground Water Conservation District. In May of 2001 the District’s enabling legislation was amended by H.B. 3543, renamed the District; Headwaters Groundwater District and gave the District all rights, powers, privileges, authority, functions and duty provided by the general law of Texas including Texas State Water Code Chapter 36. April 1, 2011 the District’s enabling legislation was amended by Special District Local Laws Code, Title 6. Water and Wastewater, Subtitle H. Districts Governing Groundwater, Chapter 8842. Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District.

GCDs Created By:

Special legislative act;
Landowner petition process to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
Landowner petition process to join an existing Groundwater Conservation District; or,
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality initiative in a priority groundwater management area (PGMA)
HGCD Notice of Regulatory Authority

HGCD Board of Directors

Director Precinct 1

Jeff Wendling

Director Precinct 2

Chris Childs

Director Precinct 3

Kenneth Wilke

Director Precinct 4

Laurie Lowe

Director at Large

John Elliott