Henderson County authorizes county judge to contest Pine Bliss and Redtown Ranch groundwater permits

Henderson County Commissioners Court on June 3 unanimously authorized the county judge to file a challenge with the Neches and Trinity Valley Groundwater Conservation District to contest groundwater well permit applications submitted by Pine Bliss LLC and Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC and to retain outside legal counsel to assist.

The vote came after more than a dozen residents, water-supply officials and municipal leaders told commissioners they oppose the permit requests and warned the proposed withdrawals could reduce water available to local wells, small farms and water systems. County legal counsel told the court the county likely has standing to file a contest and recommended designating a single county representative and considering retention of specialized outside counsel.

Why it matters: Public speakers said the applications request very large annual withdrawals from the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer, which supplies private wells and several small water-supply corporations in eastern Henderson County. Commenters described potential effects on shallow wells, farm operations and local water systems and asked the court to act before a June 19 filing deadline and subsequent contested hearing.

Public testimony and local data:…