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McLennan County court votes to support creation of Central Texas Water Alliance
Summary
The McLennan County Commissioner's Court on Feb. 4 adopted a resolution asking state lawmakers to authorize a Central Texas Water Alliance to explore bringing groundwater from the Carrizo aquifer to help supply the region; the resolution does not commit county funds.
The McLennan County Commissioner's Court voted Feb. 4 to adopt a resolution supporting state legislation to create the Central Texas Water Alliance, a regional entity proposed to evaluate and plan new water supplies, transmission and related studies for Central Texas.
The resolution, introduced as agenda item N4A, asks local state legislators to sponsor a local bill to allow the alliance to form and begin planning. Court members who spoke described the measure as an enabling step only; it does not obligate the county to buy water or to commit funds. The court approved the resolution by motion, voice second and a voice vote of the court.
Court members said the alliance would study options such as bringing groundwater from layers of the Carrizo aquifer in East Texas into the Central Texas region and would enable engineering, market and transmission planning. A county official explained the resolution is a nonbinding authorization to allow further planning; any future decisions on financing, purchasing water rights or building transmission would be subject to separate, later votes by each participating county.
County officials and commissioners stressed the resolution is intended to preserve options, not to force immediate spending. The court discussed financing pathways that could follow later planning, including possible bond financing through the Texas Water Development Board; those choices, officials said, would be decided by each county if and when a project moves from planning to implementation.
Court members also noted the Alliance concept was developed with Bell County Judge David Blackburn and that several state legislators were reported to be supportive. On procedural questions, the court confirmed the resolution’s text creates only an enabling framework and does not transfer water rights or require the county to contribute existing groundwater.
The court adopted the resolution without recorded roll-call tallies; the clerk recorded the motion, second and the court’s voice vote as “approved.”
Why it matters: County officials said long-range water planning is critical for growth, economic development and public safety. The resolution directs county staff to support state enabling legislation so engineering studies and regional planning can proceed, while reserving all future financial commitments for later, explicit approvals by the court.
