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Residents urge Bryan County to revisit groundwater mitigation plan after GSP agreement with Bullock County
Summary
The commission authorized a Groundwater Sustainability Program agreement with Bullock County and appointed an advisory committee; several public commenters from Bullock and Bryan County urged the board to reopen the mitigation plan, warning wells could go dry and citing high costs to deepen wells.
The Bryan County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize the chairman to execute a Groundwater Sustainability Agreement with neighboring Bullock County to establish a Groundwater Sustainability Program (GSP) and approved staff's recommended advisory committee appointments, while multiple residents urged the board to reopen and substantially revise the mitigation plan.
Ben, presenting staff recommendations, described the GSP manual and a draft intergovernmental agreement as a starting point that can be amended; the board moved and approved authorization for the chairman to execute the agreement with Bullock County. A subsequent motion appointed Skip Gomans, Pete Peterson and Christopher Valdesi to the GSP advisory committee with Stuart Dixon as an alternate.
Public commenters voiced strong concern about the mitigation plan that staff had recommended. Cassandra Michael told the board the plan "is not a plan" and asked that the county provide a public comment period and renegotiate the mitigation plan, warning it would create liability and would not adequately protect impacted residents. Belinda Davis, who said her family's well is within the five-mile radius identified in the plan, said lowering a threatened well can cost "over $100,000 just for one," and urged commissioners to visit affected farms and reconsider approval.
Why it matters: the GSP and mitigation plan will shape how groundwater is managed and used across county lines. Residents said they fear the plan prioritizes development and industry over agricultural and household water security. The board approved the intergovernmental authorization and advisory appointments by voice votes during the meeting.
What's next: the documents presented to the board were described as amendable; members and staff indicated the GSP will continue to be refined. Several public commenters requested an explicit public feedback period and reconsideration prior to finalizing mitigation protocols.
