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Upper Trinity GCD: large water withdrawals require public studies and contested hearings
Summary
Doug Shaw of the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District told Parker County residents that large groundwater permits require studies, public hearings and allow landowners contested‑case rights; residents were urged to register wells to preserve legal protections.
Doug Shaw, director of the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, told the commissioners and residents that any large groundwater withdrawal requires an application, a hydrogeologic study and public review, and that contested‑case rights allow landowners to seek administrative review.
Shaw said applicants for large permits must complete studies (a process that can take roughly six months to a year) before a permit application is administratively complete. He urged landowners to register wells, noting many pre‑2009 wells are unregistered and that registration improves the district’s ability to enforce spacing rules and mitigation requirements. Shaw also said the district can impose mitigation or limits if a study shows unreasonable impacts.
