ATTN: The
Board of Directors Meeting
LSGCD stands for the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District. LSGCD manages the groundwater in Montgomery County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the country with a population expected to exceed one million in just 25 years. Every residence and business needs water in some capacity and the District works to manage the amount of groundwater taken from below the surface on an annual basis.
LSGCD’s mission is to be transparent and judicious stewards of Montgomery County’s groundwater. The District uses the law and the best available science in decision making processes and policies. The District prioritizes the highest practicable production of your aquifers while mindfully balancing the protection of private property rights and conservation for present and future generations.
LSGCD is bound by Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code. One of the many ways the District carries out its mission and the powers and duties provided by Chapter 36 is through the creation of District rules. A major aspect of the District’s rules is its permitting program, which is carried out through well registration and permitting.
Meetings are posted publicly with the County Clerk’s Office, and can also be found online in our “Meetings” tab on the District website. Additionally, you can subscribe to our email blasts, which include announcements of all meetings, office closures, and other informational notifications.
Groundwater conservation districts regulate groundwater in Texas. There are nearly 100 groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) throughout Texas, with the first established in 1949. GCDs are overseen locally by an appointed or elected board of directors. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the State Auditor’s Office (SAO) have some limited oversight over GCDs. For example, TWDB ensures that GCDs adopt management plans and Desired Future Conditions that meet the statutory requirements. TCEQ is responsible for GCD performance review and action if a GCD is not operating according to state law. The SAO conducts periodic audits of GCDs to ensure they are complying with state law.
Joint Planning by GCDs in Groundwater Management Areas (GMA) was created by HB 1763, which was signed into law during the 79th Texas Legislative Session in 2005. The GCDs within each GMA are required to share their respective management plans with one another and develop desired future conditions (DFCs) for the counties within each management area every five years.
GMA 14 is made up of the 5 following Districts and respective General Managers:
The Gulf Coast Aquifer is comprised of multiple aquifers including the Chicot, Evangeline, Jasper and Catahoula Aquifers as well as the Burkeville confining layer.
The existence of a groundwater district, by statute, is a protective institution to protect private property rights and ensure you are able to maintain a “fair share” of the groundwater beneath your property. The District offers information on conservation methods for indoor and outdoor use and the importance of practicing sound groundwater management. LSGCD also hosts events with the mobile lab to help the public better understand the importance of protecting our groundwater resources for the future. See our ‘Resources’ Tab for additional information on conservation and best management practices.
See “Well Water Testing” in our ‘Resources’ Tab under “Well Basics & Maintenance” for links to water well testing options.
When buying property where a private well is drilled, you must ensure the well is registered with LSGCD. If the well is already registered when you purchase the property, you must apply for a transfer of ownership and determine if the well is exempt from permitting or will require an operating permit. If the well is not registered, you must apply for a new well registration and follow the permitting protocol for water use type. All applications can be found on the District website under the “Forms & Documents” Tab.
Public comments are an important part of district engagement and may be submitted in several ways. All comments are received by district leadership and made available to the Board of Directors during monthly board meetings. Public comments may be submitted as follows:
Exempt Water Use:
Types of exemptions that may apply (see District rules for full list and details):
Non-Exempt Water Use:
Types of non-exempt uses (see District rules for details):
Yes, if the appropriate paperwork is filled out giving that person authority. The “Signatory Authority Form” can be found in our ‘Forms & Documents’ Tab on the District website.
Annual water use fees and annual production reports are required for all permit holders.
District Rule 8.1 requires all permittees to submit an annual water use fee associated with their permit.
District Rule 11.3 requires all permittees to submit a water production report on an annual basis, detailing the monthly meter readings and annual amounts of groundwater produced for the proceeding calendar year.
The Annual Requirement Compliance Informational Form can be found in the ‘Forms & Documents’ Tab on our District Website.
The rates are updated and adopted by the Board of Directors in a resolution annually and can be found in the ‘Forms & Documents’ Tab under the ‘LSGCD Fees’ dropdown section on our District Website.
Upon creation of LSGCD, all previously drilled wells were issued Historical Use Permits or “HUPs” and given a documented allocation without the requirement to adhere to the District Rules. HUP holders may not apply for an increase in allocation and may not aggregate new wells into an HUP well system. If either occur, the HUP can be converted to an Operating Permit.
All wells in Montgomery County are required to be registered with LSGCD including wells exempt from permitting requirements.
Yes. The rates are updated and adopted by the Board of Directors in a resolution annually and can be found in the ‘Forms & Documents’ Tab under the ‘LSGCD Fees’ dropdown section on our District Website.
Fill out the ‘Exempt Well Registration Form’ found in the “Forms & Documents” Tab listed on our District website.
Yes. The rates are updated and adopted by the Board of Directors in a resolution annually and can be found in the ‘Forms & Documents’ Tab under the ‘LSGCD Fees’ dropdown section on our District Website.
Demand is calculated by connection amount and connection type. The applicant must determine their need and water use expectation per connection type, and submit that demand request clearly on the application in the demand section. The District evaluates the reasonableness of the demand request according to TWDB and standard operating practices.
Upon approval of an operating permit allocation, an invoice is issued for the full amount of the allocation for the current calendar year irrespective of which month the approval is obtained. Water use fees are due by January 1 of each calendar year. A “Permit Compliance Timeline” can be found in the “Forms & Documents” Tab in the ‘LSGCD Fees’ dropdown section on our District website.
Annual Water Use Fees are due on January 1st of each calendar year in perpetuity. A late fee is issued on Feb. 1st of each calendar year. Non-compliance penalties are issued if water use fees and any applicable late fees are not received by March 1 of each calendar year.
Yes, annual Water Use Fees are due in full in perpetuity irrespective of gallons used. Overpumpage and non-compliance penalties are issued if any volume that exceeds the approved annual allocation.
You must email the Permitting Team at permitting@lonestargcd.org to update contact or billing information.
Click here to go to the online portal. You may also refer to the following guides:
The District accepts cash, money order, check, or cashier’s check. Online payment is not available at this time.
You must fill out the “Replacement Well” application prior to replacement of any exempt or non-exempt well. Applications can be found in the “Forms & Documents” Tab on our District website.
The Gulf Coast Aquifer is a prolific aquifer system that has an estimated 180,000,000 acre feet of groundwater according to the TWDB. Access to water depends on your location, well depth, soils and production from neighboring wells. A licensed professional can help you determine how much water is accessible.
The District maintains well or driller reports that are provided to the District. Well or driller reports can also be found on Texas Water Development Board’s Submitted Drillers Reports database found on its website.
Per District rules, abandoned wells are required to be plugged for the protection of the aquifer.
All non-exempt wells must be metered at all times per District Rules. Exempt wells do not require a meter per District Rules.
A well must be designed to support the connections required as determined by the owner of the well and approved by the District during the application process. All wells must have a master meter showing production from each individual well if aggregated into a multi-well system.
A ‘Signatory Authority Form’ must be filled out and notarized by the permit holder applying to sign an application in lieu of the applicant. The ‘Signatory Authority Form’ can be found in the “Forms & Documents” Tab on our District website.
Upon approval to drill, the driller of record listed on the application will be contacted by the District Field Staff to schedule an inspection prior to drilling to ensure location, casing size, pump size, and flow test are accurate according to the approval. Both the Driller and Permit Holder are responsible for ensuring the drilling log and well characteristic documentation are submitted timely according to District Rules. District Rules can be found on the “Forms & Documents” Tab on our District website.
Exempt well applications are expedited and length of time varies depending on when a completed registration package is submitted. If there are spacing issues, the approval time can be extended. Non-exempt well applications are reviewed within 60 days after receipt of a completed application package.
Your client must contact the District to ensure the well is registered, and/or ensure there is not an open Operating Permit assigned to the well. Dependent upon the status of the registration and/or open permit, additional steps are required and the Permitting Team can assist with direction.
On the District Well Map. There they can research the well in question. If the well is not found on the District Well Map, the homeowner should contact the District to determine if the well is registered.
The property owner is responsible to ensure a well on their property is registered, and may be subject to non-compliance penalties violations. It is important you assist your client to ensure compliance at the sale of the property to help a new homeowner avoid District violations.
Click here to view the Lone Star GCD Guide for Realtors for completing the Water Notice: Seller’s Disclosure About Groundwater and Surface Water Rights.
A hyrogeological report is a report sealed by a licensed professional engineer or geoscientist in Texas that assesses aquifer conditions and potential impacts of the proposed pumping.
The report is required for a request: (i) to modify or increase an existing well or well system that would result in the existing well(s) being equipped to produce 700 gallons per minute or greater; (ii) to drill and operate a proposed new well or well system with a proposed aggregate production capacity of 700 gallons per minute or greater; and/or (iii) for an exception to the spacing requirements in Rule 3.2 or Rule 3.3. The District “Hydrogeological Report Guidelines” can be found in the “Forms & Documents” Tab on the District website.
The District uses both Spacing Rules and Hydrogeological Guidelines to protect registered wells from unreasonable impacts of neighboring wells during the application process.
If a well is to be drilled within 50ft from the adjacent landowner’s property, either a spacing waiver by the impacted neighbor(s) must be obtained, or a spacing exception application must be submitted for evaluation by the District Staff and approval by the Board of Directors. The spacing rules also apply according to aquifer depth and diameter.
You can apply for and request an exception/variance to the spacing rules from the Board of Directors. The variance application process for non-exempt wells requires a Hydrogeological Report. An exception is automatically granted if the applicant can demonstrate that the abutting land or registered and permitted well to which a spacing exception is requested is owned or controlled by the same person as the proposed well. An applicant may also provide signed and notarized waivers from all registered and permitted well owners or all adjacent property owners within the applicable spacing distance. If the applicant cannot obtain waivers, the Board will consider the exception at a public hearing.
Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting and storing rainwater for various uses, such as irrigation, domestic use, and even potable water (after treatment). It involves capturing runoff from surfaces like roofs and channeling it into storage tanks, cisterns, or other collection systems.
Here’s a more detailed look at rainwater harvesting:
1. Why Harvest Rainwater
2. Components of a Rainwater Harvesting System:
3. Benefits of Rainwater Harvesting:
4. Things to Consider When Designing a Rainwater Harvesting System:
Landscaping and irrigation conservation efforts focus on using water wisely in outdoor spaces, reducing waste, and promoting sustainable practices. This includes choosing plants adapted to the local climate, using efficient irrigation systems, and practicing smart watering habits.
Here’s a more detailed look at these efforts:
Conservation agriculture practices are sustainable farming methods focused on protecting soil health and promoting ecological balance. Key practices include minimizing soil disturbance, maintaining a permanent soil cover, and diversifying crops. These practices help reduce soil erosion, improve water infiltration, enhance soil fertility, and contribute to carbon sequestration.
Elaboration on Key Conservation Agriculture Practices:
This includes practices like no-till farming, where crops are planted directly into undisturbed soil, and reduced tillage methods. These practices help preserve soil structure, protect soil biota, and reduce soil erosion.
Maintaining a continuous layer of plant residue or cover crops on the soil surface helps protect it from erosion, improves water infiltration, and enhances soil fertility.
Rotating different crops throughout the growing season helps break pest and disease cycles, improves soil fertility, and enhances biodiversity.
Planting cover crops during off-seasons can improve soil structure, prevent erosion, and add nutrients to the soil.
Optimizing fertilizer application based on soil testing and crop needs can reduce nutrient runoff and improve efficiency.
Effective weed control is crucial for the success of conservation agriculture practices. This can involve mechanical, biological, or chemical methods.
Efficient irrigation practices, such as drip irrigation and water-wise techniques, can reduce water waste and improve water use efficiency.
Establishing buffer strips, filter strips, and other practices along field edges helps reduce runoff, improve water quality, and protect wildlife habitats.
Aquifer recharge is the process of replenishing groundwater supplies in aquifers, typically through the infiltration of water from the land, surface water, or surface water bodies. It’s a crucial process for maintaining water resources and mitigating drought impacts.
Rain and snow infiltrate through the soil and into the unsaturated zone, eventually reaching the water table and recharging the aquifer.
Rivers and streams can contribute to recharge when their water levels are high and the surrounding soils are permeable.
Groundwater can also flow from higher elevation areas to lower elevation areas, contributing to recharge in those areas.
This involves using floodwater, collected from rivers or other floodplains, to infiltrate into aquifers and reduce flood risk.
Large, open ponds are used to collect and infiltrate water into the aquifer.
Similar to recharge ponds, but often smaller and designed to handle specific flows.
This involves injecting water into a well, storing it in the aquifer, and then recovering it later.
Wells specifically designed to allow water to infiltrate into the aquifer.
Allowing river water to infiltrate into an aquifer through the riverbank, allowing for natural filtration.
Aquifer recharge helps to maintain groundwater levels, ensuring a reliable water supply during dry periods.
Infiltration through the soil can help to remove pollutants and improve water quality before it reaches the aquifer.
Flood-MAR helps to manage floodwater and reduce flood risk.
In coastal areas, recharge can help to prevent saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers.
Recharge can help to counteract land subsidence caused by excessive groundwater pumping.
MAR can help to maintain minimum streamflow and protect riparian ecosystems.
Source water for recharge may contain contaminants that could affect the aquifer.
Aquifer recharge rates can vary depending on the geology and hydrogeology of the area.
Some recharge methods, like ASR, can be expensive to implement.
There can be public concerns about the safety and potential impacts of recharge projects.
Brush management encompasses various techniques used to control and manipulate woody plants (brush) on land, often with the goal of improving forage production, wildlife habitat, or reducing wildfire risk. It can involve mechanical methods like cutting, chemical methods like herbicide application, or prescribed burning, either alone or in combination. The specific method chosen depends on factors like brush species, soil type, topography, and the desired outcome.
Here’s a more detailed look at brush management practices:
Reducing brush competition with grasses allows for more forage available for livestock.
Managing brush can create or maintain suitable habitat for various species, including deer, quail, and other wildlife.
Brush management can reduce fuel loads and make wildfires less intense and easier to control.
Brush removal can improve water infiltration and reduce soil erosion.
Brush management can be used to maintain or enhance habitat for specific endangered species.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), subsidence is “sinking of the ground because of underground material movement and it is most often caused by the removal of water, oil, natural gas, or mineral resources out of the ground by pumping, fracking, or mining activities.
Subsidence can be an important issue in certain areas such as the Gulf Coast region. People who live in the lower lying coastal areas (i.e., lower elevations and flatter topography) have much more reason to be concerned with subsidence than those who reside further inland in areas of higher elevations with more topographic relief. One of the primary concerns of subsidence in the coastal regions is flooding due to storm surges associated with hurricanes, where permanent seawater inundation and periodic storm water surge can dramatically impact property.
Subsidence is known to have occurred in the southern part of Montgomery County based on monitoring and long-term surveying of land surface. Since the mid 1970’s, the USGS and the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District have conducted scientific investigations and subsidence monitoring for over 40 years. These efforts have identified and documented the susceptibility of land surface subsidence due to the production of groundwater in the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers.
Regular, automated readings are taken of the elevation of the ground at locations throughout the county.
The live data from the two older PAM units may be viewed by clicking on the Subsidence Monitoring Network Map. You can also view water levels by visiting the Lone Star Static Well Level Monitoring Network Map.
The Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District completed a “first of its kind” coring project at Porter SUD, in Porter, TX, in 2024 to take samples nearly 2100ft below the surface to nearly the base of the Jasper Aquifer.
The purpose of the LSGCD coring project was to collect better scientific data to assess aquifer compaction and subsidence in Montgomery County. This work was the first of its kind in Montgomery County and data from the project have been used to update the Texas Water Development Board Groundwater Availability Model (GAM) used in joint planning to better simulate potential subsidence in Montgomery County and surrounding areas.
The subsidence coring study revealed that the rate at which compaction occurs is 10 times (10x) slower than the rate at which compaction occurs in Harris County. That is a very substantial difference representing the potential difference of 10 years versus 100 years.
There are many causes of subsidence, and groundwater pumping can cause land subsidence. Subsidence from all causes can lead to issues for low-lying areas like the Brownwood subdivision in Galveston County where a few feet of subsidence caused flooding.
Elevations in Montgomery County generally range between 100 and 400 feet above sea level, putting Montgomery County at much less risk for subsidence than low-lying areas.
Home foundation problems and cracked streets and sidewalks are not necessarily caused by subsidence or groundwater pumping. These issues exist in other parts of Texas with soils subject to shrink and swell dynamics and have no groundwater pumping or subsidence.
The subsidence districts regulate groundwater in Harris, Galveston, and Fort Bend Counties. The subsidence districts’ sole purpose is to end subsidence, which contributes to flooding in the districts. The subsidence districts’ regulatory plans call to prevent any further subsidence in low-lying areas and to minimize subsidence in other areas as soon as realistically feasible. Groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) were created for different purposes and have different statutory mandates. GCDs were created to conserve and protect the aquifers, prevent waste, protect property rights, and control subsidence. GCDs are not required to end or prevent subsidence. GCDs are required to ensure the management standard for the aquifers represents the highest practicable level of groundwater production balanced with other factors including subsidence. GCDs are authorized to adopt rules to control (not end) subsidence.
Droughts significantly impact groundwater levels because reduced precipitation leads to less groundwater recharge, meaning less water is added to underground aquifers. This can cause the water table to decline, requiring wells to be dug deeper to reach the remaining water, or potentially even causing wells to run dry.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
The place to begin water education is in the school classroom. School programs can result in both short- and long-term water savings. Because students often share with their parents the information they learn at school, classroom education can affect current water use patterns. Youth educated about water resources are also more likely to make life-long behavioral changes.
The TWDB Kids website serves as the gateway to the agency’s K-12 conservation education resources. The web site also features visualization, interactive games, and other activities to help students learn about key concepts:
The Water IQ program is a statewide public awareness program that complements existing local and regional conservation efforts while carrying the conservation message to communities that do not have the financial resources for a program of their own.
A public awareness program that educates Texans on the importance of water conservation. Research shows that the more Texans understand where their water comes from, the more likely they are to take an active role in conserving it. As Texans conserve our state’s water resources, they are helping to ensure that the state has enough water now and in the future.
The GetWise program in Texas, aims to educate students about energy and water conservation. This program is offered at no cost to schools and districts. It integrates into classroom curriculum, supports state academic standards, and encourages students to participate in surveys to earn incentives for their class.
The GetWise program focuses on teaching students about the importance of energy and water efficiency and how to make wise use of these resources.
The program aims to create a community impact by promoting energy and water conservation practices.
Participating teachers may be eligible for a Mini Grant for their classroom if a high percentage of student surveys are completed.
The program engages the whole family in the student’s education by providing tips and resources for energy and water efficiency at home.
The Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors Program was established in 2017 in an effort to educate youth about water resources in Texas. Every spring, high school students from across the state are selected to participate in a summer 4-H2O Leadership Academy (tour). Students travel throughout Texas to learn how water is collected, conveyed, treated, conserved and managed to meet the need of our economy and citizenry.
To reinforce knowledge gained during the academy, water ambassadors pass on that information to others as they engage in various education and service activities throughout the year. This program also provides a platform for youth to connect with water industry professionals and educators who represent a wide range of water disciplines.