The public is invited to weigh in on planning goals for the region's groundwater during a 90-day public comment period, according to a news release from Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, the entity that regulates groundwater in Montgomery County.

Groundwater Management Area 14, which includes LSGCD and four other groundwater conservation districts, voted on its proposed long-term goal for the Gulf Coast Aquifer System.

The goal is known as desired future conditions, or DFCs. DFCs are planning goals used by groundwater conservation districts to balance conservation and development to meet the state’s needs. GCDs analyze empirical data and set goals to achieve the conditions specified in the future conditions, according to the news release.

The official version of the proposed DFCs is as follows:





The member districts of Groundwater Management Area 14 (“GMA 14”) propose the following desired future conditions (“DFCs”) for the Gulf Coast Aquifer within Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Grimes, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Tyler, Walker, Waller and Washington counties:



  • in each county in GMA 14, no less than 70 percent median available drawdown remaining in 2080 and no more than an average of 1.0 additional foot of subsidence between 2009 and 2080; and

  • the model simulation consistent with the above proposed DFCs was developed by using the Houston Area Groundwater Model (HAGM) and adjusting the pumping distribution in each county starting with the distribution used in the 2016 round of joint planning in GMA 14.



The proposed DFCs can still be amended, and it will be approved by Jan. 5, 2022, and will include plans for what groundwater conditions will look like in 2080.



Individuals who wish to share their thoughts on the proposed DFCs should submit their comments in writing to [email protected] with the subject line “DFC Comments” no later than 11:59 p.m. on July 19. LSGCD plans to hold a hearing this summer to receive and consider public comments, which has yet to be announced. Individuals interested in sharing their thoughts in person should sign up for the district’s emails to be notified of the hearing date and registration process.

Individuals interested in full documentation surrounding DFCs should contact the district office at 936-494-3436 or [email protected].