A groundwater conservation district in East Texas is taking steps to put a pause on a controversial plan to pump billions of gallons of water from the area’s underground aquifers. The Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District is close to settling a lawsuit filed by a local poultry farm that challenged the district’s earlier approval of permits for a Dallas-based company to dig 40 large water wells tapping into the Carrizo Wilcox Aquifer.
Wayne-Sanderson Farms, the poultry business behind the lawsuit, argued that the new wells could harm its operations. The planned settlement, which still needs approval from both the district and a court, would cancel the district’s original decision that the permits were properly filed. This means the company, Conservation Equity Management, will have to reapply for the permits. The company declined to comment on the development.
Another key part of the settlement would stop the district from approving any new well permits until experts finish studying the aquifers. Those discussions are still underway, according to Holli Pryor-Baze, the district’s attorney. The push for a detailed study gained momentum during a recent special legislative session after a state representative introduced a bill aimed at halting new permit approvals until studies were done. That bill, however, did not pass.
Despite the legislative setback, the Texas Water Development Board has independently launched a study of the aquifer. The Trinity River Authority is also working to bring on hydrologists for the project. The groundwater district’s board said it will hold off on approving any high-capacity wells until they have results from these studies.
Sam Hurley, the district board’s vice president, said the research will help show the impact the wells could have on both the deep Carrizo Wilcox Aquifer and the shallower Queen City Aquifer. “We need to look at the science. We want to make sure that we get this right,” he said.
This ongoing issue has attracted strong reactions from community members, businesses, and lawmakers, leading to public meetings and a lengthy legislative hearing. For now, the district’s decisions remain on hold as everyone waits for the scientific studies to guide the next steps.