State Lawmakers: Who Owns The Right To Groundwater?

A state Senate committee is investigating whether the actions of rural groundwater districts violate landowners’ rights.

By Ryan PoppeJune 5, 2018 9:30 am, , , ,

From Texas Public Radio:

Many rural groundwater conservation boards are considering or have already decided to export some of their water to nearby urban centers. Farmers are concerned the state is developing a Robin Hood system for its water needs, one where landowners lose.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has asked the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs to examine, ahead of the 2019 legislative session, whether regulations set up by groundwater conservation districts sufficiently protect the rights of landowners to their own groundwater.

State law allows these districts to make deals with a neighboring metropolitan water utility to provide water.

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