Comal Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
Mail: PO Box 664, Spring Branch, TX 78070
Physical: 9850 FM 311, Spring Branch, TX 78070
Phone 830.885.2130
email: Admin@ComalTrinityGCD.com
Mission:
Maintain the hill country way of life by conserving, protecting, and preserving our Trinity groundwater resources.
FAQs
Need assistance?
Have a question? Check out the list of frequently asked questions below. If you don't find the answer you're looking for, please feel free to contact us by e-mail at admin@ComalTrinityGCD.com or 830.885.2130
What is the mission of the Comal Trinity GCD?
The mission of the Comal Trinity GCD is to maintain the hill country way of life by conserving, protecting, and preserving our Trinity groundwater resources.
Why does Comal County need a groundwater conservation district?
Groundwater is one of Comal County's most valuable resources and it is important to the future of the county to be proactive about protecting both the quality and the quantity of this precious resource.
What rules are now in place regarding my current well or a well I am planning to drill?
The Comal Trinity GCD has yet to enact any changes to existing regulations concerning current wells under its jurisdiction. New wells drilled into the Trinity Group of Aquifers throughout Comal County continue to be regulated according to state standards by licensed well drillers. Additionally, wells for new subdivisions tapping into the Trinity Group of Aquifers in Comal County requires adherence to current County regulations regarding lot size and sewage requirements. CTGCD provides oversight of well construction and plugging of abandoned or deteriorated well to help ensure that aquifer contamination will not occur.
What kinds of things will the Comal Trinity GCD do?
The Comal Trinity GCD is committed to proactively managing and protecting Trinity Aquifer groundwater resources in Comal County. In time, this will include conducting research in groundwater availability, quality, water levels, and use in the Trinity Aquifer, and the development of approaches for addressing any identified issues before they become problems. CTGCD actively participates in the two Groundwater Management Areas that overlie the county. The Comal Trinity GCD also conducts public outreach activities to inform county residents about research findings and meetings, and generally to keep them up to date on Comal Trinity GCD activities.
Will the Comal Trinity GCD be able to tax me?
According to 2015 84th legislature’s HB 2407, the District’s enabling legislation, the Comal Trinity GCD does not have taxing authority.
Who governs the Comal Trinity GCD?
The Comal Trinity GCD is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors appointed by Comal County Commissioners. Initial board-member terms are staggered 2 and 4 years, followed by 4-year terms.
Who is eligible to be a Director of the Comal Trinity GCD?
If you are a registered voter in Comal County, you are eligible to be a Director-at-Large. Four Directors are appointed by the
Comal County Commissioners Court; one each from each respective precinct. To be appointed as the Director from a county commissioner's precinct, you must be a registered voter of that precinct. Three other Directors are appointed “at large” from county municipalities by Comal County’s Commissioners Court. To be appointed as the Director from a municipality, you must be a resident of a county municipality and be a registered voter of Comal County.
Why was there no election to confirm the Comal Trinity GCD?
The Comal Trinity GCD was created by legislative action and, since Comal Trinity GCD does not have property taxing authority, the State legislators saw no need for a confirming election.
What authority does the General Manager have?
The General Manager of the District shall have the authority to carry out the purposes of the District and to conduct the necessary activities of the District promulgated by the District Rules without action of the Board. The purpose of this authority is to allow the General Manager to properly conduct the daily and managerial activities of the District in order to allow the District to efficiently and effectively manage and preserve the Trinity Aquifer groundwater resources in Comal County.
How can I find out more about what the Comal Trinity GCD is doing?
The Comal Trinity GCD will publish meeting notes, research findings, geographic information system (GIS) maps, and many other types of information on this website.
Is there currently any fees imposed by the Comal Trinity GCD?
Fees for non-exempt well users were established as of December 21, 2015 and became effective January 1, 2016. For definitions of non-exempt wells and specific fees, please visit the Rules webpage Chapter 11 Fee Schedule for additional information
Will there be fees for the Comal Trinity GCD in the future?
The Comal Trinity GCD receives its operating income from production fees of large water users and charges permit fees for drilling new wells.
The district has imposed reasonable production fees on each well that is not exempt from permitting based on the amount of water actually withdrawn from the well. District fees for non-exempt users have been established at:
$1 per acre-foot for groundwater used for agricultural purposes; or
$20 per acre-foot for groundwater used for any other purpose.
What does “Exempt” and “Non-Exempt” mean?
The simple answer is that residential and livestock wells pay no pumping or “production fees.” A well is exempt from paying “production fees” provided that the well:
is used solely for domestic use or for providing water for livestock or poultry regardless of land lot size and is drilled, completed, or equipped so that it is incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons of groundwater a day (most residential wells pump between 4,000 and 8,000 gallons per day so, they’d be “exempt” from paying any production fees); or
is not capable of producing more than 10,000 gallons of water a day; or
is metered and does not produce more than 10 acre-feet of water in a calendar year (most residential wells are not—and need not be—metered so, they’d be “exempt” from paying production fees). This subsection applies more to water-intensive small businesses such as restaurants, animal clinics, cosmetology, and small health care businesses. Generally, they would not pay production fees.