Rules, Regulation, & Contracts

GCUWCD OPERATIONAL DOCUMENTS


Chapter 36 -Texas Statutes Water Code, Title 2, Subtitle E, Chapter 36, Groundwater Conservation Districts allows for the creation of Groundwater Conservation District. Texas Statutes Water Code Chapter 36 


GCUWCD Rules -The Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District (GCUWCD) was created by order of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), formerly the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), on November 19, 1993. GCUWCD serves the areas of Gonzales County and the southeast portion of Caldwell County. District Rules to download a copy of the District's Rules approved on October 10th, 2023.

A copy of the upcoming rule changes and rule change request form can be found here

 Draft Rules 2024

 Rule Change Form


GCUWCD Bylaws - The purpose of these Bylaws is to provide for the conduct of the affairs of the Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District, in conformity with and pursuant to the order of the Texas Natural Resource Commission number 101692-D04, creating the conservation district known as "Gonzales County Underground Conservation District", and operating under the general laws of the State of Texas. GCUWCD Bylaws 


GCUWCD Management PlanSenate Bill 1 (SB 1), enacted in 1997, and Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), enacted in 2001, established a comprehensive statewide planning process, including requirements for groundwater conservation Districts under the Texas Water Code Chapter 36 to manage and conserve the groundwater resources of the State of Texas. This legislation requires that each groundwater conservation District develop a management plan. Management Plan to download a copy of the District's Management Plan approved by TWDB on January 29, 2019.

Draft Management Plan  Public Hearing and Consideration November 12, 2024.


GCUWCD Mitigation Manual- The mission of the Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District (GCUWCD) is to conserve, preserve, protect, and prevent the waste of groundwater resources.  The rules of the District require permittees capable of producing greater than 3,000 acre-feet of water per year from the same producer or connected or to be connected to a common gathering/transportation piping system to work with the District in mitigating the effects of large-scale pumping projects on existing permitted wells.  This is accomplished through the use of a Mitigation Fund that is funded by the permittees and managed by the District.  The permittees recognize and acknowledge that the District may utilize monies in the Mitigation Fund for investigating, evaluating, and/or implementing mitigation by either contractors or employees and that the Mitigation Fund may be used to cover administrative expenses, contractor costs, and equipment costs associated with such contractors or employees. For a copy of the  Mitigation Manual


GCUWCD Waste Reduction & Recycling Policy - The purpose of this policy is to comply with Chapter 328, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Subchapter K, Governmental Entity Recycling and Purchasing of Recycled Materials and Senate Bill (SB) 1376, 86th Texas Legislature, 2019, amended Texas Health and Safety Code (THSC), 361.425 and 361.426 which requires certain governmental entities to establish recycling programs and purchasing preferences for products made of recycled materials unless the commission finds that compliance will create a hardship on the governmental entity. Waste Reduction & Recycling Policy


CONTRACTS

The Legislative Services Consultant Contract as required by Sec. 2254.030, Government Code can be accessed Contract

THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of August 08, 2023, signed by the District representative and is by and between GM ELLIS LAW FIRM, PC (hereinafter “Ellis”) and the GONZALES COUNTY UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (hereinafter referred to as “District”). This agreement shall be effective as of the first day of the month of signature and shall continue through September 30, 2025. The contracted, budgeted amount for FY 24 & FY 25 is $60,000.00

In the previous FY 21-22 & 22-23, the District paid Ellis $28,800 for Legislative Services as contracted and budgeted each FY listed.