Groundwater district zones in on Briggs-Oakalla area
The Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District is taking its first step toward managing Burnet County aquifers through designated zones, with regulations tailored to the specific needs of communities and their water below rather than a blanket rule. The first zone is slated for the Trinity Aquifer in the Briggs-Oakalla area.
“Right now, our rules are broadly across the entire district,” GCD General Manager Mitchell Sodek told DailyTrib.com. “The goal has been to establish more science to understand the nature of the aquifer, then we could start managing areas as they need based on their specific hydrogeologic properties.”
At the district board meeting Wednesday, March 26, directors unanimously approved a stakeholder-driven process to explore the creation of a groundwater management zone in northeast Burnet County. The area north of U.S. 183, loosely referred to as the “Briggs-Oakalla Zone,” was identified after studies showed it has both “poor aquifer characteristics” and increasing development pressure, Sodek said.
“When we know there’s limited groundwater and development is either ongoing or planned, those two are in direct conflict with each other,” Sodek told board members. “So, it’s going to have to have some type of management.”
The district’s proposed plan outlines a public involvement timeline that spans from April to September 2025. It includes an initial community meeting—tentatively planned for the week of April 21-25 at the Oakalla Community Center—followed by the creation of a smaller stakeholder committee to help craft management objectives, rules, and strategies specific to the area.
“We’re not walking in with rules already drafted,” Sodek told DailyTrib.com. “We want to hear from those people that are going to be impacted. What are their thoughts? What are their goals and objectives?”
The stakeholder committee, expected to form in May, will include residents, ranchers, business owners, and other water users from the Briggs-Oakalla zone. Their job will be to review the district’s data, weigh in on draft proposals, and provide feedback ahead of any rule changes.
The management zone will require differing regulations from surrounding areas. Examples of new rules include greater spacing between wells, larger lot sizes, or stricter pumping limits to preserve water availability.
The idea of management zones stems from years of water availability studies and consultations with hydrologist Neil Deeds from geosciences and engineering consulting firm INTERA. One key source was a countywide aquifer study funded by Burnet County with American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
The Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District plans to eventually create other zones across the county, a long-term project that will rely on continued scientific research, data collection, and stakeholder feedback.
“We’re using this opportunity (Briggs-Oakalla zone creation) to get recommendations,” Sodek said. “Some of those we may use, some we may not, but we don’t want to be the dictating arm. We want this to be collaborative.”
Public hearings regarding the Briggs-Oakalla zone will be held later this year before any rules are finalized. A dedicated webpage will also go live in April to house meeting materials, updates, and documents related to the proposed zone.
For more information about the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District, visit centraltexasgcd.org.
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Excellent, concise reporting from Elizabeth. Captured all the essential points.