Clearwater UWCD is one of 11 groundwater conservation districts located wholly or partially within Groundwater Management Area 8 (“GMA 8”); the other districts in GMA 8 include:
Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District
Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
Northern Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
North Texas Groundwater Conservation District
Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District
Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District
Red River Groundwater Conservation District
Saratoga Underground Water Conservation District
Southern Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District
At the last GMA 8 joint planning meeting, held on March 31, 2026, the district representatives voted unanimously to approve the proposed DFCs, which have been distributed to the individual districts for a 90-day comment period and public hearing. The resolution was distributed to the districts on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2026, therefore the comment period will close at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026.
The proposed DFCs approved by the district representatives of GMA 8 are described in terms of acceptable drawdown levels for each subdivision of the Trinity Aquifer and maintaining spring flow for the Edwards BFZ Aquifer.
Trinity Aquifer
GMA 8 (Aquifer) Scale – Average Drawdown (feet) Between 2020 and 2080
| GMA 8 Adopted DFCs -Aquifer-Wide Scale | |
| Woodbine | 154 |
| Paluxy | 125 |
| Glen Rose | 150 |
| Hensell | 279 |
| Hosston | 302 |
| Travis Peak | 275 |
| Twin Mountains | 281 |
| Antlers | 152 |
District Scale (Aquifer) – Minimum Average Remaining Available Drawdown at CUWCD Monitoring Wells Between 2020 and 2080
|
Aquifer |
Remaining
Available Drawdown |
| Upper Trinity (Glen Rose) | 80% |
| Middle Trinity (Hensell) | 10% |
| Lower Trinity (Hosston) | 15% |
Edwards BFZ Aquifer
For the northern segment of the Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) Aquifer the proposed DFCs within Bell County are as follows: Maintain at least 100 acre-feet per month of stream/spring flow in Salado Creek during a repeat of the drought of record.
The District noticed and held a public hearing on the proposed DFCs on June 10, 2026, in conjunction with the regular board meeting. Four members of the public signed up to delivered verbal comments and/or provided written comments for the record. The CUWCD Board of Directors thanked each of the attendees for being engaged during the DFC process and submitting their formal feedback. Board President, Jody Williams, reminded attended that the District will still accept written comments on the proposed DFCs as they relate to Bell County until the July 22nd, 2026, deadline.
In accordance with Section 36.108 (d-2) and (d-3), the District will compile and submit a summary of all relevant comments received, any suggested revisions to the proposed desired future conditions and basis for the proposed revisions, and any supporting materials for consideration at the next joint planning meeting of GMA 8. Comments and supporting material will be posted online for no less than 30 days. The GMA will then meet to adopt the DFCs. The statutory deadline to adopt the DFC’s for GMA 8 is January 5, 2027.
For more information related to the proposed DFCs or to submit formal comments, please contact Clearwater UWCD General Manager, Whitney Ingram, by phone at (254) 933-0120, by email at wingram@cuwcd.org, or by visiting the District office located at 700 Kennedy Court, Belton, Texas 76513.
