Groundwater in Texas: Understanding Regional Planning, Exports, and Anticipated Demand
Texas relies heavily on groundwater to support communities, agriculture, and industry — but as population and industrial activity grow, the need for balanced, science-based water management has never been greater.
Recent developments in East Texas and the Coastal Bend region illustrate how large-scale groundwater proposals can influence public discussion, legislation, and local water planning efforts.
East Texas Groundwater Export Proposal
In East Texas, a proposed groundwater export project has drawn statewide attention.
According to multiple public reports, Dallas investor Kyle Bass has proposed withdrawing up to 16 billion gallons of groundwater per year from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer for export. This total exceeds the annual usage of several mid-sized Texas cities, including Longview.
Legislative Context
The proposal prompted State Representative Cody Harris to introduce legislation in 2024 that would:
Require a comprehensive hydrological study of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer before approving new export permits, and
Temporarily pause new groundwater export approvals to allow for additional review.
The Texas House approved a version of the bill that included a two-year moratorium on new groundwater exports.
However, the Texas Senate later removed that moratorium, allowing the project to proceed through normal permitting and regulatory evaluation.
References:
Texas Tribune (2024) – “East Texas groundwater export proposal sparks statewide debate”
Texas Legislature Online (HB XXXX, 2024 Session)
Texas Water Code §36.122 – Export Permits and Transfer Rules
The proposal remains under consideration by regional and state regulatory entities, following standard water planning and permitting processes.
Groundwater Demand and Planning in Nueces County
While the East Texas proposal focuses on exporting groundwater, similar questions about groundwater volume and sustainability are emerging closer to home along the Coastal Bend.
According to the 2026 Draft Region N Water Plan, the Modeled Available Groundwater (MAG) for Nueces County is 6,787 acre-feet per year—about 2.21 billion gallons annually.
This figure is the scientifically modeled limit for how much groundwater may be produced while maintaining the Desired Future Conditions (DFCs) of the aquifer through 2080.
Publicly Reported Project Volumes
Several projects in the county have published maximum potential groundwater usage volumes in planning or feasibility documents.
These include:
Understanding What MAG Means
The Modeled Available Groundwater (MAG) is not a permit or a limit for individual users.
It’s a planning benchmark created through hydrological modeling by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Groundwater Management Area (GMA) process.
The MAG defines how much groundwater can be produced while maintaining long-term aquifer stability — known as the Desired Future Conditions (DFCs) — through the year 2080.
Statewide Perspective
The East Texas proposal and Coastal Bend projections highlight different, but related, challenges:
In East Texas, the discussion focuses on groundwater export from one region to another.
In South Texas, it centers on cumulative local demand and industrial growth relative to modeled sustainable yield.
Both underscore why regional planning, data transparency, and local management through Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs) remain essential to protecting Texas aquifers.
In Summary
Texas law identifies locally governed groundwater conservation districts as the preferred method of groundwater management (Texas Water Code §36.0015).
These districts use scientific modeling, public input, and coordinated planning with the TWDB and TCEQ to ensure that growth, development, and conservation goals align for the long-term benefit of landowners and communities.
The Nueces Groundwater Conservation District provides factual, non-advocacy information to help the public understand how projects, MAGs, and statewide planning efforts intersect — promoting education, transparency, and responsible groundwater management.