The first of three Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District (POSGCD) Town Hall meetings is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Caldwell Civic Center.
According to the district, under the new Aquifer Conservancy Program (PACP) landowners would commit their groundwater resources into a “strictly voluntary” long-term conservation program and would be paid for their stewardship efforts.
Two more meetings are scheduled as follows:
• June 28, Patterson Civic Center. Rockdale, 6 to 9 p.m.
• July 10, POSGCD Office, Milano, 5:30 to 9.
PAY— The POSGCD said pay amounts are still to be determined, but preliminary estimates are $5 to $6 per acre, per year, with bonuses for longer terms.
It is for land owners in Milam and Burleson Counties. That’s the area the POSGCD covers.
The water district urged “any landowner in Milam and Burleson Counties interested in conserving the water in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer” to attend.
The POSGCD terms the effort “a volunteer stewardship program for landowners to protect the aquifers in Milam and Burleson Counties by placing their groundwater reserves into a legacy conservation program.”
The program is to be funded with fees collected by the district and payments are to be disbursed annually, according to the district.
The POSGCD says landowners will still maintain full ownership and control of their private property and “can still drill or maintain an exempt well for domestic and livestock uses.”
“This is a very exciting program where individual landowners can work together with the district to protect water in our aquifers,” said Burleson County Judge Mike Sutherland.
Westbrook said the PACP will be funded by fees collected by the district and participation in this innovative program will be completely voluntary.
“Participating landowners will maintain both ownership of their land and control of their private property rights while setting aside those precious resources for future generations,” he said.
Milam County Judge David Barkemeyer added: “As empowered by the State of Texas, Post Oak has done an exemplary job of protecting the aquifers below each landowner’s property while preserving each landowner’s right to produce their water.”
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