The Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association announced yesterday it has filed a motion to intervene in the federal case Aqua Texas Inc. vs. Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District. The motion to intervene seeks to protect TESPA members’ groundwater and is an attempt to protect the state’s groundwater protection system which they believe is directly threatened by Aqua’s legal action in federal court.
The current dispute in federal court stems from Aqua’s violations of the local groundwater district’s rules. The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District denied Aqua’s applications to renew groundwater permits in 2023 and in January, 2024, Aqua sued the HTGC district in federal court.
If Aqua prevails in court, current state law to protect and manage Texas water resources could be dismantled.
“In the Wimberley Valley, we are fighting to protect Jacob’s well, a natural spring that feeds Cypress Creek, as well as for the longterm protection of the right to access and use groundwater that belongs to every landowner and that is in danger of being depleted throughout the Hill Country if Aqua prevails,” said Jim Blackburn, President of TESPA.
“Aqua filing suit in federal court threatens not only our groundwater protection in the Wimberley Valley but also our statewide groundwater management system that many Texans have fought long and hard to establish. This Aqua action, if successful, could be the first step to the loss of the springs of the Texas Hill Country as well as one of our fundamental property rights.”
TESPA’s Motion to Intervene is currently pending in Austin Federal District Court.
