SOUTHEAST TEXAS GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED DESIRED FUTURE CONDITIONS

July 8, 2021

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all interested persons within Hardin, Jasper, Newton and Tyler Counties, Texas:

That the Board of Directors of the Southeast Texas Groundwater Conservation District (“SETGCD”) will hold a public hearing and accept public comment on the proposed Desired Future Conditions (“DFCs”) for the Gulf Coast Aquifer underlying the District, in accordance with Section 36.108(d-2) of the Texas Water Code. The purpose of the hearing is to provide interested members of the public the opportunity to appear and provide comments to the SETGCD related to the proposed DFCs.

The SETGCD is one of five groundwater conservation districts located wholly or partially within Groundwater Management Area 14 (“GMA 14”); the other districts in GMA 14 include Bluebonnet GCD, Brazoria GCD, Lower Trinity GCD, and Lone Star GCD. At the last GMA 14 joint planning meeting, held on April 9, 2021, the district representatives voted unanimously to approve the proposed DFCs and have been distributed to the districts for a comment period and public hearing of not less than 90 days which began on April 20, 2021.

The Member Districts of Groundwater Management Area 14 (“GMA 14”) propose the following Desired Future Conditions (“DFCs”) for the Gulf Coast Aquifer within Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Grimes, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Tyler, Walker, Waller, and Washington counties:

In each county in GMA 14, no less than 70 percent median available drawdown remaining in 2080 and no more than an average of 1.0 additional foot of subsidence between 2009 and 2080.

The model simulation consistent with the above proposed DFCs was developed by using the Houston Area Groundwater Model (HAGM) and adjusting the pumping distribution in each county starting with the distribution used in the 2016 round of joint planning in GMA 14.

This hearing will be held on July 8, 2021, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the Jasper County Courthouse Annex Building, Emergency Operations Center (2^nd Floor), at 271 E. Lamar, Jasper TX 75951 in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code (or as amended).

Any person who desires to appear at the hearing and present comment or other information on the proposed DFCs may do so in person, by legal representative, or both. Limits may be placed on the amount of time that each person is allowed to present verbal comments, but written comments may also be submitted. Those wishing to provide advanced written comment on the proposed DFCs may also do so prior to the hearing date by regular mail services addressed to John Martin, Southeast Texas GCD, at P.O. Box 1407, Jasper, Texas 75951, by email at [email protected], or by facsimile at (409) 383-0799. Written Comments will be accepted through August 20, 2021. The hearing posted in this notice may be recessed from day to day or continued where appropriate.

This public hearing is available to all persons regardless of disability. If you require special assistance to attend the hearing, please contact the Southeast Texas GCD at (409) 383-1577 at least 24 hours in advance of the hearing.

A copy of the proposed DFCs may be requested by email at [email protected], is available for reviewing or downloading at www.setgcd.org, and may be reviewed, inspected, or obtained in person at the Southeast Texas GCD office located at 271 E. Lamar, Suite 202, Jasper, Texas 75951. All questions or requests for additional information regarding the proposed DFCs may be submitted to John Martin. Please contact Mr. Martin by telephone at (409) 383-1577 or by visiting the Southeast Texas GCD office.