Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District Grants Permits for New Wells to Operator of Tapatio Springs Golf Resort

On June 28, 2011, the Board of Directors of the CCGCD entered a written order granting the applications of SPE GO HOLDINGS, Inc. to amend the operating permit for existing wells, and to drill 4 new wells on Tapatio Springs Golf Resort property. The Order follows the Board's verbal approval of the permit applications at its Meeting of June 13, 2011. The Resort's owners filed the permit application seeking additional water for the purposes of irrigating the golf course.

Kendall County Utility Company, Inc. filed a protest to the applications based upon concerns that production from new wells would further de-water the already precariously-low middle Trinity Aquifer in Kendall County. Representatives of the KCUC spoke out against the permit applications, and presented evidence that further depletion of the aquifer in the area of KCUC's existing wells could seriously compromise the utility's ability to provide potable water service to its residential customers.

During the same meeting that the CCGCD Board approved the drilling of 4 new wells on Resort property, the Directors also declared the District to be in "Stage 5" drought restrictions. According to the CCGCD website, Stage 5 drought is considered "EXTREME," and mandates a 40% reduction in groundwater use, and prohibits use of sprinklers at any time.

KCUC -- acting through its attorney, Trey Wilson -- has filed a request for contested case hearing, seeking formal review of the CCGCD's action in granting SPE GO HOLDINGS, Inc.'s application to drill new water wells within KCUC's CCN area.

The Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District was ratified in 2002, with the stated purpose of "conserving, preserving, recharging, protecting and preventing waste of groundwater from the aquifers within Kendall County."