(Guadalupe County) — A proposal to significantly increase groundwater usage for a planned golf course project in the Luling-Seguin area has been rejected by the Guadalupe County Groundwater Conservation District (GCGCD).
During a contested case hearing held last Thursday, the GCGCD Board of Directors unanimously denied Ranchy McRanchface, LLC’s request to amend its existing permit to draw an additional 112.542 acre-feet of groundwater annually. The proposed amount is equivalent to more than 36.6 million gallons per year from the Wilcox Aquifer over the next three years.
The amendment sought to increase the company’s current authorization to support turf development and maintenance for the proposed 18-hole golf course at 211 Darst Field Road.
The decision came after testimony from local landowners who shared concerns that additional pumping would further strain the aquifer and worsen existing impacts on nearby domestic wells.
Kelley Cochran, general manager of the Guadalupe County Groundwater Conservation District, said the board’s action reflects the district’s responsibility to safeguard local water resources.
“The Board unanimously denied the permit amendment application at last week’s hearing, after hearing testimony from 28 local landowners who qualified to contest the permit application as ‘affected persons’ in accordance with the district’s rules and state law,” said Cochran.
She added that “The Guadalupe County GCD has historically honored its legal obligation to protect and preserve local groundwater by relying on science, preventing groundwater waste, and balancing groundwater conservation and development to meet the needs of the community. Last week’s hearing is just one example of the district’s continued commitment to protecting our precious groundwater resources.”
Ranchy McRanchface, LLC currently holds a permit allowing groundwater use for agricultural and land development operations on the property.