Water bills bring tools, funding to county

New state laws are giving Bastrop County water officials more tools to manage drought, protect wells and collaborate across county lines amid rising water demand and regional growth. 

The Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District, which oversees groundwater in Bastrop County, said the recent Texas legislative session marked a shift toward more coordinated and better-funded water management.

“These bills make one thing clear — managing groundwater in isolation no longer works and is no longer an option,” said Claire Marks, education and outreach coordinator for the district. “Aquifers cross county lines, and the challenges facing water supplies require partnerships, transparency and science-based solutions.”