Regional leaders discuss groundwater, data centers and growth
Regional leaders from across the Texas Hill Country gathered in Boerne to discuss groundwater protection, rapid growth, and the increasing impact of data center development on local water resources. The workshop focused on identifying common concerns and developing legislative priorities to grant counties stronger authority in managing development and protecting natural resources.
County officials and staff from across the Texas Hill Country convened on June 10 in Boerne for the eighth County-to-County Coalition workshop. The gathering addressed critical regional issues including groundwater protection, rapid growth, and the increasing development of data centers, alongside legislative priorities impacting communities such as Hays County.
The workshop featured discussions with groundwater experts like Mitchell Sodek of the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District and Comal County resident Jonathan Gulick, who provided insights into groundwater science and local government's role in resource protection. Attendees also delved into the rapid expansion of data centers across Texas and their potential strain on local water supplies, with presentations from Tom Entsminger of the Texas Coast and Waters Program and Rachel Hanes of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, who offered policy recommendations for regulating such developments.
Following these discussions, the focus shifted to advancing county priorities in future legislative sessions, guided by figures like Comal County Criminal District Attorney Jennifer Tharp and former state Rep. Andrew Murr. Key legislative priorities developed included certifications for groundwater availability, increased funding for flood infrastructure, clearer county and municipal authority in transportation corridors, stronger county power to regulate impervious cover in flood-prone areas, and improvements to the aggregate production operation permitting process.
Participants emphasized the need for enhanced local authority and tools for counties to effectively manage growth while safeguarding the natural resources vital to the Hill Country. Kendall County Commissioner Andra Wisian highlighted the coalition's collaborative strength in tackling region-wide challenges. The workshop was supported by the Hill Country Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the region's natural character.