A federal lawsuit has been filed by two companies tied to Dallas investor Kyle Bass to lift a moratorium on large-scale water extraction projects in East Texas. The lawsuit alleges that the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District has illegally blocked their efforts to extract water from beneath land they own.
Background
The dispute began when Bass’ companies, Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC and Pine Bliss LLC, filed permits to drill 43 water wells across two counties, which could extract billions of gallons of water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. The groundwater district had initially approved the project, but later imposed a moratorium on new non-exempt groundwater permit applications.
The lawsuit argues that the conservation district violated the constitutional rights of Bass and his companies by denying access to water beneath the land and seeks an undisclosed amount of compensation. Bass claims that the district’s actions have prevented his company from testing the groundwater beneath land he owns.
Implications
The lawsuit has sparked concerns among East Texans, who are already wary of Dallas-area organizations seeking to extract water from the region. Poultry producer Wayne-Sanderson Farms LLC has also sued to stop the project, claiming that the wells would drain the area of its main water source and impact its operations.
The case highlights the ongoing battle over groundwater resources in East Texas and the need for clear regulations to protect the rights of landowners and the environment.
Original reporting: Texas Tribune (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
