General Manager Janet Guthrie Appointed Chair of the TAGD Subcommittee on Groundwater Management

The Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) has appointed Janet Guthrie, General Manager of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, as the chairwoman of its newly formed subcommittee focused on groundwater management. This initiative responds to the House Natural Resources Committee's Interim Charge No. 2. The Texas Legislature releases interim charges each spring in even-numbered years to guide committee studies and public hearings leading up to the next legislative session. In March 2026, Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows announced the interim charges for the House Natural Resources Committee, which can be accessed here.

Mrs. Guthrie brings 24 years of experience as a member of the legislative committee and has previously chaired a subcommittee dedicated to addressing groundwater waste. The groundwater management subcommittee will evaluate Texas's existing framework with a focus on groundwater export, large-scale production, and areas not currently managed by Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCDs), considering their impact on aquifer management and long-term planning. The potential objectives include:

1. Summarizing the Current Framework: Outline the existing groundwater management framework under Chapter 36, including the roles and authorities of GCDs and the differences between managed and unmanaged areas.

2. Reviewing Export Permitting: Examine current approaches to groundwater export permitting, including statutory requirements, fee structures, and regulatory limitations, while identifying challenges for districts.

3. Evaluating Production Projects: Assess how large-scale groundwater production projects are permitted and managed, and determine their potential impacts on aquifer conditions, neighboring landowners, and Desired Future Conditions (DFCs).

4. Addressing "White Areas": Explore issues related to unmanaged production in "white areas" and its implications on shared aquifers and regional planning challenges.

5. Reviewing Previous Materials: Analyze past TAGD white papers and policy positions on these topics to identify areas needing updates or clarifications.

6. Preparing Policy Updates: Draft a new white paper or revise existing TAGD policy materials to reflect contemporary issues, including recommendations to enhance groundwater management while upholding local control.

Through this collaborative effort, committee members aim to create valuable information for Texas Legislative members and TAGD stakeholders.

The Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) was established to facilitate the exchange of ideas among groundwater conservation districts and to develop or influence programs for groundwater management, conservation, protection, and development throughout Texas. Formerly known as the Texas Groundwater Conservation Districts Association, TAGD was founded on May 12, 1988. Its membership comprises underground water conservation districts in Texas, which have the authority to manage groundwater as outlined in Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code (voting members), along with other organizations involved in groundwater efforts (associate members). TAGD operates exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes as defined under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.