Wilson County residents protest water ‘grab’
- LoriDawn Messuri
- Nov 16, 2025
- 3 min read
Wilson County News
Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District General Manager Aarin Teague speaks to Wilson County community members Nov. 6 about the well permitting process, after a request by Springs Hill Special Utility District for pumping water from Wilson County to sell for use in Guadalupe County. KIM JOHNSON/Wilson County News
Stockdale residents continue to be concerned about water, with a capacity crowd attending a town hall meeting Nov. 6 in hopes of organizing a mass protest at the next Evergreen Underground Water Conservation District (UWCD) public hearing on Nov. 21 in Pleasanton.
Community members held the town hall meeting to discuss mounting concerns about a permit requested by Springs Hill Special Utility District (SUD) to pump water from a well on the northeast north- edge of Wilson County for transport and use in Guadalupe County. The district held an informational meeting Oct. 15 in Stockdale. (See “Stockdale residents sound off on water concerns,” Oct. 22 Wilson County News).
Stockdale resident Tabatha Borchardt opened the Nov. 6 meeting in the Stockdale Community Building, emphasizing that the event was a citizen-led effort to share information and encourage calm, fact-based discussion.
Stockdale City Manager Stephen Mayfield began the presentation with data showing a dramatic drop in the Carrizo- Wilcox Aquifer since 2003, when significant pumping began in Nixon. According to Mayfield, a Stockdale well used as a monitoring site showed consistent declines in the aquifer level — evidence, he implied, of regional over-pumping.
“If you and your friends share a margarita bowl with a few straws, that’s fine,” said Mayfield, to illustrate his point. “But when 10 more people add straws, the margarita doesn’t last too long.”
“We need to ask ourselves — are we confident that this permit will not accelerate that decline for Wilson County wells, especially with ongoing drought conditions and large-scale data centers that will increase the demand for water?” he said.
LoriDawn Messuri, one of the meeting’s organizers, presented local and regional examples of existing water crises, such as Corpus Christi and Beeville. She also gave examples of communities that have stopped their groundwater districts from granting permits until further studies are done.
“Guadalupe County proved it can be done,” said Messuri. “Their board unanimously denied a groundwater permit [for a proposed golf course] after landowners spoke up. [They] protected their aquifer. Wilson County deserves the same protection. Local voices matter.”
“We want a hold on this permit until questions are answered,” Messuri added. “Once the water is gone, it’s gone. Under Texas’s Rules of Capture, there are no second chances. That’s why we must speak up now.’
Evergreen
Following her presentation, Evergreen UWCD representatives, which included General Manager Aarin Teague, General Counsel Monique Turner, and board President Darrell Brownlow, addressed the audience directly, clarifying the difference between contesting a permit and protesting a permit.
Turner explained that a contested hearing is an administrative trial, usually conducted by the state. The board makes the final decision.
“If you’re going to contest [a permit], you have to be able to defend it against the science,” Brownlow explained. “It’s happening all over the state right now.”
A suggestion from resident Cody Little was made that the Evergreen board deny all permits for transport.
“You’re asking if we want you to deny every permit?” Borchardt asked. “We say ‘yes,’ unless the water is staying in Wilson County.”
Turner told those attending that Evergreen UWCD operates under Texas Water Code Chapter 36, which limits the district’s power to discriminate, based on how or where water is used.
“We have to follow the law,” said the attorney.
“We’re not allowed to discriminate on how or where [the water] is being used. We’re allowed to look at what’s happening below the ground, not above the ground.”
At the end of the meeting, Borchardt told the audience that pre-printed letters were available for those interested in protesting the Springs Hill SUD permit. Mayfield confirmed that the city plans to formally contest the permit and will hire legal representation.
Evergreen UWCD permit hearing
The location for the Evergreen UWCD public hearing scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21, has been changed from the Evergreen UWCD office to the Pleasanton Lions Club Texas Pavilion, located at 114 Wyoming Blvd. in Pleasanton. The start time is still 9 a.m.
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