MoCo Groundwater Issues Coming to Head

8/10/26 – The watchdog group “Montgomery County Concerned Citizens” led by former MUD Director Paul Cote has raised several red flags about issues that affect the future of the county’s groundwater supplies. They include:

• Dropping water levels in Montgomery County wells, which is leading to subsidence
• A proposed increase in the allowable groundwater pumping THREE TIMES HIGHER than the recharge rate of MoCo aquifers
• A MoCo policymaker who may not meet eligibility requirements to serve on a groundwater board.

Groundwater as a Safety Net

These controversies come amid a cautionary tale out West. Lake Mead, the nation’s largest reservoir which sits behind the Hoover Dam, has fallen to all-time record lows. The New York Times reported yesterday that a continued drop could imperil water supplies.

Groundwater forms a critical backup to surface-water supplies. And if groundwater becomes exhausted, it could eventually expose residents to draconian water-usage restrictions.

In Montgomery County, the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD) supposedly regulates groundwater withdrawals to prevent such problems.

Leadership of LSGCD Board

However, Cote says the LSGCD board is heavily influenced by members who profit from groundwater, either directly or indirectly. And they are advocating for tripling groundwater withdrawals.

According to Cote who was a MoCo MUD president for ten years, the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD) Board has ignored urgent concerns regarding falling water tables and subsidence for years. Subsidence reduces the ability of aquifers to recharge because clays become irreversibly compressed.

Filing Deadline for LSGCD Board Ballot is 8/17/202

“This continued disregard for public interest is unacceptable,” said Cote. “To restore integrity to Montgomery County’s water management, we need new voices to step forward immediately.“

The deadline to file for the LSGCD Board ballot is August 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Here’s how and where.

Four seats are up for election: Places 2, 3, 4, and 7 (representing Precincts 2, 3, 4, and The Woodlands Township).

Please consider running or sharing this with qualified individuals. “Our county’s water governance depends on leaders who respect the community they serve,” said Cote. Email MCCC2025@gmail.com if you have any questions. 

LSGCD’s “Desired Future Conditions”

One obligation for the board is to formulate and approve “Desired Future Conditions” or DFCs. Toward that end, the DFC public comment period that opened earlier this year ends Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Comments on proposed DFCs may be submitted by email to info@lonestargcd.org, with the following email subject: “Public Comments on Proposed DFCs – [Submitter Name/Company Name]”.

A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 4:00 P.M. starting with a Show Cause Hearing followed by a Hearing on Contested Matters and then the Public Hearing on Proposed DFCs. The meeting will be at the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District office at 655 Conroe Park North Drive, Conroe, Texas 77303.

A Permit Hearing and Regular Board of Directors Meeting will be held afterwards at 6:00 pm.

Related Issue: SJRA Groundwater Committee

Cote has also submitted a formal letter to the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) requesting the suspension of Mr. Michael Stoecker from the Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) Review Committee until his eligibility is publicly proven. Stoecker represents the LSGCD committee. But the GRP Contract requires the appointee to represent an active “Private Well Owner.”

However, Mr. Stoecker sold his water utility business in May 2024, months before his appointment. This transaction stripped the business of its active status under the agreement. Furthermore, when pressed via public information requests, LSGCD failed to provide official documentation proving Stoecker’s continued eligibility for the committee. 

About Montgomery County Concerned Citizens

Montgomery County Concerned Citizens, led by Mr. Cote, is a grassroots network of residents, municipal utility leaders, and public officials dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and informed public engagement on water issues that affect Montgomery County’s future. The group serves as a forum for water-related education, discussion, and collaboration among citizens and local leaders.

Their mission: to empower residents through education, encourage active participation in local government, and advocate for responsible water policies that protect the county’s natural resources, infrastructure, and quality of life. The organization works to ensure that public decisions are made openly, responsibly, and in the best interests of current and future generations of Montgomery County residents.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/10/2026

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The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.