8/12/2026 – On 8/11/26 in a two-part meeting, the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD) voted to increase groundwater pumping and ignore subsidence…at least for now. The first part of the meeting included a discussion of how they arrived at their recommendations and public comments on “Desired Future Conditions” (DFCs). The second part included formal ratification of the DFCs by the LSGCD Board.
To those unfamiliar with LSGCD politics, it was an afternoon/evening filled with bizarre, unexplained contradictions.
Bizarre, Unexplained Contradictions
For instance, the LSGCD:
Reviewed a presentation which stated their legislatively defined mission is striking a balance between “the highest practicable level of groundwater production” and other factors, such as recharging of aquifers and “control of subsidence.” They then decided to:
Left their DFC unchanged because new modeling showed they could double groundwater production without endangering future supplies. But then they failed to explain how they tweaked a USGS model to obtain those results.
Claimed to welcome public comment. But then they attacked the qualifications of the commenters including people with PhDs and MUD directors.
Received a grand total of six public comments in 90 days, but acted as though they were sick and tired of hearing the same old stuff.
Claimed the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District chose not to work with them, when they limited subsidence districts to making three minutes of public comments.
Read a high level summary of public comments submitted earlier without addressing any of the concerns those comments expressed.
Said no other groundwater conservation districts adopted a subsidence metric…without addressing the reasons why.
Claimed they were no longer “averaging” well declines. But then they adopted a DFC based on a closely related word “median.”
In the end, the LSGCD board adopted a DFC that says, “In Montgomery County, no less than 70 percent median available drawdown remaining in 2080 in the Gulf Coast Aquifer between 2018 and 2080.” See below.
What does that mean? LSGCD wants to manage groundwater pumping so that, in the median well used in their calculations, at least 70% of the aquifers’ usable vertical water column remains available compared to the baseline determined in 2018.
It implies that they plan to pump no more than 30% of the water out of the aquifer(s). But the word “median” means that not every well must adhere to the 70% limit. Half of the 12,000+ wells that LSGCD tracks will draw more…sometimes far more. And half will draw less. That’s what “median” means.
And that’s important in a county where the southern half is growing quickly and the northern half remains largely rural. The DFC by itself doesn’t tell you how many feet groundwater levels could fall in The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Porter, etc.
Nor does it tell you how over-pumping in those areas could affect subsidence. That is a major change in policy emphasis. Lone Star says it has spent millions on drilling, coring and laboratory work since 2023. But it does not support adopting a subsidence metric at this time. Instead, it simply intends to continue monitoring subsidence. But once subsidence happens, it’s impossible to reverse.
Meanwhile, a 2022 report (which LSGCD participated in) anticipated 3-4 feet of subsidence by 2080 in southern MoCo…and that’s at the old pumping limit which LSGCD hopes to increase dramatically.
For the San Jacinto watershed, even relatively small amounts of differential subsidence matter more than they would in a steeply sloped watershed.
Kingwood, Spring Creek, the West Fork, Lake Houston and much of northern Harris County have an extremely flat slope. Subsidence doesn’t necessarily cause flooding by itself, but differential subsidence can alter:
A few tenths of a foot may be immaterial in some settings. But…
A foot or more of differential elevation change across a low-gradient drainage system can become hydrologically meaningful.
And this creates a governance problem. LSGCD can authorize groundwater pumping in Montgomery County whose hydraulic and subsidence effects do not necessarily stop at Spring Creek, while Harris County bears some of the downstream flood-risk consequences.
The regional aquifer system is interconnected. A county-by-county median statistic can conceal substantial regional drawdown. A DFC based on countywide median remaining well drawdown contains no explicit constraint on resulting land subsidence.
Before concluding that the recommended 200,000 acre-feet-per year is benign, LSGCD should produce maps of modeled 2018–2080 drawdownand modeled subsidence in feet for southern Montgomery County and northern Harris County, ideally centered on Spring Creek/Kingwood. That would turn this somewhat abstract “% remaining” statistic into something much more meaningful. But Lone Star didn’t show that yesterday.
However, a new interactive map produced by Harris-Galveston Subsidence District this year is based on new satellite data. It averages subsidence in the last four years and computes a centimeter/year rate. It’s amazingly detailed and corroborates the 2022 blueish map above. See below.
The colored map shows that large parts of southern Montgomery County and northern Harris County bordering Spring Creek are subsiding at a rate greater than 2 centimeters/year. By the end of the planning period in 2080, that translates into approximately 3.5 feet.
Much of Kingwood and Humble are also subsiding at rates that could negate the safety margin (feet above floodplain) for many homes built close to floodplains. That’s because the Lake Houston Dam is sinking at a tiny fraction of rates upstream. Therefore, subsidence is essentially tilting the lake upstream toward homes that were once above the floodplain.
Note that these subsidence rates were determined under LSGCD’s old pumping rates. The proposed new rates would accelerate subsidence even more.
Impacts on Future Growth/New Development
Notice the big white area (not subsiding) north of the county line near the middle of the colored map above. That’s the 5,300 acres where Scarborough hopes to build 7,000 homes. They would all be on well water. And that would dramatically increase subsidence in the areas around them.
So, if you haven’t already signed the petition against this development, please do so now.
For More Information
To view videos of yesterday’s meetings, visit the LSGCD Meetings Page. Also see public comments submitted by:
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.
Water-levels in the Jasper aquifer in Montgomery County dropped as much as 256 feet near The Woodlands. Source Harris Galveston Subsidence District 2025 Annual Groundwater Report.
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.
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
2368 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Water-Level-Declines-.jpg?fit=1100%2C605&ssl=16051100adminadmin2026-08-10 17:08:022026-08-10 17:26:07MoCo Groundwater Issues Coming to Head
8/8/26 – The major action these days on the Northpark Drive Expansion project centers around the Loop 494 intersection. While Northpark is open and flowing in both directions, Loop 494 is totally blocked off and will remain so for the next month as contractors work on the bridge.
However, there’s good news to share. There entire Northpark drainage system from I-69 past Russell Palmer Road is now complete.
Intersection Closure
Concrete barriers prevent drivers on Loop 494 from crossing Northpark in both directions. To continue north or south on Loop 494, drivers must go east or west on Northpark to the nearest crossover, and double back. See below.
Connecting the drainage on both sides of Northpark was more difficult than expected. However, that is now complete – and not just from the Shell Station on the north side to the dry cleaners on the south.
“The entire Northpark drainage system for Phase I is now complete.”
Ralph De Leon, Project Manager
Last drainage link in entire Northpark Phase I system, south of Shell Station.
De Leon described completion of the drainage system as a “huge milestone.”
Bridge Construction
The contractor has to build three huge bridge columns immediately east side of the intersection. These particular columns are the largest and deepest because of their location near the middle of the bridge. The contractor will use the intersection as the construction zone during installation.
They really have no other choice. Because of other work on the abutments, they are hemmed in on both sides. And specialized trucks that will haul off the mud from the hydro-excavation are huge. They will be staged at the intersection.
Height of the cranes used in the excavation also presents a logistical problem.
Crane used for hydro-excavation. Beginning of west bridge abutment to its right.
In a worst-case scenario, if tipped, they could fall within the safety zone of the UPRR Tracks or even on the tracks themselves. That adds another level of complexity to the operation.
Bridge Caps on Columns
Additionally, contractors must build bridge caps on top of the columns to support the bridge beams. By this time, Loop 494 should be reopened, but contractors will have to narrow it to two lanes.
Cap currently under construction close to east abutment. Others near intersection will be much larger.
Danger to School Buses
Even though De Leon hoped to have the intersection totally open before students returned to school, he said, “We couldn’t have school buses running through the construction zone. It’s too dangerous.”
De Leon has communicated with both New Caney ISD and Humble ISD since the beginning of the project.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DSC_5580.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2026-08-08 18:01:322026-08-08 18:07:51Northpark-494 Intersection Still Closed, But Drainage Now Complete
LSGCD Recommendations Would Increase Groundwater Pumping, Ignore Subsidence
8/12/2026 – On 8/11/26 in a two-part meeting, the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD) voted to increase groundwater pumping and ignore subsidence…at least for now. The first part of the meeting included a discussion of how they arrived at their recommendations and public comments on “Desired Future Conditions” (DFCs). The second part included formal ratification of the DFCs by the LSGCD Board.
To those unfamiliar with LSGCD politics, it was an afternoon/evening filled with bizarre, unexplained contradictions.
Bizarre, Unexplained Contradictions
For instance, the LSGCD:
Adopted DFC Contains Huge Loophole
In the end, the LSGCD board adopted a DFC that says, “In Montgomery County, no less than 70 percent median available drawdown remaining in 2080 in the Gulf Coast Aquifer between 2018 and 2080.” See below.
What does that mean? LSGCD wants to manage groundwater pumping so that, in the median well used in their calculations, at least 70% of the aquifers’ usable vertical water column remains available compared to the baseline determined in 2018.
It implies that they plan to pump no more than 30% of the water out of the aquifer(s). But the word “median” means that not every well must adhere to the 70% limit. Half of the 12,000+ wells that LSGCD tracks will draw more…sometimes far more. And half will draw less. That’s what “median” means.
And that’s important in a county where the southern half is growing quickly and the northern half remains largely rural. The DFC by itself doesn’t tell you how many feet groundwater levels could fall in The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, Porter, etc.
Nor does it tell you how over-pumping in those areas could affect subsidence. That is a major change in policy emphasis. Lone Star says it has spent millions on drilling, coring and laboratory work since 2023. But it does not support adopting a subsidence metric at this time. Instead, it simply intends to continue monitoring subsidence. But once subsidence happens, it’s impossible to reverse.
Meanwhile, a 2022 report (which LSGCD participated in) anticipated 3-4 feet of subsidence by 2080 in southern MoCo…and that’s at the old pumping limit which LSGCD hopes to increase dramatically.
Impacts on San Jacinto Watershed
For the San Jacinto watershed, even relatively small amounts of differential subsidence matter more than they would in a steeply sloped watershed.
Kingwood, Spring Creek, the West Fork, Lake Houston and much of northern Harris County have an extremely flat slope. Subsidence doesn’t necessarily cause flooding by itself, but differential subsidence can alter:
A few tenths of a foot may be immaterial in some settings. But…
And this creates a governance problem. LSGCD can authorize groundwater pumping in Montgomery County whose hydraulic and subsidence effects do not necessarily stop at Spring Creek, while Harris County bears some of the downstream flood-risk consequences.
The regional aquifer system is interconnected. A county-by-county median statistic can conceal substantial regional drawdown. A DFC based on countywide median remaining well drawdown contains no explicit constraint on resulting land subsidence.
Before concluding that the recommended 200,000 acre-feet-per year is benign, LSGCD should produce maps of modeled 2018–2080 drawdown and modeled subsidence in feet for southern Montgomery County and northern Harris County, ideally centered on Spring Creek/Kingwood. That would turn this somewhat abstract “% remaining” statistic into something much more meaningful. But Lone Star didn’t show that yesterday.
However, a new interactive map produced by Harris-Galveston Subsidence District this year is based on new satellite data. It averages subsidence in the last four years and computes a centimeter/year rate. It’s amazingly detailed and corroborates the 2022 blueish map above. See below.
The colored map shows that large parts of southern Montgomery County and northern Harris County bordering Spring Creek are subsiding at a rate greater than 2 centimeters/year. By the end of the planning period in 2080, that translates into approximately 3.5 feet.
Much of Kingwood and Humble are also subsiding at rates that could negate the safety margin (feet above floodplain) for many homes built close to floodplains. That’s because the Lake Houston Dam is sinking at a tiny fraction of rates upstream. Therefore, subsidence is essentially tilting the lake upstream toward homes that were once above the floodplain.
Note that these subsidence rates were determined under LSGCD’s old pumping rates. The proposed new rates would accelerate subsidence even more.
Impacts on Future Growth/New Development
Notice the big white area (not subsiding) north of the county line near the middle of the colored map above. That’s the 5,300 acres where Scarborough hopes to build 7,000 homes. They would all be on well water. And that would dramatically increase subsidence in the areas around them.
So, if you haven’t already signed the petition against this development, please do so now.
For More Information
To view videos of yesterday’s meetings, visit the LSGCD Meetings Page. Also see public comments submitted by:
Note: this is a step in a process. LSGCD recommendations must still be approved by the TWDB. And thankfully, LSGCD has elections coming up soon.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/12/2026
3270 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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:
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
2368 Days since Hurricane Harvey
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.
Northpark-494 Intersection Still Closed, But Drainage Now Complete
8/8/26 – The major action these days on the Northpark Drive Expansion project centers around the Loop 494 intersection. While Northpark is open and flowing in both directions, Loop 494 is totally blocked off and will remain so for the next month as contractors work on the bridge.
However, there’s good news to share. There entire Northpark drainage system from I-69 past Russell Palmer Road is now complete.
Intersection Closure
Concrete barriers prevent drivers on Loop 494 from crossing Northpark in both directions. To continue north or south on Loop 494, drivers must go east or west on Northpark to the nearest crossover, and double back. See below.
The Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority/TIRZ 10 originally hoped to open the intersection before New Caney ISD schools started last week, but the new target date is now September 12.
Reasons for Delay
Drainage
Connecting the drainage on both sides of Northpark was more difficult than expected. However, that is now complete – and not just from the Shell Station on the north side to the dry cleaners on the south.
De Leon described completion of the drainage system as a “huge milestone.”
Bridge Construction
The contractor has to build three huge bridge columns immediately east side of the intersection. These particular columns are the largest and deepest because of their location near the middle of the bridge. The contractor will use the intersection as the construction zone during installation.
They really have no other choice. Because of other work on the abutments, they are hemmed in on both sides. And specialized trucks that will haul off the mud from the hydro-excavation are huge. They will be staged at the intersection.
Height of the cranes used in the excavation also presents a logistical problem.
In a worst-case scenario, if tipped, they could fall within the safety zone of the UPRR Tracks or even on the tracks themselves. That adds another level of complexity to the operation.
Bridge Caps on Columns
Additionally, contractors must build bridge caps on top of the columns to support the bridge beams. By this time, Loop 494 should be reopened, but contractors will have to narrow it to two lanes.
Danger to School Buses
Even though De Leon hoped to have the intersection totally open before students returned to school, he said, “We couldn’t have school buses running through the construction zone. It’s too dangerous.”
De Leon has communicated with both New Caney ISD and Humble ISD since the beginning of the project.
For More Information
Visit the Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority project pages or attend their board meeting Thursday, August 13. You can also search on the tag “Northpark Expansion” on this site.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/8/2026
3266 Days since Harvey