Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District is taking a stand against rogue well drillers within the district following the regular monthly meeting Thursday, March 7. MTGCD is the governing body responsible for cataloguing well registration, ensuring the proper installation of wells and upholding the conservation of groundwater within the district’s member counties (Erath, Comanche, Bosque and Coryell).
Conversation on drilling problems began with MTGCD General Manager Patrick Wagner and legal counsel Ty Embrey addressing a driller who sought registration on only four out of 21 wells drilled.
Thirteen of these wells were drilled in a line in close proximity on a single property in Comanche County, clearly violating MTGCD’s spacing requirements for operating permits (a minimum of 300 feet apart on 4” diameter wells up to 1000 feet on wells 10” or greater).
Wagner reported the first six of these 13 were installed prior to Oct. 2023 when MTGCD became aware of the issue and sent the driller a formal letter and the district received a read receipt. The remaining seven were drilled afterwards.
District directors wondered about the reasoning for drilling the wells in such close proximity noting that the pumping pressure would be hindered by the adjoining wells.
Wagner also reported a visit to another property revealed an open hole about 75 feet down to groundwater.
“I think it’s probably time we get a little more serious with this driller,” said Wagner noting that it isn’t the only one they are having issues with.
Directors asked for input from Embrey and Wagner and determined the district should pursue a show cause hearing with Gap Well Drilling Service in Hamilton County and meet with the first property owner (who has proven amiable in conversation) about rectifying the spacing issue.
Directors were also presented with proposed rule changes and compliance guidelines (with a public hearing tentatively set for the May regular meeting).
A proposed revision to the well registration and permit application process will deny permits from drillers (or their affiliates) if the driller is: delinquent in paying any fee or judgment by the district; has a rules violation with the district that has not been settled; or has not paid a civil penalty or otherwise failed to comply with an order resulting from the judgment of a violation of a District permit, order or rule.
Board members present unanimously approved equipping a Harbin Volunteer Fire Department well for longterm monitoring with Wagner stating his appreciation for Harbin and the other fire departments in the district who work well with the district. (Monitoring wells allow the district to compile worthwhile data about the flow of water among MTGCD’s aquifers which it shares with the district.)
Purchases were unanimously approved a $1500 foot downhole camera and signage for the Ditch Water Discovery Center and the district office on Wolfe Nursery Road in Stephenville.
Directors also approved amending the budget item for well capping/plugging from $7,500 to $10,775 for the purchase of bentonite which is used in plugging wells.
Field Tech Johnny Wells reported measuring water levels in Comanche in February and found 27 wells up, three down and 11 relatively unchanged.
The quarterly drought report showed the MTGCD area to be in near normal to favorably moist conditions.