• “Texas has a regulation-induced shortage of groundwater. “
• To consider new groundwater regulations, we need consistent analysis based on these points:
  • The protection of property rights,
  •   Using water at its highest and best use,
  •   Mitigating against landowner losses, and
  •   Managing aquifers in a prudent manner. 
• The 4 Options for new groundwater regulation:
  • Maintain existing GCD structure while reinstating the landowner’s ability to treat groundwater as a property right
  • Replace existing GCDs with districts with hydrological boundary districts
  • Create a statewide agency to protect, conserve, and regulate groundwater like the Railroad Commission oversees oila nd natural gas
  • Follow a Nobel Laureate economist and create groundwater bank accounts where each property owner owns the water under his/her land and has considerable flexibility to use it as he/she see fit 

To see the grades for each option under the analysis above see page 48 of the Bush School | Reorganizing Groundwater Regulation in Texas