Panhandle Landowners Sue State Over Putting Them in a Water District

On February 27, 2015, 20 Texans, owning406 square miles of the Panhandle, sued the state for trying to force them to join a water conservation district.  What are the landowner’s arguments:

• The property interests the landowners purchased were unmanaged water rights
• The state’s actions are “socialism” at its finest

How did we get to the point of suing the state?

•  ” In January 2013, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) mailed notices to government bodies and public water districts that it would recommend putting the 406 square miles at issue into the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1.”
• “TCEQ acknowledged and made a judicial admission at the preliminary hearing that it had no jurisdiction over private groundwater rights of the Aligned Parties.”
• SOAH assumed jurisdiction and recommended that the land be incorporated into High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1. 
• TCEQ adopted SOAH Decision 12/12/14.
• 2/5/15 Rehearing Denied.
• 2/27/15 Landowners file suit in Travis County.

Courthouse News Service