North Plains Groundwater

  Conservation District

History and Purpose

The Texas State Legislature in 1949 authorized the creation of Groundwater Conservation Districts to perform certain prescribed duties, functions, and hold specific powers as set forth in Article 7880-3c, Texas Civil Statutes, changed to Chapter 52 of the Texas Water Code, currently Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code.

A confirmation election was held in 1955 and the vote to create a groundwater conservation district dedicated to protect and conserve groundwater resources was affirmed. Sherman County, Hansford County, Ochiltree County, and the area north of the Canadian River in Hartley County, Moore County, and Hutchinson County comprised the original area of the District. In 1973 the people of Lipscomb County voted to annex into the District and in 1993 and 2004 portions of Dallam County were annexed into the District.

The main District office is located in the Texas Panhandle in the city of Dumas Texas, Moore County.  The Texas Panhandle is arid to sub-arid in climate with few surface water resources and for a large majority of the area the only water supply is from the groundwater resources of the Ogallala Aquifer.  The Ogallala Aquifer contains vast amounts of groundwater but with little to no recharge and around 8800 (within this district alone) active wells it is a finite and dwindling resource.  Management of the Ogallala Aquifer and its groundwater resources was and is recognized as a priority and  groundwater conservation districts were created by the Texas State Legislature to address Groundwater Management.

The purpose of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District is achieved through rules, education programs, District-provided services, and through mutual cooperation of local, state, and federal agencies. The District issues water well permits, collects groundwater information, performs water quality analyses, provides a number of well system tests and other services. Extensive databases are used to store, retrieve, and analyze the groundwater information for the District in its Groundwater Management Plan.

Throughout the history of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District, the Directors, County Committees, and staff have used their best effort to identify future concerns which could reasonably arise and find solutions which will prevent these concerns from becoming problems. The North Plains Groundwater Conservation District continues to be aware of regulations of other local, state, and federal agencies which affect groundwater use or groundwater management.  The District acts as a buffer between these agencies and the residents of the District. It is the goal of the District to provide the best management of groundwater resources and make every effort to insure that an abundant supply of potable water will be available for many future generations.

Our Mission

The Mission of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District is to provide for the conservation, preservation, protection, recharging, and prevention of waste of the groundwater, and of groundwater reservoirs or their subdivisions, and to control subsidence, within the defined boundary of the District. To carry out this purpose, rules and regulations have been passed, adopted and will be enforced to: minimize as far as practicable, draw down of the water table, depletion of the groundwater reservoirs and aquifers, interference between wells, reduction of artesian pressure; and to prevent, waste of groundwater, pollution or harmful alteration of the character of the groundwater and promote conservation to extend the longevity of groundwater resources, and to manage the groundwater effectively based upon ecological and socio-economic systems unique to the aquifers within the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District. 

Contact Information

Office hours:   8:00AM-12:00AM,   1:00PM-5:00PM   CDT, Monday thru Friday

Telephone  806-935-6401 or 1-800-456-3026    FAX  806-935-6633
Public Relations Telephone  806-922-7947

Postal address                                                                       

Staff