The Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District (“District”) will conduct a public hearing to consider reclassifying the Ellenburger Critical Groundwater Depletion Area 1 from a Category One to a Category Two Classification. This area only pertains to the Ellenburger Aquifer in the southeastern portion of Gillespie County for new permits used for irrigation, municipal and commercial purposes. This area was classified as a Critical Groundwater Depletion Area on April 4, 2023 under District Rule 9.3 A(1) at the time of implementation. The purpose of the public hearing is to provide interested members of the public the opportunity to appear and provide oral or written comments to the District related to reclassifying the Ellenburger Critical Groundwater Depletion Area 1 from Category One to a Category Two Classification. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. at the District Office, 508 South Washington, Fredericksburg, Texas. The agenda will include: • Receive public comment concerning the proposed change of reclassifying the Ellenburger Critical Groundwater Depletion Area 1 from Category One to Category Two Classification. Written comments on the reclassifying of the Ellenburger Critical Groundwater Depletion Area 1 from a Category One to a Category Two Classification must be filed (i.e. received by the District and date stamped) with the District no later than 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 3, 2025.The meeting of the District’s Board of Directors at where consideration of reclassifying the Ellenburger Critical Groundwater Depletion Area1from a Category One to a Category Two Classification will be considered for adoption will be an open meeting and at that meeting the public will be allowed to make comments on the proposed reclassification, pursuant to the Texas Open Meetings Act.

The Board of Director of the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District (“District”) at their August 8, 2023 board meeting declared a Stage 4 Drought, which is Critical.  The District recommends a 20% reduction in daily water demands, a 40% in maximum daily demands.  The District encourages all permit holders, including historic wells, to comply.  For residential wells the District recommends outdoor watering be limited to one day per week.  During this prolonged drought, not only the citizens of Gillespie County, but throughout the Hill Country area need to conserve water.  Conservation measures, such as limiting outdoor watering to one day per week should be practiced. Any water leaks should be repaired. Water conservation measures can reduce demand and help preserve existing groundwater supplies to ensure adequate groundwater is available through this current drought. We encourage everyone to participate to maximize success in this persistent drought.

For more information, visit:  https://hcuwcd.org/

Drought Condition Alert 

- The Local Drought Index as of August 9, 2025 is -4.04, which is a critical drought stage. Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed. 

- The Local Drought Index as of April 26, 2025 is -4.55, which is a critical drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of May 6, 2025, has Gillespie County in extreme to exceptional drought stages.  Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of February 1, 2025 is -3.61, which is a severe drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of October 29, 2024, has  Gillespie County in moderate to severe drought stages.  Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of October 5, 2024 is -2.20, which is a moderate drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of October 29, 2024, has Gillespie County in moderate to severe drought stages.  Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of August 10, 2024 is -2.88, which is a moderate drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of July 9, 2024, has Gillespie County in Abnormally Dry to Moderate Drought Stages.  Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed. 

- The Local Drought Index as of June 29, 2024 is -2.82, which is a moderate drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of July 9, 2024, has Gillespie County in Abnormally Dry to Moderate Drought Stages.  Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of May 4, 2024 is -1.78, which is a mild drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of May 7, 2024, has Gillespie County in Moderate to Extreme Drought Stages.  Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of March 2, 2024 is -0.60, which is a mild drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of March 5, 2024, has Gillespie County in Moderate to Extreme Drought Stages.  Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of February 3, 2024 is -0.39, which is a mild drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of January 30, 2024, has Gillespie County in Moderate to Extreme Drought Stages.  Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of October 30, 2023 is -2.08, which is a moderate drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of November 7, 2023, has Gillespie County in Severe and Extreme Drought Intensity.  Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of September 30, 2023 is -3.47, which is a severe drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of October 3, 2023, has Gillespie County in Exceptional & Extreme Drought Intensity.  Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of July 30, 2023, 2023 is -2.71, which is a moderate drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of August 8, 2023, has Gillespie County in Extreme and Exception Drought Intensity. Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed. 

- The Local Drought Index as of July 2, 2023, 2023 is -2.58, which is a moderate drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of July 18, 2023, has Gillespie County in Extreme and Exception Drought Intensity. Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of  June 3, 2023 is -2.14, which is a moderate drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of  June 27, 2023, has Gillespie County in multiple intensity stages: Severe Drought, Extreme Drought and Exception Drought. Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed. 

- The Local Drought Index as of  April 29, 2023 is -3.06, which is a severe drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of  May 23, 2023, has Gillespie County in multiple intensity stages: Severe Drought, Extreme Drought and Exception Drought. Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed. 

- The Local Drought Index as of March 4, 2023 is -3.26, which is a severe drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of March 7, 2023, has Gillespie County in Extreme Drought to Exception Drought stage. Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed.

- The Local Drought Index as of February 4, 2023 is -3.28, which is a severe drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of February 7, 2023, has Gillespie County in multiple categories from Severe Drought to Exception Drought stage. Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed. 

- The Local Drought Index as of December 31, 2022 is a -3.59, which is a severe drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of January 17, 2023, has Gillespie County in multiple categories from Severe Drought to Exception Drought stage. Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed. 

- The Local Drought Index as of October 29, 2022 is a -4.40, which is a critical drought stage. The U.S. Drought Monitor, as of December 6, 2022, has Gillespie County in multiple categories from Moderate Drought to Exception Drought stage. Outdoor watering should be limited to once a week, and all indoor and outdoor leaks should be fixed. 

For more information, visit:  https://hcuwcd.org/

The Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District (District) is seeking comments and data from well owners within the current Ellenburger Critical Groundwater Depletion Area 1 (ECGDA 1), click here for map, for the purpose of completing a collaborative study to determine the need to reclassify the ECGDA 1 from Category One to a Category Two classification.

As background the District established the ECGDA 1 in April 2023.  This area was classified as a Critical Groundwater Depletion Area Category One under District Rule 9.3 A(1) at the time of implementation. Factors for declaring this area included water level declines due to the extended drought and the volume of new production in the Ellenburger Aquifer.

The aforementioned collaborative study is to address the projected demand equaling or exceeding the Modeled Available Groundwater (MAG) figures provided to the District by the Texas Water Development Board.  The District, through the regional planning process has adopted Desired Future Conditions (DFC) for all of the Aquifers within the District.  These DFCs determine the amount of groundwater that can be produced on an annual basis represented by the MAG. 

Therefore, if you are a well owner with a well producing from the Ellenburger Aquifer in the ECGDA 1, please provide your comments and data to the District no later than November 4, 2024.  Comments and data may be delivered to the District office at 508 Washington, Fredericksburg TX 78624 or emailed to hcuwcd@austin.rr.com.  Please note only affected parties’ comments will be accepted and included.  Affected Party is a person having an Ellenburger well located in the ECGDA 1.