Notice of Public Hearings and Opportunity for Comment on the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program
Comment From:
Jeffrey McClure
10/17/26 @ 4:45 AM
I live in Salado, just east of the interstate highway. Our drinking water comes from the Edwards Aquifer. That's significant on its own, but the creek's continued flow is just as important to the economy. And that it continues to flow with clear, pur...↓e water. This area is clearly part of the Edwards Aquifer. Edwards Aquifer is why Salado is here. Extending the aquifer protection area across the entire aquifer makes sense.
On the other hand, leaving it unprotected in Bell County makes no sense at all.
Thank you in advance for considering the quality of the water rather than the political boundaries.↓
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Comment From:
Karen Karen
10/16/26 @ 1:11 PM
It is imperative that we support the Edwards Aquifer. We seem to think it will always be there for us and be clean. As a Texan and Bell County resident I want the Edwards Aquifer evaluated so that it will be able to continue to serve Bell County res...↓idents.
Texas is fighting for its water supplies against more and more expansion and misuse and overuse. The Edwards Aquifer is a historic part of Texas ecology and it must be protected at all costs.↓
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Comment From:
Carol Fleck
10/16/26 @ 12:15 PM
Time is of the essence to protect Salado Creek and all of the Edwards aquifer in Bell County. I am requesting that the same protections afforded to Williamson County be extended to cover all of Bell County. It is much more preferable to be proactiv...↓e and protect the aquifer from what we know is coming than to try and mediate the problems after the fact.↓
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Comment From:
Carol Fleck
10/16/26 @ 12:10 PM
I am requesting that the same protections that are currently in place in. Williamson County be extended to all of Bell County. I fully support the comments provided by Dirk Aaron.
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Comment From:
helen alexander
10/16/26 @ 11:59 AM
the Salado Creek is a life blood for the Village of Salado. this has been true long before the pioneers who settled here and built a community. It is my wish that the creek is vital long after my life is over. The effort to keep the creek clean wil...↓l not be easy, but will certainly be worth the effort↓
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Comment From:
polly etzkorn
10/16/26 @ 11:00 AM
Having owned my home in Mill Creek, Salado, Tx. for 24 yrs., the rampant growth and flooding in the past several years is concerning. I've noticed a different quality of the water as well. I welcome more study and evaluation on the effects on our cre...↓ek.↓
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Comment From:
John Price
10/16/26 @ 10:19 AM
It is my understanding that a hearing will be held to evaluate extending protection for the the Edwards Acquifer into Bell County.
Development is coming to Bell county whether we like it or not. It is imperative that we get out in front of the issu...↓es that are sure to arise - availability and protection of clean water resources being paramount.
I would like to go on record as requesting that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality initiate the scientific investigation and rulemaking process necessary to evaluate extending the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program to the full scientifically supported extent of the Edwards Balcones Fault Zone Aquifer in Bell County, including the appropriate recharge, transition, contributing, and hydrologically connected areas identified through that
process.
Furthermore, I ask that TCEQ undertake this effort cooperatively and transparently, engaging as many of the affected stakeholders as possible.
The ultimate regulatory boundaries must be scientifically supported, should not be determined by any single interested party, and should be determined using the best available hydrogeologic information, appropriate field investigation and mapping, and TCEQ's technical expertise.
Respectfully,
John R. Price
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Comment From:
Sarina Blanchard
10/16/26 @ 9:58 AM
Hello friends and neighbors,
We are new to Salado, having moved here from Houston in July to be closer to our daughter and her family, who made the move three years ago. We have three young grandchildren who play in Salado Creek several times a week...↓, usually meeting up with friends and their moms. With a cool front approaching, they went again yesterday to enjoy the creek "one more time" before the chilly weather sets in.
Watching them enjoy this beautiful natural treasure makes the importance of protecting it very personal to us. And it should be personal to all of us, whether we have lived here for generations or are just beginning to call Salado home.
It is our absolute duty to preserve the integrity of Salado Creek. On this, we must not fail.
Ecosystems thrive when valued and protected. Nature makes no exceptions, and it will respond accordingly to contamination.
For generations to come, there will be ample opportunity for the inevitable "oops, we accidentally discharged..." followed by excuses, assurances, and ultimately, NO SWIMMING ALLOWED. All for the benefit of development and those who profit from it.
Once it is establish that Salado Creek is an acceptable place to discharge treated wastewater, a precedent is set that may be impossible to undo.
Now is the time to set the standard for Salado Creek: it is not a dumping ground, and it is not for sale at any price.↓
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Comment From:
Jim Athey
10/12/26 @ 9:38 PM
I live on the Edwards aquife I shower,drink & water my peppers. If U keep dumping into the aquifer what happens 2 me and everyone that follow me.
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Comment From:
Brad Lawson
10/12/26 @ 4:08 PM
Public Comment — Edwards Aquifer Protection Program
Dear TCEQ Commissioners,
I am a resident of Salado, Texas, and I am writing to express my strong support for evaluating the expansion of the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program into Bell County, in...↓cluding the watershed surrounding Salado Creek.
My family owns two homes along Salado Creek, and this beautiful waterway is an incredibly special part of our lives. We spend time at the creek almost every day when the weather allows, enjoying its natural beauty, wildlife, and peaceful surroundings. It is a place that brings our family tremendous joy, and one that I feel a deep personal responsibility to help protect.
I was born in Hawaii, where I developed a lifelong appreciation for nature and especially for water. That connection has stayed with me throughout my life, and I feel it just as strongly here in Salado. Our creek is a precious natural resource, and I believe we have a responsibility to preserve it for future generations.
As our community continues to grow, I worry about the potential impact of development on our waterways and groundwater. I recognize that growth is inevitable and important, but I also believe that protecting our natural resources must be part of how we plan for that growth. Once these resources are damaged or contaminated, restoring them can be extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible.
I respectfully ask TCEQ to begin the scientific evaluation and public process necessary to consider extending Edwards Aquifer protections into Bell County, as outlined in Dirk Aaron's thoughtful comments. I believe taking a proactive approach today is far better than waiting until we face environmental problems that could have been prevented.
Salado Creek is more than just a waterway to me. It is part of our home, our community, and our family's everyday life. I want future generations to experience the same beauty, tranquility, and connection to nature that we are fortunate enough to enjoy today.
Thank you for considering my comments and for your work to protect the natural resources that make Central Texas such a special place to live.
Respectfully,
Brad Lawson
Salado, Texas↓
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Comment From:
Jody Askins
10/10/26 @ 3:21 PM
October 10, 2026
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Edwards Aquifer Protection Program
Attn: Monica Reyes
San Antonio Regional Office
14250 Judson Road
San Antonio, Texas 78233-4480
RE: Edwards Aquifer Protection Program Annual Hearing
Dear ...↓Commissioners:
My name is Jody Askins, and I am submitting these comments as an individual and on behalf of Save Salado Creek, a community organization dedicated to safeguarding the health of Salado Creek through science-based practices, sustained advocacy, and community engagement.
Save Salado Creek strongly supports the comments submitted by Dirk Aaron on September 22, 2026, requesting that TCEQ initiate the process necessary to evaluate extending Edwards Aquifer protections to the scientifically supported northern extent of the Edwards Balcones Fault Zone Aquifer in Bell County. Mr. Aaron brings decades of experience in groundwater management in Bell County. His comments make an important case for beginning this process now.
We are running out of time.
Bell County is experiencing substantial growth, and that growth is projected to continue for decades. The Texas Demographic Center's current projections anticipate continued population growth in Bell County through 2060. At the same time, the Salado area is experiencing increasing development pressure, including new residential development and the infrastructure and wastewater demands that accompany it.
For Save Salado Creek, protecting the Edwards Aquifer and protecting Salado Creek are interconnected parts of protecting our watershed. Decisions being made today about development, wastewater infrastructure, stormwater, and land use can have consequences for our surface water and groundwater for generations.
We do not oppose responsible development. We believe growth and environmental protection can and must occur together. But protections are most effective when they are established before sensitive areas are extensively developed and water-quality problems occur.
For that reason, Save Salado Creek supports Mr. Aaron's request that TCEQ begin the scientific, hydrogeologic, mapping, stakeholder, and rulemaking process necessary to determine appropriate protections for the northern Edwards Aquifer in Bell County.
We also support his recommendation that this process be collaborative and transparent and that the ultimate boundaries be determined by the best available science rather than predetermined in advance.
Salado Creek and the Edwards Aquifer are irreplaceable natural resources. Bell County will continue to grow. The window in which we can plan for that growth while proactively protecting these resources is narrowing.
We respectfully ask TCEQ to begin this process now.
Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to comment.
Respectfully submitted,
Jody Askins
Save Salado Creek
Salado, Texas
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Comment From:
Charles Simmons
10/07/26 @ 2:01 PM
October 7, 2026
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Edwards Aquifer Protection Program
Attn: Monica Reyes
via https://tceq.commentinput.com/
RE: Public Comments, Edwards Aquifer Protection Program Annual Hearing;
In Support of Extension of ...↓Edwards Aquifer Protection to Northern Segment of the Edwards Aquifer in Bell County
Dear Commissioners:
I am an engineer and attorney with experience with geologic formations and chemical plants worldwide. I say this to underscore my understanding of the importance of protecting the Edwards Aquifer in Bell County. Limiting discharge into and pollution of the Edwards Aquifer will affect not only drinking water from wells, but the beauty of Salado Creek, the flow of many springs which affect the area, and the health of the threatened Salado Salamander.
Studies, mapping and technical work should be undertaken to extend the EAPP to Bell County.
The Same Aquifer, Without the Same Protection
Bell County lies directly north of Williamson County on the northern Balcones Fault Zone segment of the Edwards Aquifer. That is the same aquifer the Commission already regulates in Williamson, Travis, and Hays Counties, and it continues without interruption into Bell County, discharging at Big Boiling Springs and Robertson Springs near Salado and underlying Belton. Yet Chapter 213 names only Medina, Bexar, Comal, Kinney, Uvalde, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties. Because Bell County is not listed, none of the program's core safeguards apply there. These include plan review before construction, geologic assessments, stormwater best-management-practice standards, and rules for plugging abandoned wells that can act as direct conduits to groundwater. A county line on a map should not decide whether a single, connected aquifer is protected.
A Well-Established Path for Expansion
The Commission has taken this step before. Williamson County was added in 1985–86 after a petition by local government, and a USGS/Bureau of Economic Geology study confirmed the hydrologic connection between area streams and the Edwards Aquifer. Travis County and the transition zone followed in 1990, and the contributing zone was added across all eight counties in the 1998–99 "Phase II" rulemaking. In each case the aquifer extended beyond the regulated area, growth was approaching, and local government asked for protection. All these conditions exist in Bell County now. The Interstate 35 corridor is pushing development north into the Salado and Belton areas, bringing the stormwater runoff, wastewater, storage tank, and construction risks the program was built to manage.
Protecting Springs, Creek, and Species
As a karst system, the aquifer allows contaminants to move quickly from the surface into groundwater, where they are very difficult to remove. The consequences reach well beyond wells. The springs that feed Salado Creek define the character, recreation, and economy of the Salado area. They also sustain the Salado salamander, which lives only in the Salado Creek springs and aquifer entrances in Bell County. It is listed as threatened under both the federal Endangered Species Act and Texas law. Many acres, including a 984 foot subsurface radius around Salado Spring and some 262 ft upstream and downstream from Salado Spring on the Creek are part of the designated critical habitat of the Salado Salamander in Bell County. Extending the program would give TCEQ's water-quality protections to the aquifer that feeds this habitat and reduce the risk of more restrictive federal intervention later.
Fewer Hearings and Less Litigation
Extending the program would also make the regulatory process more predictable. Today, proposed discharges to Salado Creek and the Edwards Aquifer are addressed one permit at a time, and these cases draw contested hearings and litigation. Mapped zones and clear, uniform standards set in advance would tell applicants and the public what is required before a project is designed or a permit is filed. I believe that would reduce the number of hearings and the amount of litigation over discharge permits, saving time and expense for the Commission, for applicants, and for the community, while still protecting the resource.
Request
I respectfully request that the Commission:
1. Direct staff to conduct the hydrogeologic mapping needed to delineate the recharge, transition, and contributing zones in Bell County, using the same methods applied in the currently regulated counties;
2. Engage stakeholders, including the Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District, Bell County, Salado, Belton, landowners, developers, and water suppliers; and
3. Initiate rulemaking to add Bell County to Subchapters A and B of Chapter 213.
I also fully support the comment submitted by Mr. Dirk Aaron on September 22, 2026, which likewise asks that the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program be extended to Bell County. Mr. Aaron brings decades of groundwater management experience in Bell County, and I adopt his comments as part of my own. The boundaries should rest on sound science, but the studies need to begin. Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles Simmons
317 Salado Creek Pl
Salado, Texas 76571
masoncajun@gmail.com
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Comment From:
Angela Mackert
9/30/26 @ 12:44 PM
Subject: Comments on TCEQ Edwards Aquifer Protection Program / 30 TAC Chapter 213
I am a Texas resident who relies on the Edwards Aquifer for drinking water, springs, creeks, and the long-term health of the Hill Country. I appreciate TCEQ holding th...↓is annual hearing under Texas Water Code §26.046 and urge the Commission to strengthen Chapter 213 rather than treat current rules as sufficient.
The Edwards Aquifer is a karst limestone system. Contaminants can move quickly from the surface into groundwater through recharge features, fractures, and streams. That is why development, wastewater, and stormwater over the recharge, contributing, and transition zones are not ordinary land-use issues. They are drinking-water issues.
I ask TCEQ to take the following actions:
Prohibit new TPDES wastewater discharges in the Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone, not only the Recharge Zone. Effluent changes the chemistry of oligotrophic Hill Country streams through nutrients, ammonia, pharmaceuticals, and other unregulated contaminants. Those streams then recharge the aquifer. Current Chapter 213 treatment of the Contributing Zone as a mere "conveyance" zone is outdated. Studies show substantial inter-formational flow from the Trinity/upper Glen Rose into the Edwards.
If TCEQ will not ban discharges, require far stricter effluent limits and reuse first. At minimum: 5 mg/L BOD, 5 mg/L TSS, 2 mg/L ammonia-nitrogen, and 0.001 mg/L total phosphorus, plus a One Water / 100% beneficial reuse preference so effluent is not used as a default stream discharge.
Adopt numeric impervious-cover limits in Chapter 213: no more than 10% of net site area in the Recharge Zone and 15% in the Contributing Zone, unless an applicant proves equal or better protection through permanent BMPs, buffers, and long-term maintenance. Impervious cover increases runoff volume, pollutant load, and flood risk while reducing clean recharge.
Require meaningful buffers around streams, springs, caves, sinkholes, and other sensitive features identified in geologic assessments. Temporary silt fence is not enough in karst.
Expand pollutant standards beyond total suspended solids. TSS removal alone does not protect the aquifer from nutrients, metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, or PFAS. Chapter 213 and RG-348 should require monitoring and treatment for these contaminants, especially given EPA drinking-water MCLs for PFAS.
Strengthen enforcement and post-construction BMP maintenance. Permanent water-quality controls fail when they are not inspected, cleaned, and repaired. TCEQ should require regular third-party inspections, public reporting, and real penalties for noncompliance.
Do not weaken protections for wastewater land application, produced water, or injection-related activities over the recharge and contributing zones. Karst does not give TCEQ a margin for error.
Open a formal stakeholder process to update Chapter 213 and RG-348 using current hydrogeology, endangered-species water-quality recommendations, and growth data from Hays, Comal, Kendall, Travis, Williamson, and Bexar counties.
The Edwards Aquifer supplies drinking water for more than two million people and sustains Comal and San Marcos springs. Once polluted, karst groundwater is extremely difficult to clean. TCEQ should use this annual comment process to modernize the rules so they match the science and the scale of development now occurring over the aquifer.
Thank you for considering these comments.↓
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Comment From:
Dirk Aaron
9/22/26 @ 2:58 PM
I am submitting the attached comments in my individual capacity as a Salado resident, and as the newly appointed Director representing Precinct 2 of the Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District, and as Clearwater's former General Manager. M...↓y request is not intended to stop growth or development. Rather, I am asking TCEQ to begin the scientific, mapping, stakeholder, and rulemaking process necessary to determine how the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program should appropriately extend into Bell County.
Respectfully.
Dirk Aaron↓
