Representative Will Metcalf to deliver keynote address during Lone Star GCD Symposium

THE WOODLANDS, TX – The Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, is a local government agency created by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001 to manage, preserve, conserve, and protect the groundwater supplies of Montgomery County, is holding its annual symposium on Thursday, October 29 at the Lone Star Convention Center.

The symposium’s purpose is to promote water awareness and foster meaningful discussion among groundwater conservation districts, river authorities, elected officials, water professionals, and the public.

Event organizers have announced that Will Metcalf, District 16 Texas State Representative, will open the symposium with a keynote address offering an insightful perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing our region.

In the afternoon, a panel consisting of Montgomery County Precinct 4 Commissioner Matt Gray, Precinct 2 Commissioner Charley Riley, and Chairman of The Woodlands Township Brad Bailey, will present a discussion focusing on the challenges, opportunities, and decisions to support sustainable growth while meeting the needs of local communities.

The symposium will be free to attend, but seating is limited and registration is required at lonestargcd.org/resources/symposium. Lunch will be provided thanks to meal sponsor AGS Advanced Groundwater Solutions, LLC. Additionally, complimentary water well screening will be available for registered exempt water wells in Montgomery County.

Encouraged to attend the symposium are utility districts and water system operators, city leaders and county leaders and policymakers, developers and land use professionals, water professionals and hydrogeologists, gardeners and native plant enthusiasts, and residents interested in learning more about water and local resources.

LSGCD oversees and regulates the withdrawal of groundwater from underground aquifers (such as the Gulf Coast Aquifer) to prevent waste and deficit-pumping. It balances resource conservation with the rapid commercial and residential development in Montgomery County and relies on local hydrogeological data and science to determine sustainable production limits for aquifers. The office participates in joint planning efforts as part of Groundwater Management Area 14 (GMA 14) alongside neighboring regional districts. It additionally promotes educational outreach and programs like the Rain for Tomorrow initiative, which encourages rainwater harvesting, and periodically collaborates on community programs such as complimentary water well screenings for exempt wells in the county.