Wise County, lacking water to keep up with growth demands, goes to Texas lawmakers
Wise County leaders worried about rapid growth and a dwindling water supply are meeting with legislators in hopes of getting bills passed to create the Wise Regional Water district.
On Monday, several mayors and other officials testified for the Texas Senate’s committee on water, agriculture and rural affairs. Last week, they appeared before the Texas House committee on natural resources. Sen. Tan Parker and District 64 Rep. Andy Hopper introduced companion bills for the water district in February.
At issue is growth that will boost the county’s population to over 100,000 in the next 10 years, while groundwater supplies are dwindling. Wise County gets much of its water from wells, but to accommodate new homes and businesses, surface water is a necessity. The water district would help with funding and acquiring the surface water.
John Taylor, mayor of New Fairview, told the committee that Wise County is one of the fastest growing counties in Texas with a 20% population increase since 2020.
“This rapid growth has put a strain on our aquifers,” Taylor said. “It is unrecoverable without the ability to provide surface water.”
Surface water is needed to attract businesses and retail to keep people from driving 30 miles to shop.
Doug Shaw, general manager for the Upper Trinity Groundwater District, also testified on behalf of Wise County. He said the water level in the aquifer is trending downward, which isn’t sustainable.
Leaders from nine Wise County cities — Boyd, Aurora, Decatur, Bridgeport, New Fairview, Alvord, Paradise Newark and Rhome — were among Wise County officials who joined forces over a year ago to lay a groundwork for the Wise Regional Water District.
The communities are working together to create the district to have more leverage in getting funding from sources like the Texas Water Development Board and to work on resources for surface water.
The district would have the authority to plan, purchase, build and operate the facilities to provide water for domestic, municipal and commercial use.
The water district wouldn’t have the authority to levy taxes, but it could issue bonds to fund the projects.
Kevin Burns, Wise County’s Precinct 2 commissioner, said during Monday’s hearing, “Please allow us to address this issue on our own so the legislature doesn’t have to at a later time.”
For development, water is essential. For example, a developer wants to build a planned community called Ranchland with more than 4,000 homes off U.S. 287 north of Rhome. The development would have apartments or town homes in addition to the thousands of single-family homes, plus a “vibrant town square,” new schools, parks, commercial space and “a host of amenities that bring people together,” according to developers.
But New Fairview, which is near the property, relies on ground water, which isn’t sustainable with the growth that is coming.
Homebuilder Lennar said it intends to break ground this summer with homes coming in 2028. New Fairview’s city administrator, John Cabrales, has told the Star-Telegram he doesn’t expect work to start anytime soon because of the water situation.
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM.