As the Coastal Bend continues to seek ways to address the ongoing water crisis, a recently launched project hit a snag and now faces contested case hearings.
During a Feb. 6 meeting of the San Patricio County Groundwater Conservation District, the board voted to let a judge decide whether drilling permits for the Evangeline Aquifer project will proceed. As a result, the city of Corpus Christi did not receive permits before the Feb. 6 deadline.
According to a report from KIII News in Corpus Christi, officials from both Corpus Christi and Sinton as well as local residents went back and forth during the meeting, leading to contentious debates. According to the report, Corpus Christi officials previously said that communication with Sinton had largely ceased, delaying progress.
However, Sinton city officials say that the delay is not due to their efforts, which they say are solely aimed at protecting the water resiliency and safety of the city and its inhabitants.
There have also been formal protests filed by both the City of Sinton and the St. Paul Water Supply Corporation, according to Sinton City Manager John Hobson. And Hobson said the city believes the contested case hearings regarding the drilling permits moving forward later this year advance their cause.
“The City of Sinton is working diligently to protect the rights of its residents to receive quality water at an affordable price. The key to that effort is our groundwater wells. The San Patricio County Groundwater District’s decision to move forward with a contested case hearing aids or efforts,” read a statement from the City of Sinton. “We will continue to work with Corpus Christi to reach an interlocal agreement, but that agreement must place the City of Sinton’s residents as a priority. Our efforts have not delayed Corpus Christi’s project; years of inaction are the cause for delay.”
The report from KIII said negotiations remain ongoing. However, the Evangeline Aquifer project appears to now be standing in limbo – at least for now.
Corpus Christi Water and Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Winklmann provided the following statement to South Texas News on Feb. 12:
“During the San Patricio County Groundwater Conservation District public hearing and board meeting last Friday, the board did not take any specific action on the submitted drilling and transport permits for the Evangeline Groundwater Project. The district had already approved the production permit for this project on May 16, 2019, and it was renewed on Jan. 21, 2025. As there were four protests submitted towards the drilling and transport permit applications, the district moved to have a preliminary hearing before an administrative law judge to determine whether the protestants have standing. Despite these procedural delays, the City of Corpus Christi remains committed to the project and will continue pursuing all available pathways to move it forward, ensuring that San Patricio County and the Coastal Bend have the water resources they need.”