Aquifer Conservancy Program (ACP)

The Aquifer Conservancy Program is a voluntary, innovative, strategic approach to groundwater management. It balances the conservation and development of groundwater resources while respecting property rights. Landowners within the district can participate by agreeing not to produce or lease their groundwater rights for a set period in exchange for annual compensation. This program not only encourages sustainable groundwater practices but also rewards landowners for their commitment to conservation.

If you have any questions, contact Courtney Gentry at 512-455-9900 or at admin@posgcd.org.

ACP Guidance Document

ACP Brochure

ACP Sample Contract

Ready to Join?

If you’re ready to join, complete the online application below. Once submitted, you’ll receive a confirmation email officially welcoming you to the program.

 

ACP Application Form

This form is intended to register a property in the District’s Aquifer Conservancy Program. Please complete a new application for each property that the applicant requests to enroll.

Step 1 of 3 - SECTION 1: APPLICANT

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Alternatively, you can download the ACP Application 2025

Option to Upgrade

Longer Terms with Increased Compensation

The Board approved a $50 per acre one time sign-up bonus payment and implemented a $5 per acre referral incentive for successfully enrolled properties. There are five term options of 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 year commitments. All five terms are open to current and new enrollees. Current participants can upgrade to longer terms and all current enrollees that increase to a higher term receive the compensation at the new rate for the full year they upgrade, regardless of the month they upgrade. Call the office for more information about payment and enrollment upgrades.

Payments are made annually based upon the amount of acreage enrolled and the term selected upon enrollment. As of January 1, 2025, terms and considerations have been upgraded to:

Five (5) years – $10 per acre
Ten (10) years – $16 per acre
Twenty (20) years – $20 per acre
Thirty (30) years – $30 per acre
Fifty (50) years – $50 per acre

ACP Upgrade Form

This form is intended to upgrade a property in the District’s Aquifer Conservancy Program. Please complete a new application for each property that the applicant requests to upgrade.

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  • To verify your property we need either your Property ID number or you can upload
    a copy of your deed.
  • The Property ID number is available on your property tax statement from the County Appraisal District.
  • Select the Terms of Contract. 5 Years at $5 per acre per year 10 Years at $8 per acre per year 20 Years at $10 per acre per year 30 Years a $15 per acre per year 50 Years @ $25 per acre per year All terms available at $0 per acre per year
    E-Mail delivery is the fastest option.

Aquifer Conservancy Program Town Hall Meetings

In 2018, we hosted Town Hall meetings and Q&A sessions with communities in our District, recordings below.

The Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District (POSGCD) announced today it is forming the Post Oak Savannah Aquifer Conservancy Program (ACP) to create a legacy of stewardship for landowners. This will enable landowners in the District to commit their groundwater resources to a long-term conservation program. POSGCD is empowered by the State of Texas to preserve, conserve, and protect groundwater resources in Burleson and Milam Counties. This ground-breaking conservation program will allow most landowners in the two counties to partner with the District in its mission to conserve the aquifers in this area.

Persons owning land above the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifers in the District will be able to commit the water under their property to the ACP for terms of five, ten, or twenty years while still maintaining full ownership and control of their private property. In addition to the important efforts of conserving water locally for future generations, participants will continue to play an important role in the management of the groundwater resources in our District.

Another thing that makes this program so unique is that the district will pay landowners for their legacy effort in stewardship. Each landowner can still drill or maintain an exempt well for domestic and livestock uses. Landowners can earn $5-$10 per acre, per year for conserving the water under their land.

This is a strict volunteer program, which is funded by fees collected by the district. Payments will be dispersed annually to participating landowners at the end of each year’s commitment.

“This is a very exciting program where individual landowners can work together with the District to protect the water in our aquifers,” said Burleson County Judge. Structured similar to other conservation programs, the ACP rewards landowners for conserving their groundwater. POSGCD Board President Sidney Youngblood added, “This is further evidence of how our Board responds to the concerns of the citizens in our District.” Milam County Judge stated, “As empowered by the State of Texas, Post Oak has done an exemplary job of protecting the aquifers below each landowner’s property while preserving each landowner’s right to produce their water.”

Draft Timeline for development and implementation:

May 25, 2018 – Press Conference for News Release in May 30 Newspapers
June 5, 2018 – Hard Launch and Board Review
June – July, 2018 – Conduct Survey, and host Townhall meetings to give and receive info
August 7, 2018 – Board Meeting Update and Review
August 15, 2018 – Public Update at Milam and Burleson Counties Groundwater Summit with Q & A pamphlets, and “support” signs for public
Sept. 4, 2018 – Board Meeting Update and Revie
October 2, 2018 – Publish Draft PACP for 60 Day Comment Period
December 4, 2018 – Board Review and consider comments received
January 8, 2019 – Board adoption
June 1, 2019 – Begin initial 90-Day Sign-up for PACP with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2020
October 1, 2019 – Receive PACP signup data and Develop 2020 Budget for PACP
November 2019 – Adopt Budget and Fees to fully fund PACP
January 2021 – Payments begin for first commitments