'Not enough water to go around': Why landowners are pushing back against new development

Landowners in the Texas Hill Country contested the approval of groundwater rights for a "conservation-scale" development. The development, Mirasol Springs, aims to set the gold standard for eco-friendly developers, but they are receiving push back from residents who say there isn't enough water for their future.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story stated Tom "Smitty" Smith's title as a former environmental lawyer. His proper title is former director of advocacy group Public Citizen.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A strumming guitar provided the perfect moment for a recess during Monday night's Travis Country Groundwater Conservation District hearing. The lyrics, jaunting and accompanied by a catchy tune, summarized the debate perfectly.

"Not enough water... not enough water to go around..." the landowner sang.

He was one of many there to contest the groundwater permits filed by Mirasol Springs. The development has aimed to set a "gold standard" for conservation in its construction and operation.

Planned for a tract of land west of Austin on the border of Hays and Travis counties, the development has been in a battle with nearby landowners since its announcement in 2021.

Monday's night meeting was meant to set the stage for hearings occurring later this year. In 2021, Mirasol filed its initial groundwater permits requesting to draw 80,000 gallons of water per day from the Middle Trinity Aquifer.

In December, Hays Trinity and Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation Districts filed counter permits. They requested less water be drawn from wells in Hays County (there are four planned) and that all water be drawn from the deeper Lower Trinity aquifer starting in 2026.

Monday's meeting focused on landowners in Travis County. On Thursday, the Hays County Groundwater Conservation District will meet to discuss wells on their half of the property. The meeting will take place at 5 p.m. Thursday at Sunset Canyon Baptist Church, 4000 US-290 in Dripping Springs.

Restricting groundwater usage

Now, officials must decide on a middle ground between the two. Landowners want more restrictions in place.

"Our goal if our permits are approved is to take no more water out of the aquifers than we put back in it," said Steve Winn, founder and CEO of Mirasol Capital, the group behind Mirasol Springs.

Mirasol Springs has aimed to create a "conservation scale" development. It has plans in place to use rainwater and reduce runoff, as well as partner with the University of Texas to build a field lab. That lab, Winn said, will help study the water systems in the Hill Country to better protect them.

"I reaffirm our commitment as a family now to do the best we can to protect this rare treasure the Hill Country," Winn said.

The water crisis in the Hill Country

Despite this effort, many landowners worry that another development in the Hill Country could be bad news for the future of water.

Sam Jett is a business owner on Hamilton Pool Rd., down the street from Mirasol Springs. He testified during the hearing that he had several springs on his property.

"Over the last years, I've seen those springs go dry with drought conditions. And then this past summer, for the first time, our well went dry," Jett said.

"The people in the room said there's just not enough water for this," said Tom "Smitty" Smith, a landowner who lives across the Pedernales from Mirasol Springs.

Others testified they were worried that pumping groundwater and a proposed pump on the Pedernales would have a direct impact on Lake Travis, Austin's source of drinking water, with which the river flows.

The concerns about water scarcity are real. Shannon Hamilton with the Central Texas Water Coalition said that 2023 showed the fourth lowest inflows of water into the Highland Lakes on record, while 2022 had the lowest inflows on record.

"You're talking about adding development like Marisol springs, and that could frankly use more water than what they're expecting," Hamilton said. "We just keep tightening the belt."

Next month, Mirasol Springs will face additional hearings regarding their wastewater permits. After this week's hearings, more formal hearings will decide which permits to move forward with and who will participate in that decision.