Dallas Billionaire Wants Our Water — Help Us Stop Him
A billionaire from Dallas is trying to drill dozens of deep wells to extract and export massive amounts of groundwater from beneath East Texas — water that belongs to our communities, our farms, and our future. This water grab threatens the health of the aquifer that sustains our homes, our wildlife, and our economy. If he’s allowed to proceed, East Texans will bear the cost of urban growth hundreds of miles away. But there’s still time to fight back and CITIZENS FOR LOCAL EAST TEXAS AQUIFER RIGHTS, Inc. (CLEAR) was formed to stop this. We are now in a critical contested case hearing before an administrative law judge — a legal battle that could determine the future of our water. We need your help to cover legal costs and expert witness fees. Will you stand with East Texas and chip in today to help protect our water? Every dollar helps us defend the aquifer — and the right of local communities to control their own natural resources.
This is our land. Our water. Our fight. Join us.
Make checks payable to: CITIZENS FOR LOCAL EAST TEXAS AQUIFER RIGHTS, Inc. Mail Checks to: CITIZENS FOR LOCAL EAST TEXAS AQUIFER RIGHTS, Inc.
Mail Checks to: CITIZENS FOR LOCAL EAST TEXAS AQUIFER RIGHTS, Inc. 2119 ACR 403 Palestine, TX 75803
Your support matters. Together, we can stop this water grab and protect the aquifer that sustains us all. Please donate today — and stand with East Texas.
How Did We Get Here?
Kyle Bass, a billionaire hedge fund manager, and his company, Conservation Equity Management, have applied for 43 high-capacity groundwater well permits across Henderson and Anderson Counties, on his Pine Bliss and Red Town ranches.
These wells would extract enormous volumes of water from the aquifer beneath our communities every single day. It is widely believed that this water will be resold to a major metropolitan area — generating huge profits for Mr. Bass, while putting the long-term sustainability of our local water supply at risk.
In response, more than 6,000 concerned citizens filed formal protests with the Groundwater District. The matter is now before an Administrative Law Judge, who will conduct a legal trial to determine whether these permits should be granted.
The first hearing is scheduled for late September. So time is of the essence!
Who is CLEAR?
We are CLEAR—Citizens for Local East Texas Aquifer Rights, Inc., a nonprofit Texas corporation formed by local residents to fight these permit applications and defend our groundwater.
We are 100% volunteer-run. Every dollar raised goes directly toward legal and expert fees.
This is a serious legal fight. We urgently need to raise an initial $25,000 to retain a qualified water rights attorney and expert hydrologists. As the case moves forward, we will need more resources — but this is where it begins.
NOTE: The judge will first decide standing. Private well owners will have standing. It is unclear if other individuals will. Whether or not folks are given standing, we all have the exact same goal. Most private well owners cannot afford lawyers and experts, but standing together as one strong voice they can make a difference. For now, the focus is on these well owners.