A Rural Well Starts With the Lost Pines District

The Lost Pines district grew from a 1999 state law. State lawmakers approved it again in 2001, and local voters confirmed it in November 2002. It serves Bastrop and Lee counties. The district calls the Carrizo-Wilcox the area's main aquifer.

Well records are public, along with separate lists of operating, transport, and pending permits. Owners are asked to register old wells. Do not assume a home, livestock, or farm well is exempt. The well's use can affect registration, permits, and meters. Ask before you drill or pump more water.

Well Watch checks enrolled water levels twice a year and water quality once a year. A help program may cover some registered home or livestock wells that meet its rules. The district also offers free meters for farm wells. These records can add useful local context before a rural land purchase.