Residents expressed concern about the possibility of water from an East Texas aquifer being sold elsewhere and the impact on farms, families and businesses.
JACKSONVILLE, Texas — A public hearing over a proposed water project in East Texas turned into a heated showdown, as residents, attorneys, and local leaders accused a wealthy investor of trying to drain their aquifer for profit—while leaving their communities high and dry.
At the heart of the debate is a proposal by Kyle Bass and his firm, Conservation Equity Management, to drill test wells into the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer. The company insists the project is scientifically sound and fully compliant with Texas law. But at Thursday’s town hall, residents made clear: they don’t trust the motives—or the consequences.
“If this goes through, we will not have water to survive here. You’ll kill these communities, you’ll kill these counties,” warned local resident Jennifer Vick, who received one of the loudest ovations of the afternoon.
Dozens of people packed Jacksonville City Hall to contest the applications submitted to the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District. Many are concerned that once the wells are approved, there’s nothing stopping the company from eventually selling the water to the highest bidder—possibly far outside the region.
“Folks, it’s clear what is going on,” attorney Clayton Bailey said. “This is a grab for water, and it’s by a rich man who’s trying to enrich himself to the detriment of all of these good people here.”
The crowd responded with applause and murmurs of agreement.
But Kyle Bass, the hedge fund manager behind the project, pushed back against accusations that he’s aiming to export East Texas water.
“Whatever you’ve been reading about us trying to take all the water and gonna leave the whole area out of water–I would never do that,” Bass said. “We are doing things that are responsible by law and by science.”
Still, his assurances did little to calm fears.
In one of the more dramatic moments of the hearing, local resident Billy McKinney asked all opponents of the project to silently show themselves.
“I respectfully ask that everybody that’s here that’s in contest with these applications quietly stand up and raise their hand…,” McKinney said.
Nearly every person in the room stood.
Later, McKinney doubled down; “They don’t have to tell us who they’re selling the water to, but I guarantee you they got a contract with somebody.”
Residents expressed concern not only about the possibility of water being sold elsewhere, but also the long-term impact on local farms, families, and businesses that depend on the aquifer.
While the company says it is only in the data collection phase, the public remains skeptical. Several county governments—including Smith, Henderson, and Anderson—have already filed formal opposition notices, asking that the process be paused until further studies can be done.
The Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District is accepting petitions of opposition until July 19. The next public meeting will be held at Jacksonville City Hall. Doors open at 10:30 a.m., with the hearing scheduled for 1 p.m.
For now, residents say they’re not going away.