Real estate
Real estate
BY KAROLINE PFEIL
BY ANNA MANESS
How water use is regulated in the Lake Travis region Across Texas there are over 100 groundwater conservation districts that manage their own region’s groundwater, Scadden said.
Central Texas cities join, drop out of ranking of fastest-growing US cities
2023 2024 The following Austin-area cities are among the fastest- growing in the U.S. by percent change in population. Hutto (13th fastest growing U.S. city) 38,980 42,661 Leander (18th fastest growing U.S. city) 80,507 87,511 Manor (49th fastest growing U.S. city)
State and regional water authorities
With water being a contentious resource in Texas, a range of state and local entities are needed to regulate usage of both surface and groundwater sources throughout the state. Statewide authorities The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality provides regulatory oversight on matters related to natural resources and water for the entire state of Texas. The Texas Water Develop- ment Board helps prepare the state water and flood plans. Local authorities “[The TCEQ] has authority over surface water, so lakes and streams. And the [Southwestern Travis County] Groundwater Conservation District has the authority to permit, regulate [and] manage groundwater within our jurisdiction,” SWTCGCD Director for the City of Bee Cave Richard Scadden said.
+9.4%
• TCEQ • Texas Water Development Board
Statewide water authorities
Texas is home to seven of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the U.S. with a population of more than 20,000, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. In the Austin metro, Hutto was the fastest-grow- ing city in the area by percent population change, and ranked 13th overall in the nation with a year- over-year population increase of 9.4%. Zooming in Rapid growth in Hutto brings shopping, dining, entertainment, recreation and infrastructure improvement opportunities, Director of Economic Development Cheney Gamboa said in a statement. “Our growth is fueled by a strong sense of community, a lower cost of living compared to surrounding areas, and a lot of momentum from new businesses and families choosing to call Hutto home,” Gamboa said.
Diving in deeper Georgetown was the fastest-growing U.S. city of 50,000 or more in 2021 and 2022, but lost spots in the rankings when the Census Bureau changed its format to include smaller cities. In 2024, Georgetown is ranked as the 71st fastest-growing city. “While no longer one of the top 10 fastest-growing cities in the U.S., Georgetown continues to attract thousands of new residents each year,” George- town Mayor Josh Schroeder said in a statement to Community Impact . How it works The bureau’s population division estimates a city’s population as of July 1 each year. Out of the top 15 fastest-growing cities in the U.S., North Texas was home to five of them.
Any entity seeking a permit to draw surface water, rather than groundwater, would need to go through the Lower Colorado River Authority, which is responsible for water flowing in and out of the Colorado River system, including the
+8.7%
• SWTCGCD • LCRA
Local water authorities
• Water Control and Improvement District No. 17 • WTCPUA • Travis County municipal utility districts (various) • City MUDs (various)
20,325 21,500 Georgetown (71st fastest growing U.S. city) 96,731 101,344 New Braunfels (73rd fastest growing U.S. city) 111,202 116,477 Kyle (75th fastest growing U.S. city) 62,871 65,833
Highland Lakes. Water customers
+5.8%
Water customers
The LCRA sells water to firm customers, or water system operators and cities, said Jason Homan, general manager of Travis County Water Control and Improvement District No. 17. Firm water customers include WCID No. 17 as well as the West Travis County Public Utility Agency. Other customers in the region may include city or county municipal utility districts. For local residents, home water usage will be regulated by these smaller entities.
+4.8%
SOURCE: COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF
In the Lake Travis-Westlake area, there are:
36 MUDs and WCIDs
+4.7%
2 groundwater conservation districts serving Travis County
1 river authority
+4.7%
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: TCEQ, TWDB/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
BEE CAVE 13015 Shops Pkwy (512) 263-9981
BRODIE LANE 4970 W Hwy 290 (512) 366-8260
NORTH 620 10601 N FM 620 (512) 506-8316
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