With recent showers dotting the north Texas landscape and hopefully more precipitation on the way, the Upper Trinity is here to provide the best tips and tricks to maintaining your very own rainwater harvesting system. North Texas receives 31-35 inches of rain annually, and just a fraction caught from a roof or barn can sustain landscaping, livestock, or family homes. Apart from reducing weathering of soils and streets, rainwater harvesting helps alleviate stress on local groundwater systems. View our recommendations below and consider a harvesting system today. Rainwater systems can be all manner of shapes and sizes. A small barn, apartment rooftop, or single-family home all have suitable catchment surfaces for harvesting. Not sure how much rain you want to catch? Consider what you’re hoping to use the volumes for, be it a garden, irrigation, or potable household use. This will help you decide on a storage container material and type. A great rule of thumb is for every square foo...Read More

     Although we have been experiencing a milder and wetter than normal summer, in Texas drought, which can have a long-lasting effect on many aspects of the environment - including our groundwater, always seems to be lurking around the corner. Even though, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System, North Texas is not currently experiencing drought conditions, water conservation should still be on the forefront of everyone’s mind. Often during wet years, when the lakes are full, we tend to lose sight of the importance of water conservation, but, for a number of reasons, groundwater levels don’t always react the same way to rainfall as surface water levels.   District Conservation Picks   Whether you rely on groundwater or surface water, water conservation is always crucial for the future of Texans. Saving water now can have a tremendous impact on our groundwater resources and our communities in the future. Some of the small everyday changes you can make ...Read More

             Throughout north Texas, rainwater harvesting takes all shapes and sizes. Your dream system may include stainless steel cisterns or wooden gutters, but there are practical options for any budget. As the climate shifts into the cooler months, September and October bring a chance for autumn storms. Oftentimes, residential dwellings may not have access to an entire roof for rain catchment. When this occurs, heavy runoff culminates at corners of the structure, and usually causes damage to soil and vegetation below. This is the perfect location for a rain chain. Rain chains function as an alternative to downspouts, allowing rainwater to pass along decorative baubles and cups down to a cistern below. This means a downspout can accentuate your outdoor area, while conserving rainwater. Their origins date back to 1,600 years ago, when the sukiya architectural style seen frequently in Japanese tea houses, first became prominent. Kusari toi installation ...Read More

        Christmas is just around the corner, and along with the holiday’s arrival comes stressful shopping, long lines, and gift anxiety. Your email inbox is likely flooded with offers, blowout sales and last-minute deals that beg you to stop by their online store, or drive to a busy outlet. As we begin our descent into 2020, make this the year to be environmentally conscious with your Christmas gifts. Buying for an entire family can be daunting, but the Upper Trinity has put together some fun and water conscious presents that the entire family will love. With Black Friday shopping comprising 30% of annual retail sales in 2018 (Much Needed, 2019), skip the sweaters and blankets this holiday season, and give all those special people on your shopping list some items they can use again and again! (While the Upper Trinity won’t recommend any specific brands, we can always point you in the right direction of water conscious toys!)   1. Reusable Water Bottles ...Read More

Winter seems to have come early to Texas this year, although average household water use is typically much lower in the colder months, there are still a number of things that can be done to help promote water conservation. Check out our recommendations for indoor and outdoor home preparation to save water and money this holiday season. The winter months are a great time to identify and repair indoor water leaks from toilets and faucets. These leaks can happen suddenly with changing temperatures and locating them early saves significant amounts of water and money. Adding some food coloring or dye tablets to toilet tanks is an easy way to identify leaks which can add up to a significant amount of wasted water – contact District staff for more information regarding dye tablets and how to identify leaks in your toilet. Also, winter months are the perfect time to consider installing other water saving devices such as lower flow toilets, shower heads, and faucets which can all signi...Read More

With almost 15 inches of rain within the last 2 months we’ve definitely experienced a wetter than average spring, but summer is now in full swing throughout Texas and that could mean drier times ahead. With fresh groundwater in ever-increasing demand, a simple task homeowners and citizens can implement is rainwater harvesting. Participating in rainwater harvesting can;   • Offset lowering aquifer water levels • Lower water utility bills and • Reduce polluted runoff        The phrase may sound intimidating, but by incorporating some easy-to-use equipment around your home, you can collect precipitation that falls during those unpredictable Texas storms, and utilize it later. The financially advantageous incentives available through harvesting are two-fold. Apart from lower monthly water bills, the state of Texas allows for property tax exemptions for activities such as rainwater harvesting and some municipalities offer other incentives. &nbs...Read More

For owners/operators of non-exempt operational water wells in Montague, Wise, Parker or Hood County. Beginning with your January-June 2019 (19SA1) Groundwater Production Reports, please note the following procedural changes: For all Groundwater Production Reports: All fields with an asterisk (*) are required; an incomplete form will be returned to be completed. All corrections/changes to the initially submitted report must be made by registrant, not District staff. Reports must be signed by someone legally authorized to sign on behalf of the entity: For taxable entities, if the signer’s name cannot be found at the site below, documentation will need to be provided to the UTGCD proving signatory authority. Texas Comptroller database: https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/ If well(s) are in process of ownership transfer, the transfer must be complete before Groundwater Production Reports are accepted. Submit complete reports to kyle@uppertrinitygcd.com...Read More

To read the proposed rules, click here: UTGCD Proposed Rules for June 2019 Public Hearing   NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all interested persons in Hood, Montague, Parker, and Wise Counties, Texas: That the Board of Directors of the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (“District”) will hold a public hearing, accept public comment, and may act to adopt the permanent District Rules regulating water wells within the boundaries of the District, including Hood, Montague, Parker, and Wise Counties, Texas.  Prior to its adoption of these permanent rules, the District operated under its Temporary Rules for Water Wells, initially adopted by the District’s Board of Directors (“Board”) on August 18, 2008.  The proposed permanent District Rules include without limitation the following: (1) classification of wells and applicable requirements for each type of well based on size, capacity, purpose of use of groundwater, and date of drilling; (2) requirements for reg...Read More

Click here to read Proposed Rules: 01-08-2019 UTGCD Revised Proposed District Rules for Publication   The Board of Directors of the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (“District”) will hold a public hearing, accept public comment, and may act to adopt the permanent District Rules regulating water wells within the boundaries of the District, including Hood, Montague, Parker, and Wise Counties, Texas.  Prior to its adoption of these permanent rules, the District operated under its Temporary Rules for Water Wells, initially adopted by the District’s Board of Directors (“Board”) on August 18, 2008.  The proposed permanent District Rules include without limitation the following: (1) classification of wells and applicable requirements for each type of well based on size, capacity, purpose of use of groundwater, and date of drilling; (2) requirements for registration and/or permitting of water wells, including Historic Use Permits and Operating Permits, an...Read More

Click the link below for details regarding the Upper Trinity GCD Welcome Event! We are excited about the new District office and look forward to meeting community members Monday May 21. We hope to have a fun filled afternoon! Welcome Event 2018...Read More