The Fort Bend Subsidence District (FBSD) controls subsidence within Fort Bend County by regulating the use of groundwater based on a Regulatory Plan. The District periodically reviews its regulatory plan to ensure that the predictions of future water needs and subsidence are up-to-date and to confirm that the plan ultimately ceases subsidence in Fort Bend County.

FBSD initiated a Joint Regulatory Plan Review (JRPR) in January 2020 to estimate future changes in population and water demand, assess the availability of future alternative water supplies, review and update predictive subsidence models, and evaluate planned regulatory requirements on future subsidence rates. The results of the JRPR have been reviewed by the FBSD Board of Directors and presented during two public workshops.

Upon this review, the FBSD JRPR Implementation Committee determined the need for modifications to FBSD’s Regulatory Plan and presented it to the Board during a workshop held this summer. The proposed amendments to FBSD’s Regulatory Plan include:

  • Non-substantive changes to text and title to clarify and designate the amended plan as the 2025 plan;
  • Amending the conversion requirement in Regulatory Area A for permittees operating under an approved Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) to reduce and maintain groundwater withdrawals to comprise no more than 40% of the group’s total water demand for permits beginning January 1, 2030, and thereafter (Changed from the current date of January 1, 2027);
  • Amending the conversion requirement in Regulatory Area B for all permits beginning January 1, 2050 or later, a group of permittees operating under an approved GRP shall reduce and maintain their groundwater withdrawals to compromise no more than 70% of the group’s total water demand;
  • Amending the conversion requirement in Regulatory Area B for all permits beginning January 1, 2035, or later, a permittee not operating under an approved GRP shall reduce and maintain its groundwater withdrawals to comprise no more than 40% of the permittee’s total water demand;
  • Requirements for GRPs amended to include a requirement for ongoing monitoring of the GRP to determine its effectiveness and a designation of actions and timeline should subsidence continue above acceptable levels;
  • Requirements for new participants in a GRP amended to include the water management strategy to convert to alternative water supply and a plan detailing water conservation and efficiency measures to be implemented while alternative water supplies are developed.

*There are no proposed changes to the exemptions that currently exist, other than what is listed in the proposed District Regulatory Plan.  Statutory exemptions for single-family dwellings are unchanged.

FBSD will hold an in-person public hearing at 10:00 am on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, inside the 6th floor meeting room of the Travis Building (301 Jackson Street, Richmond, TX) for the purpose of considering testimony, evidence, exhibits, and other information presented by any person concerning the proposed amendments to the 2013 Regulatory Plan.