Demand TCEQ Grant Hearing on Cedar Creek Water Permit -2.5 Million Customers Rely on Us
The Issue
Cedar Creek Reservoir, a vital resource for 2.5 million Texans and home to hundreds of families, farmers, and property owners, is under threat. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) renewed TPDES Permit WQ0000947000 — an industrial discharge permit for the Trinidad Steam Electric Station in Henderson County — without a public hearing, without community notice, and without any evaluation of cumulative impacts on Cedar Creek Reservoir. This action failed to adequately protect the drinking water source for millions of Texans who had no idea it was happening.
The lack of transparency and thoroughness in assessing the potential environmental impact of industrial operations affecting Cedar Creek is deeply concerning. The reservoir has been on Texas’s official impaired waters list in every assessment cycle since at least 2002 and currently sits nearly three feet below its conservation pool elevation. It is essential not just for drinking water, but for agriculture, recreation, and the local ecosystem. A 100-year-old water right tied to this infrastructure can be transferred to any new industrial operator — including a data center — with zero public notice required. Ever. TCEQ confirmed this directly.
This is not just a local matter. It affects millions across Texas who depend on this vital water source. More than 250 residents supported a formal petition expressing these concerns, and a legal challenge has been filed to demand proper public review before this permit becomes permanent. The window to challenge this decision closes July 8, 2026. After that — no notice, no appeal, no recourse. Ever.
We call upon TCEQ to respect the voices of this impacted community and uphold its obligation to protect Texas water resources. We demand that TCEQ grant a contested case hearing before July 8, 2026. A full cumulative impact assessment must be conducted evaluating all water authorizations affecting Cedar Creek Reservoir, and public notice must be required before any water right transfer to a new industrial operator.
Every signature on this petition sends a message to TCEQ that our community, our environment, and our futures cannot be ignored. Stand with us to protect Cedar Creek Reservoir — sign and share this petition today. Together we can ensure transparency, accountability, and real protection for our water. 🌊
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The Issue
Cedar Creek Reservoir, a vital resource for 2.5 million Texans and home to hundreds of families, farmers, and property owners, is under threat. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) renewed TPDES Permit WQ0000947000 — an industrial discharge permit for the Trinidad Steam Electric Station in Henderson County — without a public hearing, without community notice, and without any evaluation of cumulative impacts on Cedar Creek Reservoir. This action failed to adequately protect the drinking water source for millions of Texans who had no idea it was happening.
The lack of transparency and thoroughness in assessing the potential environmental impact of industrial operations affecting Cedar Creek is deeply concerning. The reservoir has been on Texas’s official impaired waters list in every assessment cycle since at least 2002 and currently sits nearly three feet below its conservation pool elevation. It is essential not just for drinking water, but for agriculture, recreation, and the local ecosystem. A 100-year-old water right tied to this infrastructure can be transferred to any new industrial operator — including a data center — with zero public notice required. Ever. TCEQ confirmed this directly.
This is not just a local matter. It affects millions across Texas who depend on this vital water source. More than 250 residents supported a formal petition expressing these concerns, and a legal challenge has been filed to demand proper public review before this permit becomes permanent. The window to challenge this decision closes July 8, 2026. After that — no notice, no appeal, no recourse. Ever.
We call upon TCEQ to respect the voices of this impacted community and uphold its obligation to protect Texas water resources. We demand that TCEQ grant a contested case hearing before July 8, 2026. A full cumulative impact assessment must be conducted evaluating all water authorizations affecting Cedar Creek Reservoir, and public notice must be required before any water right transfer to a new industrial operator.
Every signature on this petition sends a message to TCEQ that our community, our environment, and our futures cannot be ignored. Stand with us to protect Cedar Creek Reservoir — sign and share this petition today. Together we can ensure transparency, accountability, and real protection for our water. 🌊
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Petition created on July 3, 2026