Johnson City's Water Crisis: A Hill Country Town at a Crossroads
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Johnson City, Texas, a gateway to the Hill Country, is grappling with a water crisis that threatens its growth. In the latest episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Mayor Stephanie Fisher to explore the challenges facing this small town of roughly 540 residential water connections.
The city relies entirely on the Ellenberger Aquifer for drinking water, but a pending pumpage permit increase before the Blanco Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District has stalled. Meanwhile, Johnson City holds a permit for 200 acre-feet of Pedernales River water but lacks the infrastructure—and millions of dollars—to harvest it.
“There was some previous administrations that made some decisions. I think they put the cart before the horse, and that's causing us to have some questions asked,” Fisher said, adding that she appreciates the groundwater district’s diligence. “I'm glad that our groundwater district is doing what they need to do to make sure that we all have water forever.”
Short-term rentals have further strained resources, consuming 67 of the town’s 540 residential connections. To ease pressure and boost the tax base, Fisher is pursuing a boutique or resort-style hotel, ideally on the river, to convert the thousands of daily through-traffic drivers on Highway 290 into overnight visitors.
Johnson City already boasts attractions like the Science Mill, LBJ National Historic Park, and the Exotic Resort Zoo, but visitors rarely stay overnight. A hotel, Fisher argues, could unlock both housing and economic development.
McKenzie contrasted Johnson City’s situation with 100-year water planning efforts in Midland and Lubbock, noting that Hill Country communities often depend on aquifer recharge in 15-year rainfall cycles. The episode highlights the delicate balance between growth and sustainability in one of Texas’s most beloved regions.