10/28/2026
The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District hosted the Gulf Coast Water Conservation Symposium on October 22, 2026, in Baytown, Texas, bringing together 120 water professionals to learn about conservation programs, funding opportunities, planning, and the implementation of successful strategies. Between insightful stories and lessons from an incredible lineup of speakers, and the camaraderie in a room filled with professionals passionate about water sustainability and resource management, this year’s symposium was an absolute hit!
Following the speaking program, we took an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the former Brownwood Subdivision, an internationally recognized neighborhood known for the substantial subsidence that occurred, ultimately forcing its abandonment, and now home to a beautiful nature preserve, the Baytown Nature Center.
Hosting in Baytown offered the opportunity for a full-circle moment of recognition and reflection, as this area was once a site of great concern due to the extent of subsidence; however, entities in the area worked diligently to reduce reliance on groundwater and bring in alternative water supplies in less than two decades. Because of the transition from 100% groundwater to less than 10%, subsidence rates in this area have stabilized, and it serves as a success story for our Region to draw inspiration from as groundwater conversion requirements continue to be met to mitigate subsidence.
Thank you to sponsors, speakers, attendees, volunteers, and staff for making this year’s symposium better than ever!
