Jimmy Anderson Seizes 1.5 Billion Gallons in Aquifer Credits, Sells Water Back to Rivals
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 14
Jimmy Anderson Seizes 1.5 Billion Gallons in Aquifer Credits, Sells Water Back to Rivals
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 14
Summary
Pleasant Valley’s new board majority installed Jimmy Anderson as president, then adopted a groundwater formula that gives his family credits worth 1.5 billion gallons a year.
Anderson expanded “irrigated acres” to 22,000 from 14,000 by counting land watered even once in the past decade, a change that awarded about 5,000 eligible acres to him and his relatives.
At $200 an acre-foot, those credits could bring Anderson nearly $1 million this year, while neighboring pistachio growers lost an equivalent share of water and must now buy from him to keep orchards alive.
Brad Gleason and attorney Brian Whelan say more than 3,000 of Anderson’s credited acres have long been barren and plan to sue, calling the maneuver “farming water” rather than crops.
The fight comes as California’s 2014 groundwater law forces steep cuts in overdrafted basins; in Pleasant Valley, the aquifer has fallen 125 feet and pumping must drop by nearly two-thirds by 2042.
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Texas Water Wars: Fact-Checking the 1.5 Billion Gallon "Jimmy Anderson" Claim and the Real Battle Over East Texas Aquifers
Overview
This report investigates the unverified claim that an individual named Jimmy Anderson seized 1.5 billion gallons in aquifer credits and sold water back to rivals. Despite extensive searches in news archives and official records, no credible evidence supports this story as of June 2026. However, the report highlights that large-scale water transactions, disputes over water rights, and the challenges of groundwater management are real and pressing issues in Texas. The state faces water scarcity and environmental pressures, leading to legislative changes and active debates about well drilling and groundwater use. These factors create an environment where such claims can easily arise and spread.