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| Coalition Position on Permits |
The people of Bastrop and
Lee counties gained a MAJOR VICTORY at last night's Lost Pines
Groundwater Conservation District hearings. The Board of Directors listened ... and they acted on our behalf.
THANK YOU Lost Pines BOARD MEMBERS!
1)
LCRA's request for 10,000 acre-feet/year was cut back 50% to 5,000
acre-feet/year except in years when the counties are in drought
conditions.
2) Forestar's request for 45,000 acre-feet/year to export was cut back 75% to 12,000 acre-feet/year.
3) Environmental Stewardship and a group of landowners were accepted for timely filing of their request for "party status" at the End Op contested case hearing to be held before the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
Lead by a coalition of Environmental Stewardship, Neighbors for Neighbors, Lost Pines Sierra Club, Groups United to Advocate Responsible Development ("GUARD") and Independent Texans, and with another large turnout of concerned citizens and landowners, the Board heard testimony for almost two hours before getting down to business. When they did get down to business, they had heard the wishes of the people and elected to ignore the recommendations of the General Manager.
After considering the General Manager's recommendation to approve, Board member Prinz said "we're going to do it a little different" and proceeded to cut back the applications by Forestar and the LCRA in order to protect the adopted desired future conditions of the District. Persuaded by the Bastrop Commissioners Court resolution on LCRA's request, the Board adopted the "extreme drought conditions" limitations and incorporated these conditions into their permit.
Earlier, the Board set the stage for their dramatic actions by granting a contested case hearing for End Op and denying the request by Aqua Water Supply Corporation for contested case hearing on the Forestar and LCRA applications. These actions set the stage for the general meeting where the Forestar and LCRA applications were reigned in to pumping levels that can be defended and that reasonably protect the Simsboro aquifer from over-pumping.
2) Forestar's request for 45,000 acre-feet/year to export was cut back 75% to 12,000 acre-feet/year.
3) Environmental Stewardship and a group of landowners were accepted for timely filing of their request for "party status" at the End Op contested case hearing to be held before the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
Lead by a coalition of Environmental Stewardship, Neighbors for Neighbors, Lost Pines Sierra Club, Groups United to Advocate Responsible Development ("GUARD") and Independent Texans, and with another large turnout of concerned citizens and landowners, the Board heard testimony for almost two hours before getting down to business. When they did get down to business, they had heard the wishes of the people and elected to ignore the recommendations of the General Manager.
After considering the General Manager's recommendation to approve, Board member Prinz said "we're going to do it a little different" and proceeded to cut back the applications by Forestar and the LCRA in order to protect the adopted desired future conditions of the District. Persuaded by the Bastrop Commissioners Court resolution on LCRA's request, the Board adopted the "extreme drought conditions" limitations and incorporated these conditions into their permit.
Earlier, the Board set the stage for their dramatic actions by granting a contested case hearing for End Op and denying the request by Aqua Water Supply Corporation for contested case hearing on the Forestar and LCRA applications. These actions set the stage for the general meeting where the Forestar and LCRA applications were reigned in to pumping levels that can be defended and that reasonably protect the Simsboro aquifer from over-pumping.
We owe the Board of Director a
tremendous vote of GRATITUDE for patiently listening to our comments and
concerns over the last few months and then acting to protect our
precious groundwater resources. Please write the Board members,
the County Juges, and your Commissioners and thank them for leading our
counties through to this victory.
Please use these links to write emails of gratitude:
Steve Box
Executive Director
Environmental Stewardship
512-300-6609
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