Greetings!
A groundwater hearing will be held by the Texas Water Development Board on March 7, 2012, in the Milano Civic Center, 120 West Avenue East, Milano, TX (Milam County) where Environmental Stewardship will present evidence on its appeal of the adopted desired future conditions of Groundwater Management Area 12 (GMA-12). The public is encouraged to attend but will not have the opportunity to comment at the hearing. Interested persons will have 10 business days in which to submit sworn written evidence (March 19). GMA-12 manages groundwater in Central Texas (Bastrop, Brazos, Burleson, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Milam, Navarro, Robertson, and Williamson counties). (Click here for the hearing notice; Click here for previous Smithville Times article, Click here for press release; click here for Petition website)
As reported in Truth #1, the adopted desired future conditions for the GMA-12 aquifers will cause the Colorado River to become a "losing" river by 2060. This has implications for the Lost Pines (Loblolly pines of Bastrop & Buescher State parks) and the other sensitive wildlife found in these habitats. Click the archives button on the right below to review past issues and learn about "gaining" and "losing" rivers and streams.
Environmental Stewardship contends that the desired future conditions adopted by GMA-12 fail to protect the Colorado and Brazos rivers, area springs and streams, and the loblolly pine forests known as the Lost Pines . According to the Texas Water Development Board's model, there has been a dramatic decrease in water flowing from the aquifers to these surface features in the past that will be be made worse with the planned future pumping. The GMA-12 has failed to make adjustments to minimize these impacts. In addition, water from Bastrop and nearby counties is being marketed to other areas without a careful analysis of water's present and future availability.
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION to help with our legal expenses to protect your groundwater, the Colorado River, and our State parks (see box on the right below).
By filing the petition, Environmental Stewardship has taken the first step. We have opened the door to greater local control and responsible management of our water resources, endorsing Lost Pines GCD's goal to sustainably manage our groundwater. We urge all who share our vision of Central Texas with its rivers, streams, trees, and wildlife to join us. The issue is now; the solutions are now, but we need your help. We can only open the door; it is up to you, the citizens, to determine what kind of future you and your children will share. I ask that you plan to attend the hearing and make a tax deductible donation today.
Steve Box
Executive Director
Environmental Stewardship
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