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PLTA eNEWS
April 2011 - Issue 16 Lake Travis - Keep it clear, clean, safe |
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BACKGROUND MATERIALS:
"Floating Habitable Structures on the Highland Lakes" | |
(large file!)
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| Holly Riffe Joins PLTA board as Secretary |
The PLTA Board is happy to have Holly Riffe join us on the board of directors and as Secretary. Holly has deep connections to Lake Travis, and is employed at Austin Boats & Motors as Warranty Manager.
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Above: Holly Riffe (left) takes over as Secretary from Gloria Eckstrom at the January board meeting |
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Subscribe to the LCRA Drought Newsletter | |
Go to:
Sign up in the lower right corner of the page. |
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Purple Pipe Primer |
For more on the beneficial reuse of effluent, see the HLG's Water Matters article HERE |
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IMPORTANT MEETING NOTICE - "FLOATING HABITABLE STRUCTURES ON LAKE TRAVIS" | | |
Public Meeting Wed, April 13th 7-9pm
Are floating condo projects to be allowed on Travis?
Some of our PLTA members who live on Cypress Creek cove first brought this to our attention. There, a developer reportedly is working on plans for 120 one & two story floating "homes" with boat docks. Our members there are naturally very concerned about a wide variety of potentially negative impacts to navigability, safety and water quality.
This subject has implications for all of Lake Travis and all the Highland Lakes. In October 2010, LCRA's Board of Directors voted to put a hold on construction of any floating habitable structures on the Highland Lakes because of concerns over the potential impact to water safety and quality. The moratorium, which will last until Oct. 31, 2011, applies to floating structures that contain commercial or domestic sleeping quarters such as homes, residential developments, resorts, hotels and other similar structures on lakes Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls and Travis.
PLTA has expressed its position in a letter to PLTA (sidebar, left), encouraging LCRA to extend the moratorium permanently. Please take a minute to review the background materials we provided and plan to attend the meeting and let LCRA know your concerns:
Wednesday April 13th 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. 4501 FM 620 N (MAP)
Travis County West Service Center at Mansfield Dam |
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City of Burnet Nears Final Agreement on Effluent Discharge for New Wastewater Plant | | | LCRA & City of Austin To Withdraw Case
As previously reported in the eNews, LCRA and City of Austin have continued to meet with representatives of City of Burnet over Burnet's permit application for a new wastewater plant. Burnet had sought permission to discharge up to 1.7 million gallons per day of treated sewage effluent into Hamilton Creek, which flows into Lake Travis.
The parties have reached an agreement which would restrict the total amount of Phosphorous that could be discharged into the creek, effectively reducing the amount of total discharge as well. The agreement is subject to final approval by both city councils and the LCRA board, but approval from each is expected in April.
PLTA's position, reiterated to the Burnet City Council in November (see written statement HERE) is to encourage beneficial reuse of ALL the effluent, with none discharged into the creek and Lake Travis. For more, see this Burnet Bulletin article.
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Above: Purple-colored irrigation pipe in Lakeway reuses treated effluent from nearby wastewater plants. If Lakeway can do it, so can Burnet. |
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| What your board has been doing lately.... | | While we have continued to regularly update the PLTA Facebook page with info and links, we have been a bit lax in getting out this issue of the PLTA eNews. Here are some of the things the PLTA board has been tracking and working on since the last eNews issue:
* Sponsorship and participation in the 2010 Lake Travis cleanup event;
* Two trips to the City of Burnet, dealing with the proposed discharge of effluent into Hamilton Creek / Lake Travis;
* A trip to the city council at Marble Falls and discussions with Friends of Lake Marble Falls regarding development there;
* Creation of a PLTA photo site on Phanfare.com;
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Above: The PLTA board in front of the WCID17 membrane filtering area of the water treatment plant. L to R: Ken Fossler, John Strickland, Gloria Fossler, (Center - Thurman Carlisle of WCID 17), Lonnie Moore, Dan Roark, David Gavenda. Photo by Holly Riffe. |
* A visit by the PLTA board to Hurst Creek MUD, to see the water treatment and sewage facilities, including the reuse of treated effluent;
* A visit by the PLTA board to WCID #17's water treatment facility, to see the high tech membrane filtration technology in use there.
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Bob Vann Honored for Long Time Service to PLTA and Lake Travis Community at Annual Meeting | |
" Protect Lake Travis Association proudly recognizes Bob Vann in recognition of his 20 years of outstanding service. The citizens are indebted to Bob for his enormous efforts to keep Lake Travis the cleanest lake in Texas."
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Above: PLTA President Lonnie Moore (left) presents a crystal water drop award to Bob Vann |
At the PLTA annual meeting on September 9, 2010, former PLTA board member Bob Vann was acknowledged for his long time service to PLTA and the Lake Travis community. Over the years Bob served multiple terms both as president and as treasurer of the organization.
Bob and his wife Becky have now moved on to a new home on the shores of Lake Fork. Lake Fork is east of Dallas and one of the top fishing lakes in Texas.
Bob says he plans to spend his time fishing, relaxing and just enjoying life.
Our very best to Bob and Becky! |
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