Bulls-eye on Blanco County Groundwater

PRESS RELEASE - 8/22/06

Tuesday night, August 15th, the board of the Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District adopted a set of revisions to its operating rules. These changes, belatedly developed after major revisions to the Texas water code in 2005, mark the first significant update to the rules since 2002.

Preserve Our Water has been actively involved in the public participation phases of the revision process. The first phase of the public comment process was a Stakeholder Group meeting. As a member of that Group, POW prepared detailed comments and recommendations regarding the proposed changes. Independent experts in groundwater management in Texas reviewed the recommendations and found them prudent and reasonable. Unfortunately the District did not agree as few of the suggestions were adopted and those that were constituted little more than clerical corrections.

Concerned citizens submitted written comments and spoke at the public hearing. Directors of POW did likewise. Once again, the district's board chose to disregard all of these comments and suggestions when they adopted the rules by a 4-0 vote, the board's president, Ron Zunker, being absent.

POW President Dave Collins told the District's board members during the hearing, "Blanco County has the weakest set of rules among peer Districts in this area. These rules, rather than closing the gap to bring us on par with our peer districts, serve to widen that gap."

Among the many changes to which citizens and POW objected were:

· Assignment of all authority for making drought condition declarations to the District's General Manager with no mandatory review or oversight by elected officials,

· Assignment of all authority for decisions following issuing of a well permit to the General Manager, including variances and production limit increases, with no oversight or participation by elected officials and, therefore, no requirement for public notice,

· Elimination of lot size requirements for declaring a well exempt from obtaining a permit and the failure to adopt well spacing requirements as allowed under the amended state water code.

One concerned citizen, Jack Ratliff, a retired UT law professor and Blanco County resident commented, "These changes create a regulatory vacuum almost certain to suck into the county the worst development practices. The result will most likely be irreparable harm to our groundwater resources. Why choose to develop in Hays or Gillespie County when they make prudent conservation requirements that we don't?"

Preserve Our Water believes that the actions of our Groundwater Conservation District have placed Blanco County and our water square in the bull's eye of the march to over develop this region and in so doing, destroy that which makes it so desirable. Prudent, well managed development that accounts for the fragility of the groundwater and other resources that make the Hill Country so distinctive is in everyone's interest. High density development with little or no regard to the impact on water, top soil and other resources can be in the interest of only a very few - the interests that promote and carryout the development and then take their profits and leave the consequences for citizens and residents.

Preserve Our Water renews its commitment to monitor the activities of our District. While these changes make that task more difficult they also make it all the more critical. We call on our fellow citizens to join in that effort. Attend the meetings of your Groundwater Conservation District. They meet in regular session on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. The board always provides citizens an opportunity to comment, so anyone can voice their concerns or offer their ideas. The public meeting is held at the District offices, 601 W. Main, Johnson City. The District, from time to time, calls special meetings. POW will do its very best to alert citizens to these meetings, as well.

It is our water, neighbors. It is up to all of us to defend and protect it.