On March 16th, 2006, the Blanco-Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District issued a water production permit to Rancho del Lago, Inc., developers of the Rocking J, for 185,000,000 gallons per year. In reaction to the many concerned citizens that attended a public hearing on this matter, the directors of the B-PGCD offered what they termed a compromise. The permit was issue for one year as opposed to the standard three.
The directors pledged to undertake investigations and studies to address concerns raised by citizens regarding the sustainability of such high volume pumping, the negative impact on nearby well owners, potential for contaminating runoff from golf course watering and other issues of concern. Subsequently, the B-PGCD vice-president pledged to conduct a full public hearing prior to renewing the permit.
In August of 2006, the directors of the B-PGCD voted to enact numerous revisions to the rules under which the district operates. Among those changes was delegation of authority for many decisions to the District's General Manager. Among the decisions assigned to the General Manager was that of permit renewal. The General Manager had previously been assigned responsibility for the studies and investigations promised in March.
On February 12th, 2007, under those new powers, the General Manager renewed the Rockin' J permit for three years. On February 15th the General Manager presented a report in support of that decision to the directors during their regular meeting. He also delivered a report of his investigation of a water leak that had occurred in July on the Rockin' J property.
Prior to the issuance of the renewal, two citizens owning property within one-quarter mile of the Rockin' J wells, the B-PGCD standard for legal standing, submitted written protest of the renewal. Prior Feb 15th, Preserve Our Water submitted a protest of the decision taken on the 12th and called on the directors to reverse their employee's decision. Two Preserve Our Water board members, one a property owner adjacent to the Rockin' J, delivered written objections to the permit renewal and read those statements into the minutes of the Feb. 15th meeting.
The documents prepared by the General Manager and those submitted by citizens are offered here for public consideration:
Application for renewal of Rockin' J permit and reply from Groundwater Conservation District GM
John Watson comments in District Board Meeting on Feb 15, 2007
Shirley Beck's statement to Board concerning groundwater waste
Fred and Eleanor Mantooth's letter of protest to Ron Fiesler
Preserve Our Water, Inc protest of permit renewal for Rockin' J
