The battle over sound management heats up at GMA-12.

Comparison of impacts of Current DFCs vs. Proposed DFCs on Colorado River. Click on graphic to hear discussion of these impacts by Steve Box at GMA-12 Meeting on April 20, 2021.

Coalition formed to advocate for sound management  – not aquifer mining – as the only way to protect our local communities and the environment from groundwater over-pumping!…

Public Hearing: LCRA Groundwater Permit Application

PUBLIC HEARING LCRA’s Groundwater Permit Application January 28, 2021 at 6-9 PM Hybrid Meeting Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District’s Board of Directors will hold a Public Hearing on January 28th from 6-9 pm. The meeting will be held at the Bastrop Convention & Exhibit Center with a virtual connection for public participation. For the District’s…

LCRA permit now pending with Lost Pines’ Board

Administrative Law Judges Rebecca S. Smith (right) and Ross Henderson (left) presiding over the contested case hearing on LCRA’s groundwater application.

The Administrative Law Judges recently issued a reply to exceptions filed by the parties clearing the way for a final decision on LCRA’s groundwater permit application. The reply includes some changes to the original Proposal for Decision (PFD). With these changes — which preserve Environmental Stewardship’s win on surface water issues — the District’s Board of Directors now have the guidance they requested and can take final action on LCRA’s pending permit application. 

Environmental Stewardship scores partial victory

Hearing on LCRA’s application for a groundwater pumping permit held before SOHA Judges in October, 2019.

We are pleased and grateful to claim a partial victory in the contested case hearing on LCRA’s application for a groundwater pumping permit.   The judges have issued a Proposal for Decision (PFD) that includes the recommendation that surface water monitoring must be done by LCRA as a part of the permit.  See the attached press release and summary of the key findings as they relate to surface waters.   

Environmental Stewardship Launches Fall Fundraising Campaign with #GivingTuesday

It’s GOOD NEWS Tuesday! In addition to #GivingTuesday matching, your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar by one of our private sponsors!!!  Over pumping of groundwater aquifers throughout Texas diminishes the flow of rivers, streams, springs and spells trouble for communities across the state. So please, do what you can to help us protect Texas’ waters.  Your…

Local water conservation groups make fundraising appeal

Written by Michele G. Gangnes Published by Giddings Times & News. A major fundraising campaign benefiting the outreach, education and advocacy work of two local water conservation groups begins December 3.   The campaign is built around #GivingTuesday, a world-wide initiative  that provides an opportunity to obtain matching funds for donations to organizations working to improve…

Hearing Concluded on LCRA’s Groundwater Permit Application

Proposal for decision expected spring of 2020

Environmental Stewardship’s legal team — Marisa Perales (center) and Eric Allmon (right) — cross-examining Lost Pines District’s hydrogeologist William Hutchison (left) on the impacts of LCRA’s pumping on the Colorado River.

A contested case hearing before two Administrative Law Judges on LCRA’s application for a permit to pump up to 8.15 billion gallons of groundwater annually from underneath Bastrop County ended on October 22, 2019.  Environmental Stewardship and the landowners were successful in making their arguments before the judges who are expected to render an opinion next spring … likely late April or May.

After hearing six days of testimony, Administrative Law Judges Rebecca Smith and Ross Henderson of the State Office of Administrative Hearings set a procedural schedule that lays out the next steps of what has been a year-long process.  The eight parties in the case have until December 20th to file their final closing arguments and until January 31, 2020 to file written rebuttals or replies.

The administrative law judges will make a recommendation in the form of a “proposal for decision” to the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District’s Board of Directors.   Lost Pines District is the local government entity that manages groundwater resources, regulates pumping, and sets desired future conditions in Bastrop and Lee counties.

THIS POST WILL BE UPDATED with LINKS to ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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Hearing on LCRA’s Application for Groundwater Permit

Hearing on LCRA’s Application for Groundwater Permit. October 15-18 and 21-22, 10:00 am, Bastrop Convention Center, Bastrop, Texas. We are urging that you attend the opening session on Tuesday, October 15.     Remember September 2018 when over 125 landowners and Environmental Stewardship formally protested the permit that the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District proposed to issue…