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San Antonio city council revises recharge zone tax breaks On December 13, following emotional debate over how important aquifer protection has become, the San Antonio city council decided against eliminating tax abatements for recharge zone developments, but reduced the percentage of land that can be covered with impervious surfaces. Previously, developers who had received building permits before 1995 could build on their entire property, leaving no land uncovered. Builders seeking permits could not cover more than 65%. City staff recommended the limits be reduced to 65% for those with "grandfathered" rights to build on their entire property and to 45% for developers who did not yet have a permit. Instead, council voted to reduce the limits to 30% in each category. USFWS approves development of land containing endangered species In December 2001 USAA received approval from the US Fish & Wildlife service for a plan to preserve 179 acres in exchange for permission to develop the Shops at La Cantera on land containing endangered cave creatures. One possible obstacle that remains is a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity against the USFWS, alleging it failed to minimize the development's impact on the endangered cave creatures. For more on USAA's plan see the September and July newsflashes. |
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Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority moves forward on SAWS contract; allots funds for studies On November 28 the board of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority authorized its general manager to prepare and submit permit applications to TNRCC that will allow the agency to fulfill its contract with SAWS to supply Guadalupe River water. For more see the May newsflash and the Canyon Lake page. Also in November, the GBRA committed $169,000 to a study that will explore the possibility of a dam on Cibolo Creek for aquifer recharge and flood control. The study will be conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers; other partners are the San Antonio Water System and the San Antonio River Authority. In addition, GBRA approved spending $120,000 on another Corps of Engineers study to look at the feasibility of storing an additional foot of water in Canyon Lake which could be released slowly during the summer and provide greater flow for recreation. On November 14 the board of the Edwards Aquifer Authority raised the fee paid by municipal and industrial pumpers from $23 to $50 per acre-foot per year. Since the agency's strategy toward meeting pumping limitations involves buying back large amounts of pumping rights, officials estimated the fee for 2003 will be at least $50 per acre-foot. SAWS receives permit for Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project On November 10 the San Antonio Water System received approval from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission to construct and operate an Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project in south Bexar county. SAWS President Eugene Habiger said "This is a major step forward in the implementation of this critical initiative." For more see the ASR page. Passage of Proposition 19 creates water projects funding mechanism On November 6 voters approved Proposition 19, a State constitutional amendment that will allow the Texas Water Development Board to issue $2 billion in bonds to assist local communities in funding projects for water supply, water quality, and flood control. For the Edwards region, this means a funding mechanism is now in place to help carry out many of the water supply projects detailed in the Regional Planning Group's report that was approved on July 18 (see Edwards Alternatives page). |
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Rush to drill new Trinity wells sparks concern for Edwards recharge, Trinity users In October 2001, a rush to drill new wells into the Trinity aquifer in northern Bexar county sparked fears among users in other counties that water levels could decline significantly, affecting wells and property values. In the last 18 months, more than 150 permit applications have been filed with State officials for new wells; many were hoping to receive their permits before a new groundwater district could impose fees and regulation. In 2001 the Legislature created the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District, but public water supply wells completed before September 2002 will be exempt from regulation. There is also concern that increasing use from the Trinity could affect recharge to the Edwards Aquifer. A new Texas Water Development Board model suggests that about 10% of Edwards recharge comes from the Trinity. For more see the Trinity Aquifer page. South Bexar residents petition for inclusion in groundwater district In October 2001, fearing that SAWS' plans to pump water from the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer will affect their own wells, south Bexar county residents asked to be included in the neighboring Evergreen Underground Water District. A small portion of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer in Bexar county is not regulated; inclusion in the District would mean that SAWS would be subject to pumping limitations. On October 30 the Board of the Evergreen District accepted the resident's petition, clearing the way for a February 2 vote by approximately 8,000 landowners that use the Carrizo-Wilcox. SAWS officials appealed to the Board to delay calling for an election, asking for time to explore a joint management agreement that could provide more protection than regulation. The utility is proposing a contract with the District that would provide for mitigation, paying to remedy any problems caused by declining aquifer levels. SAWS would also fund a well monitoring program so that impacts could be measured. For more on the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer and SAWS' plans, see the Aquifer Storage and Recovery page. |
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New River Walk park links older, newer areas of downtown San Antonio
EAA Board agrees to consider less complex drought management plan On September 25 the Board of the Edwards Aquifer Authority decided to consider several other staff proposals for the drought management plan the Authority's enabling legislation requires it to adopt. A plan proposed in May with varying trigger levels was widely criticized as unwieldy and unenforceable (see May newsflash). In addition to the proposed plan, a Board committee had produced an alternative plan that maintained the trigger level at 650' but increased required cutbacks. During the September 25 Board meeting, Chairman Michael Beldon suggested parameters under which staff could develop a third proposal. Municipalities and purveyors would be required to institute year-round landscape watering restrictions and inverted block pricing structures. The Stage I trigger level would remain at 650', and emergency reductions of 30% would be required if the level remained below the Stage III trigger for a specified number of days. Environmentalists oppose USAA / USFWS deal to develop endangered species habitat In September 2001 local environmentalists registered their opposition to USAA's proposal to preserve 179 acres in exchange for permission to develop land containing endangered cave creatures (see July newsflash). Environmentalists want at least 100 acres preserved around each of three caves; USAA proposes to fill in one cave and preserve one acre around the two others. Tremendous rains eliminate threat of water restrictions this year Summer ended early this year as waves of tropical precipitation and early fall cool fronts brought over 7 inches of rain in late August, with additional generous rains following in September. Previously, the J17 index well had stood just a few feet above the 650' mark, the level at which Stage I restrictions are imposed. By September 23 the J17 was at 675', virtually ensuring that no restrictions will be imposed this year. |
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Proposed development over recharge zone becomes hot topic In August 2001, Aquifer watchdogs became alarmed by plans of Lumberman's Investment Corporation to develop a golf resort on a 2,800 acre tract near US 281 and 1604, directly over the Aquifer's recharge zone. The development would be a PGA Village, with three golf courses, large hotels, condominiums, apartments, and retail facilities. The Corporation claimed the development will be environmentally responsible, will use recycled water on the golf courses, and will set aside about 1,100 acres as greenspace in return for the City's promise not to annex the area for 15 years. Critics worried about excessive water use, loss of recharge features, and runoff of fertilizers and pesticides that could contaminate the aquifer. Adding to the debate, the Corporation hopes to fund infrastructure of roads and sewers through a controversial special taxing district. Earlier in 2001, the Legislature passed a bill creating the Cibolo Canyon Conservation and Improvement Tax District. Before it can collect taxes and sell bonds, City Council must approve a development agreement and voters in the district must approve. The only alternative to the PGA Village plan, the developers claimed, would be to go ahead with an original plan from 1984 to build up to 9,000 homes that would use about the same amount of water as the PGA Village. The Corporation has the right to do so without regard to current tree preservation and water quality ordinances or impervious cover restrictions. The Corporation believes their current plant is a better alternative; however, critics don't like either idea. Another option would be for San Antonio to purchase the land. The land is highly valued, but the current economic downturn and community opposition might make the Corporation amenable to a buyout. A tax increase to fund the purchase may eventually be handed to voters. Fuel oil additive contaminates well at Randolph AFB On August 3 training flights were suspended and all but essential personnel were told not to report for work after a dark, syrupy substance began emerging from taps fed by one of five Edwards Aquifer wells on the base. About 2,700 tenants living on-base were told not to use any water for any purpose, and the Red Cross and local water utilities provided bottled water for drinking and trucked in water so families could fill up jugs to wash their hands and brush their teeth. For several days officials indicated the substance was probably naturally occurring crude oil that had seeped into the well through a cracked casing. In the formations overlying the Edwards, deposits of oil and coal are not highly unusual. By August 13, however, test results indicated the substance was a heavy fuel oil additive. The origin of the substance and how it got into the well are unknown. Officials have indicated that since the well is 75 years old and the casing is in bad shape, it will probably be plugged and never used again. |
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Region L plan approved by TWDB On July 18 the Texas Water Development Board approved a plan to supply the region's water needs for the next 50 years. The Region L plan, along with plans from 15 other regions, will form the basis of a comprehensive and integrated State water plan. Approval of the plan was delayed this summer by contentious debate over an element involving Guadalupe River diversions (see Newsflash below). For more on the Region L plan and it's elements, see the Edwards Alternatives section. GBRA, Trout Unlimited reach deal; Comal officials not happy On July 17 the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and Trout Unlimited reached an agreement that will allow GBRA to move forward on its plan to divert an additional 40,000 acre-feet per year from Canyon Lake to municipal uses. On June 20 the TNRCC granted Trout Unlimited a contested case hearing on the project, which could have delayed it up to two years or killed it altogether. The fishing group was concerned about availability of enough cold water for survival of trout that it stocks each year below the dam. In the deal reached on July 17, GBRA promised to release more water from the dam in years when Canyon Lake is full. Additional releases could be up to 900 acre feet a year, which could serve almost 2,000 families. Release of that volume of water would reduce the Lake level by only 1.2 inches, according to GBRA General Manager Bill West. Officials in Comal county were angered by the deal and threatened to counter with lawsuits and formal objections to the TNRCC. Comal county judge Danny Scheel said "They are putting the life of a fish that is not even native to that river above the health, welfare and well-being of people in a seven county area. We have given our district attorney authority to enter lawsuits against GBRA or Trout Unlimited. We have also instructed him to draft a resolution to the TNRCC outlining our objections." For more on the project, see the Canyon Lake page. USAA offers to preserve 179 acres of endangered species habitat for permission to develop in recharge zone at La Cantera In July 2001 a proposal was published in the Federal Register inviting public comment on a proposal by USAA to purchase and set aside 179 acres in northern Bexar county in exchange for permission to build The Shops at La Cantera on 150 acres it already owns. The property, just east of La Cantera Blvd. and north of 1604 near Fiesta Texas, has two caves that contain rhadine exilis, a ground beetle listed as endangered in December 2000. These two caves and a third cave also contain an eyeless spider that was not conclusively identified and could be a newly discovered species. USAA proposes to preserve one acre around the two caves that contain rhadine exilis and fill in the entrance to the third cave. To compensate for the loss of habitat, five preserves would be created elsewhere in northern Bexar county on properties that also contain two new undescribed species. The US Fish & Wildlife Service has asked that USAA instead preserve 100 acres around the three caves, which USAA claims is unfeasible because it would leave only 50 acres to develop. USAA's proposal also involves donating $20,000 to the Nature Conservancy of Texas to raise awareness and understanding of the endangered invertebrates and an additional $15,000 to a scientist to develop methods to identify eyeless baby spiders. Headlines report trichloroethane threat to Aquifer, TNRCC says risk is minimal On July 1 2001 newspaper headlines reported a chemical plume beneath Camp Bullis Military Reservation has contaminated a small portion of the Trinity Aquifer and could pose a threat to the Edwards. In 1938, decontaminating fluid was poured over numerous vials of various chemical weapons and buried in trenches. It is thought the decontaminating fluid has broken down over time to form trichloroethane, which if ingested at high levels can cause a wide range of health problems from nervous system effects to coma and death. A 1999 report by hydrogeologist George Veni outlined several ways the chemical could migrate through the Trinity Aquifer and along fault planes and eventually reach the Edwards; but it also stated that contaminants would probably be diluted to less than drinking water standards by the time they got there. On July 2 the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission said the threat to the Edwards was "overstated" in the July 1 article, and spokesman Patrick Crimmins said there is no evidence the plume could spread into the Edwards. The military has drilled a number of monitoring wells around the site and is planning a thorough cleanup in October and November. An undetermined number of private wells around the military installation will also be tested to determine if the chemical plume has migrated offbase. |
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EPA disputes military's claim that contamination at Kelly does not threaten Edwards For many years, the Air Force has maintained that a large plume of contamination in shallow aquifers beneath Kelly Air Force Base does not threaten the Edwards Aquifer because the Aquifer is shielded by more than 1,000 feet of clay and limestone. In June 2001 the EPA moved to place an abandoned oil refinery adjacent to the base on the list of Superfund cleanup sites, saying that deteriorating well casings could serve as conduits for contaminated shallow water beneath the refinery to reach the Edwards deep below. Since the oil refinery is in the path of the Kelly plume, many believe there is also risk that solvents running from the base could use the same conduits to reach and contaminate the Edwards. So far, San Antonio has agreed with the military's claim that the groundwater pollution below Kelly poses little threat to the Edwards. The Air Force is considering six scenarios to clean the groundwater, and San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza said "we are going to hold the federal government responsible for remediation." Solvents were found in samples from a supply well at Kelly in 1986 and 1989, and the well was plugged in 1991. However, solvents and other contaminants were found in five other wells in 1995. Opponents of Western Comal project win delay On June 20 the TNRCC granted Trout Unlimited a contested case hearing on the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority's request for a permit to divert an additional 40,000 acre-feet of water from Canyon Lake toward municipal uses. This could delay the project for several years. Canyon Lake residents are concerned about low Lake levels affecting recreation and the local economy, and the fishing group is worried about trout that it stocks below the dam each year. GBRA officials insisted the effect on Lake levels would be minimal because the water is already released to produce hydroelectricity. GBRA General Manager Bill West said "the public policy of water for human consumption has got to be a higher priority than that of non-native fish." Regional water plan jeopardized by Guadalupe-to-SA element; compromise reached for now In early June 2001 the planning staff of the Texas Water Development Board recommended the Board reject the regional water plan that was developed by the South Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group over a period of two years (see the section on Edwards Alternatives). A crucial element of the plan was the recommendation to divert Guadalupe River water to San Antonio, and a deal was signed in May (see below). The Planning Group believes this diversion does not constitute an inter-basin transfer of water, but the TWDB staff does. The Guadalupe River and the San Antonio join about 12 miles from the coast and flow as one into San Antonio bay. If the diversion is an inter-basin transfer, those water rights would be "junior" and the bottom line is the supply would be unreliable, especially in the summer time when the water is needed most. Officials from both the Planning Group and SAWS expressed confidence they could convince the TWDB the deal is not an inter-basin transfer. Later in the month, State Rep. Robert Puente said opposition from the City of Victoria and it's senator Ken Armbrister led to the holdup of the regional plan, and that "once the legislative session was over, everyone understood and acquiesced." The TWDB staff was persuaded to allow two scenarios, one giving San Antonio "senior" rights and another giving it "junior" rights, so the plan could be sent to the board for approval. The TWDB has until January to approve the 16 regional plans that will mesh into a State Water Plan. |
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Suburban cities say EAA's pumping plan is unwieldy and unenforceable; EAA says it spreads out the pain On May 30 representatives from 11 suburban cities (Alamo Heights, Cibolo, Garden Ridge, Hollywood Park, Live Oak, Marion, Schertz, Terrell Hills, Olmos Park, Universal City, and Windcrest) gathered in Windcrest to discuss the Edwards Aquifer Authority's proposed drought management plan. Currently, pumpers have monthly limitations on what they can pump and the trigger level for Stage I restrictions is a J17 index well level of 650 feet. The new proposed plan has quarterly limitations instead and Stage I kicks in 15 feet higher, at 665 feet. This would help ensure springflows and would mean people would have to restrict their water use earlier in the year. EAA General Manager Greg Ellis contended "If people put less water on their lawns in late winter and early spring, then they would have more water to put on their lawns during the hottest part of the summer." In reality, that may or may not be true. Since some of the water that wasn't used would become springflow, there might not be much additional water for the summer period, especially if low springflow levels result in the imposition of a sprinkler ban, as occurred in September 2000. Ellis said the proposed plan tries to spread out the impact of water restrictions. "Would people rather reduce their water usage by 5 percent for 345 days or reduce it by 40 percent for 60 days in summer? Which is more painful, which is more achievable?", he asked. Suburban officials were skeptical and said quarterly water pumping periods with three stages in each will be confusing, especially since the public is just getting used to water restrictions. Garden Ridge Mayor Jay Feibelman called the plan "absolutely unwieldy and unenforceable." Many city officials called the EAA arrogant, and the representatives collectively agreed to adopt a draft resolution asking the EAA board to abandon the quarterly pumping plan and to pay more attention to what suburban cities need and want. City purchases more land for Aquifer protection In May 2001 San Antonio purchased another 242 acres of environmentally sensitive land using Proposition 3 revenues. The Cedar Creek tract is in northwest Bexar county, adjacent to the Thrift Ranch tract the City purchased in March. This brings the total purchased for aquifer protection so far to about 2,700 acres. Agencies sign pact to divert Guadalupe River water On May 18 2001 the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, the San Antonio Water System, and the San Antonio River Authority signed a 50-year agreement to act on the Regional Water Planning Group's recommendation to divert Guadalupe River water at the Saltwater Barrier near the Texas coast. SAWS will get up to about 63,000 acre-feet per year and SARA will get up to about 7,000. SAWS President Eugene Habiger said a new treatment plant would ensure customers won't know the difference between Edwards water and Guadalupe water, and that SAWS will distribute the water fairly and would not focus on certain parts of the city getting only certain types of water. For more on this headline and the one below see the Canyon Lake page. Hearing on Western Comal Project pits trout lovers against cities On May 9 2001 the TNRCC considered the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority's request for a permit to divert an additional 40,000 acre-feet of water from Canyon Lake toward municipal uses. People that had been working for and against the project for a long time considered this to be the "moment of truth", when the TNRCC would decide. As it turned out, no decision was made that day. Representatives from Trout Unlimited, which stocks the Guadalupe River below the dam each year with fish, asked for a contested hearing, which could delay the project by two years or kill it altogether. The fishing group expressed fears that during years when the flow from the dam is cut back, the water could get too warm for the non-native fish it stocks there and kill them. Instead of either issuing the permit or acting on the request for a contested hearing, the TNRCC gave the parties until June 20 to try to work out a compromise. |
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San Antonio proposes new development codes that will help protect Aquifer In April 2001 the San Antonio City Council began considering sweeping changes to the City's Universal Development Code that would help protect the Edwards Aquifer. If approved, the new UDC would ban new automotive oil, lube, and tuneup shops, car repair, paint, or body shops, and dry cleaning plants with more than five people working a shift from locating on the recharge zone. Other commercial establishments like tire sales, home improvement centers, and golf courses would require specific Council approval. San Antonio asks State to revise, strengthen Aquifer protection rules At an April 17 hearing on the TNRCC's aquifer protection rules, the City asked the State to follow its lead in enacting tougher measures. The State's rules have often been criticized by local officials as inadequate. The City made eight recommendations, including:
Water supply project financing Bill clears Senate committee, dismembered in Senate In April 2001 the Senate Natural Resources Committee voted 5-0 in favor of Senate Bill 2 filed in March by Senator Buster Brown that would prioritize planning and help pay for future water projects in the State. By the time the state Senate approved the measure, however, it had been stripped of almost all proposed levies except for a nickel per bottle surcharge on bottled water. Legislators in the House promised that when the bill came to them, it would be stripped of all remaining fees. As originally proposed, the legislation would have put $500 million per year into a water infrastructure fund. The final version of the bill includes only a method of prioritizing water projects and identifying revenue streams. EAA declines to fund study of Aquifer species On April 10, while recognizing the scientific importance of a proposal by Southwest Texas State University to sample 60 wells for study of rare blind catfish and salamanders, the Board of the Edwards Aquifer Authority declined to fund the project, citing fears of federal intervention by the US Fish & Wildlife Service if endangered species are found. In a 9-6 vote, EAA Board members disagreed about the implications of such a study. Board Member Carol Patterson said "This has the potential to discover new species that would threaten all aquifer pumping", and Chairman Micheal Beldon added "Based on my experience, I do not consider Fish & Wildlife Service a good partner. Their idea of partnering is to send us threatening letters." Board Member Susan Hughes disagreed, saying "This is a scientific question, not a political one. Fear is not a good criteria for decision making. I believe that proceeding with this study is in our interest." Representatives from the San Antonio Water System and Bexar Metropolitan Water District also spoke against funding the study, saying that sampling their wells would be impractical and that production could be shut down if rare creatures were found. |
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EAA asks for recharge zone tax break ban; City says no On March 22 the Edwards Aquifer Authority asked the City of San Antonio to end tax abatements for any company that wants to locate over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. In a letter to Council, EAA General Manager Greg Ellis said "The Authority believes that recharge zone development should not be encouraged and that projects built in the recharge zone should not be eligible for a tax phase-in. Protection of Edwards Aquifer water quality is vital to San Antonio's economic future. San Antonio economic development could be severely impaired if Edwards Aquifer water quality is degraded by continued development over the recharge zone." Two days later, without opposition, the San Antonio City Council disregarded the EAA's recommendation and left tax break opportunities for recharge zone development in place. Mayor Howard Peak said that since the City has no authority to ban development over the recharge zone, allowing tax breaks would afford the City at least some degree of control. He pointed out that developers with long-standing development permits could build structures that do not meet even meet older building and pollution standards; but that to get the tax breaks, developers would have to comply the most current standards. San Antonio buys another 1442 acres to protect Edwards On March 22 the City purchased the Thrift tract, located adjacent to municipal Cedar Creek Golf Course near Grey Forest, to protect the City's drinking water supply. The 640 acres are in the Edwards catchment area, which "catches" rainfall that runs off toward the recharge zone. Only about 15 acres have been improved; the rest have been left mostly natural except for cedar removal. The price of $5.9 million was paid from funds raised by a 1/8 cent sales tax approved by voters in 2000. The site is closed to the public but eventually could become a city park. On March 15 the City of San Antonio purchased two other tracts of land in environmentally sensitive areas totaling 802 acres. The price of $3.8 million was paid mostly from funds raised by the 1/8 cent sales tax. One tract of 208 acres, the Crownridge tract, is located near Friedrich Wilderness Park and is in the Edwards catchment area. The other tract of 594 acres, the Iron Horse tract, is adjacent to Government Canyon State Natural Area in Helotes and is entirely within the recharge zone. There is burgeoning growth in both areas where large amounts of pristine land are being transformed into upscale homes, commercial areas, and resorts. So city leaders felt fortunate to be able to acquire these tracts. The lands contain rare plants and trees, habitat for the endangered golden-cheeked warbler, and caves that are home to endangered beetles and spiders. Edwards Aquifer Authority staff proposes seasonal restrictions On March 12 Aquifer Authority Manager Greg Ellis said his staff had discovered the current trigger levels for Aquifer restrictions can kick in after it's too late to do any good. Ellis said "if you wait until June and you wait until you get below 650 feet, it's already too late. You should have been taking action months earlier." A proposal recommended by the Authority's staff to its Critical Period Working Group would raise the level at which drought rules go into effect and also create different trigger levels for different times of the year. Currently, a "critical period" occurs when the Aquifer as measured at the J17 index well drops below 650 feet, threatening springflows on which downstream users and endangered species depend. Under the proposal, Stage I would start at 665 feet in Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays counties in the first three months of the year, with Stage II starting at 660 feet and Stage III at 650. In the second quarter of the year, Stage I would start at 660 with Stages II and II starting at 650 and 640. In the third quarter, Stage I would start at 650 with Stages II and III starting at 640 and 630. In the fourth quarter, trigger levels would be the same as the second quarter. Different trigger levels would apply in the western Edwards counties, since wells out there exhibit much less variability than in the east. Lawmakers file legislation to create funding mechanism for water supply development On March 8 Senate Bill 2 was filed by Senator Buster Brown and termed "a sequel to Senate Bill 1". SB1 is a comprehensive water planning law passed in the 1997 legislative session that mandated a State water plan and established planning districts to explore water supply alternatives (see the Edwards Alternatives page). The proposed SB2 would create a Texas Water Policy Council, allow conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, and create a Water Infrastructure Fund. The fund would be generated by annual fees on water rights, county assessed water and sewer taxes, groundwater export fees, funds appropriated by the legislature, and perhaps bond issues. Sixteen planning groups that resulted from SB1 have identified $16.95 billion in water projects to meet the State's needs for the next 50 years.
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Lawmakers file legislation to allow inter-basin transfers On February 14 lawmakers filed legislation that would allow one of the major water supply deals approved by the San Antonio Water System in January 2001 to become a reality. The legislation would allow the transfer of water from one river basin to another. In January the SAWS' Board and the Lower Colorado River Authority agreed on a deal that would allow SAWS to purchase up to 150,000 acre-feet per year for up to 80 years, ensuring San Antonio's water supply for most of this century. See more in the article below and also on the page on the Colorado River. SAWS advances Aquifer Storage and Recovery project In February 2001 the San Antonio Water System Board approved $7.53 million in engineering design contracts to move their Aquifer Storage and Recovery project forward. The project will allow SAWS to store excess Edwards water in the sands of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in south Bexar county for withdrawal during dry times. Overall, the project is estimated to cost about $215 million and will include production wells, injection wells, pump stations, a water treatment plant, and 29 miles of 60-inch diameter pipelines. The production wells will allow the utility to begin supplementing San Antonio's water supply immediately by withdrawal of water that is already in the sand Aquifer. For more on the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer and how Aquifer Storage and Recovery works, see the page on ASR. |
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San Antonio river upgrades get under way
In the photo above, taken in early February 2001, crews are installing a temporary cofferdam above Lexington Street to divert flows around the section where work will take place. Major deals approved for future San Antonio water supply On January 26, 2001 the San Antonio Water System board of trustees voted to pursue two major projects to bring water from the Guadalupe and Colorado rivers. Within two decades, the projects could supply San Antonio with more water than it currently withdraws from the Edwards. One agreement between SAWS, the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority, and the San Antonio River Authority involves diverting almost 23 billion gallons of water per year from the Guadalupe river near the town of Tivoli and transporting it to San Antonio through a 132-mile pipeline. The price tag of $487 million over 50 years also includes treatment to make it potable, and the water should start arriving by 2010. Another agreement between SAWS and the Lower Colorado River Authority could deliver even more water but is less of a sure thing. The deal will not be possible unless the Texas legislature approves laws that will allow the water to be transported from the Colorado river basin. The project involves building several storage ponds and diverting floodwaters from the Colorado. Water would then be used to grow local crops and be sent to San Antonio through a 170-mile pipeline. SAWS and the LCRA agreed on a seven year study to determine the environmental effects of the project such as the impact on sensitive bays and estuaries. LCRA general manager Joe Beal said the project would benefit farmers near the Texas coast because they might otherwise lose their water to growing towns along the river and money from San Antonio could pay for conservation projects that could keep them in business. Also, Beal said that towns around the Highland Lakes would benefit because lake levels would not have to drop as much to satisfy downstream needs. Website launched to bring together buyers and sellers of Edwards water rights In January 2001 Bob Willoughby, Jr. launched edwardswater.com to assist persons wishing to buy or sell Edwards water rights. Mr. Willoughby is a lifelong resident of South Texas. Upon graduation from Baylor University in 1969 with a B.B.A., he returned to his hometown of Uvalde where he built a career in farming and ranching for over 30 years. Today, he is a landowner and real estate broker for the same area. New Braunfels approves rules for fuel storage tanks In a move to protect the Edwards Aquifer, in January 2001 the New Braunfels City Council adopted rules for underground fuel storage tanks that require both a containment system capable of holding the entire contents of a tank and electronic leak detectors. Also, new gasoline stations over the Edwards recharge zone will be required to have an emergency drainage system and a hazardous material trap to prevent spills from going into the ground or running off into streams. Aquifer Authority issues first permanent permits On January 9, 2001 the first permanent Edwards Aquifer pumping permits were issued. It was a major milestone development for management of the Edwards Aquifer. The Stein family, who drilled one of the first irrigation wells in Medina county, were handed the first permit to pump 224 acre-feet from the aquifer each year. Overall, 308 permits were issued granting rights to 133,186 acre-feet, about a third of the volume the Authority is authorized to allocate. More final permits were to be issued in February, and there are about 250 contested permits that will take years to sort out in court. Regional water planning group adopts final plan On January 5, 2001 the South Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group submitted a plan to the State that offers 22 options for meeting the region's water needs for the next 50 years. Over 2 1/2 years, the group held almost 70 meetings and studied 75 options before narrowing the list to 22. The Group's document is part of an overall State plan mandated by Senate Bill 1 in the 1997 legislative session. For more on all the options listed in the plan, see the section here on Edwards Alternatives or visit the planning group's page at http://www.watershedexperience.com.
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