Latest News
Rep. Leibowitz Files Bill to Prohibit Discharge of Sewage Effluent into Edwards Aquifer Waterways
“I filed H.B. 595 because the 1.7 million Texans whose source of drinking water is the Edwards Aquifer should not have to worry about treated sewage contaminating their water,” said Leibowitz. “In 2007, the Helotes debris fire contaminated wells near the aquifer when water was applied to the fire for just a few short days. Now, there’s a proposal to pour up to 1 million gallons of treated sewage each day into a creek that directly feeds the Edwards Aquifer. That’s just unacceptable.” The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, the Alamo Soil and Conservation District, the cities of San Antonio and Austin,
GEAA Enlists Your Help with Warbler Watch Program
To help implement the proposed “Warbler Watch” program for the Texas Hill Country, GEAA recently established a partnership with Texas A&M University (TAMU) researchers. The goal of this collaborative program is to develop and implement a long-term and sustainable monitoring program, which will determine trends in distribution, abundance, habitat use, and breeding success of the GCWA across its breeding range. We propose to integrate with and expand upon comprehensive GCWA studies initiated by TAMU in 2003, which were enlarged to include a range-wide monitoring program during 2008. GEAA would help recruit volunteers and landowners, and distribute related educational materials to a
Watch Texas: State of Flowing Water on-line
Did you miss Texas Parks and Wildlife’s documentary, Texas: The State of Flowing Water? Don’t worry! You can watch the full show online. Explore the threats facing Texas water and learn what can be done to help. Watch the video here. Watch the show now, at www.texasthestateofwater.org for more information.
AGUA and CASE sign on to Lawsuits to protect Local Endangered Species
Final Legal Challenge Filed to Bush Administration’s Political Interference in Endangered Species Decisions; Half a Million Acres of Protection Sought for 19 Species in Nine States SAN FRANCISCO — In a final challenge to the Bush administration’s political interference in endangered species decisions, the Center for Biological Diversity today filed seven separate lawsuits concerning designation of critical habitat for 18 species, including the San Bernardino kangaroo rat, Arkansas River shiner, Riverside fairy shrimp, 12 Texas invertebrates and three California plants, and one formal notice of intent to sue concerning listing of the Colorado River cutthroat trout. “Eight years of the Bush
Judge Biery delivers lucid ruling on AGUA/TURF Hwy. 281 Case
U.S. District Court Judge Fred Biery denies a motion by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to dismiss as moot a lawsuit by GEAA member group AGUA and TURF. In elegant summation, Judge Biery writes, “No San Antonian is an island, entire of itself; each is a piece of South Texas, a part of the Edwards Escarpment. If our refuse washes into the aquifer, all are the less …”
Hills of Castle Rock Development Settlement Reached
GEAA and San Geronimo Valley Alliance (SGVA) are very pleased to announce that a settlement agreement has been finalized between SGVA and BP Properties, Ltd. regarding the proposed Hills of Castle Rock development located ten miles northwest of Helotes. The Hills of Castle Rock’s application for a permit to release wastewater effluent into the San Geronimo Creek, a major conduit of recharge to the Edwards Aquifer, inspired State Representative David Leibowitz to file HB 595 (State Senator Leticia Van de Putte filed companion SB 822) to prohibit this practice. Under the terms of the agreement, no effluent will be released into
Annalisa is blogging for the San Antonio Express-News!
We are pleased to announce that the San Antonio Express News has given Annalisa her own blog to report what is going on with the
Prevent Gridlock on Mopac: Act NOW to Stop the Aquifer Toll Road!
Do we need more highway lanes over the Barton Springs Recharge Zone? Elected officials who sit on the board of CAMPO, Austin’s local transportation planning
Check it out! Texas Water Resource Institute’s Newsletter
TWRI’s New Waves 2009 e-newsletter includes great articles relevant to water resource protection in Central Texas. Topics that might interest GEAA members include: a request
81st Legislature Status
With two weeks left of the 81st Legislative Session, we need to do all that we can to promote the bills that managed to make
Noche Verde May 14: Benefit for GEAA, BuildSA Green, USGBC & Green Spaces Alliance
Don’t miss your chance to party and shop to benefit your favorite green causes! Big Grass Bamboo is throwing a fundraiser for us on Thursday,
Hays County Greenprint Stakeholder Meeting: Monday, June 1st
Please save the date for the next Hays County Greenprint Stakeholder meeting: Monday, June 1st 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Dripping Springs ISD Central Administration