Latest News

AGUA and CASE sign on to Lawsuits to protect Local Endangered Species

March 12, 2009

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

March 12, 2009

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

February 19, 2009

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

Aquifer Groups Host US Fish and Wildlife Town Hall Meeting on Critical Habitat for Devils River Minnows

January 13, 2009

Aquifer Groups Host US Fish and Wildlife Town Hall Meeting on Critical Habitat for Devils River Minnows When: Monday, September 22nd at 5:00 p.m. Where: Kinney County District Courtroom Brackettville, Texas The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance and Kinney County Ground Zero will host a town hall meeting to inform the public about the designation of Critical Habitat for the Devils River Minnow in Kinney County featuring experts from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Joy Nicholopoulos (USFWS State Administrator), Adam Zerrenner (USFWS Field Supervisor), and Nathan Allan (Fisheries Biologist) will answer questions about the recent designation of critical habitat for

Joe Straus Elected Speaker

January 13, 2009

AUSTIN – Texas legislators unanimously elected Rep. Joe Straus III speaker of the state House Tuesday, making Straus the first San Antonio leader of the 150-member chamber in nearly 100 years. Straus, a Republican, is starting his second full session in the state House. Straus emerged as the consensus choice 11 days ago of 11 maverick Republicans who decided that a fresh face would be their best bet to oust veteran Tom Craddick, a Midland Republican who wanted a fourth term as House speaker. Craddick has been in the Legislature for 40 years. Many members have grown weary of a bitterly