Latest News
Neighbors angrily reject proposed 5,000-seat amphitheater due to environmental concerns
Austin American-Statesman Bianca Moreno-Paz Jan. 30, 2024 Mike Clifford GEAA Technical Director spoke tenaciously at the meeting, expressing concerns that the permit, if granted, would be among the laxest ever approved by the TCEQ. The permit would not require the removal of nitrogen or phosphorus, which can cause lethal algae blooms, and would have limited requirements for E. coli testing. He said the pollution limits set by the TCEQ are four times what they should be for a 30-acre development. https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2024/01/30/austin-amphitheater-environment-wastewater-tceq-fitzhugh-neighbors/72389648007/
Northwest Bexar County residents fight to stop waste water from being dumped near Edwards Aquifer
KSAT NEWS Reporter Patty Santos Jan. 29, 2024 GEAA Executive Director Annalisa Peace tells KSAT news about her concerns that if passed this permit could ruin San Antonio’s drinking water. This area https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2024/01/30/northwest-bexar-county-residents-fight-to-stop-waste-water-from-being-dumped-near-edwards-aquifer/
Residents, groups fight plan to dump wastewater into Hill Country waterway
Express News by Ricardo Delgado Jan. 11 2024 GEAA is very concerned about the level of phosphorus that could be discharged into Hondo Creek if regulators agree to a plant that would release 300,000 gallons of treated wastewater per day into Hondo Creek. https://www.expressnews.com/hill-country/article/tceq-hondo-medina-county-wastewater-treatment-plan-18600893.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwcmVzc25ld3MuY29tL2hpbGwtY291bnRyeS9hcnRpY2xlL3RjZXEtaG9uZG8tbWVkaW5hLWNvdW50eS13YXN0ZXdhdGVyLXRyZWF0bWVudC1wbGFuLTE4NjAwODkzLnBocA%3D%3D&time=MTcwNTA3NjIzMTQyMw%3D%3D&rid=N2VjNTJhNmMtNzEzYy00YWY1LTgyMTQtYTYyOTVlMWJiYmI3&sharecount=MQ%3D%3D
Opponents challenge wastewater plans for Hays County concert venue
Express News Jan 9, 2024 By Liz Teitz. Written comments stated by the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance: “The Fitzhugh music venue, as currently proposed, would likely degrade Barton Creek and local groundwater quality in violation of the Clean Water Act and state law through treated sewage and stormwater runoff.” https://www.expressnews.com/hill-country/article/dripping-springs-concert-venue-wastewater-18596208.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwcmVzc25ld3MuY29tL2hpbGwtY291bnRyeS9hcnRpY2xlL2RyaXBwaW5nLXNwcmluZ3MtY29uY2VydC12ZW51ZS13YXN0ZXdhdGVyLTE4NTk2MjA4LnBocA%3D%3D&time=MTcwNDgzMTQ5OTU0MA%3D%3D&rid=NGRhMDUzZjgtNTAwNS00YTQ3LWE2YTgtYTkyYjljNzczMWYx&sharecount=Mg%3D%3D
Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer declares Stage 4 exceptional drought
By Carissa Lehmkuhl PublishedDecember 15, 2023 5:19PM Weather FOX 7 Austin As quoted by GEAA Executive Director Annallisa Peace, “The news of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District declaring a stage four exceptional drought (the first time in its 36-year history) is quite dismaying. The Barton Springs segment is a much smaller pool of groundwater than the San Antonio segment. Cyclical droughts coupled with the rapid growth in that area point to a real need to conserve water and, perhaps consider restricting population growth to what local water resources can support.” https://www.fox7austin.com/news/barton-springs-edwards-aquifer-declares-stage-4-exceptional-drought
How new legislation and growth threaten Edwards Aquifer
By Annalisa Peace,For the Express-News Nov 27, 2023 GEAA Under a new state law, those who own property in the extraterritorial jurisdiction, where most of the development in our region is occurring, can forgo compliance with municipal regulations. San Antonio should join the fight against this new law. https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/water-texas-edwards-aquifer-san-antonio-18509338.php?utm_content=hed&sid=5936c55d3f92a45314ebbfdb&ss=P&st_rid=null&utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_term=headlines&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwcmVzc25ld3MuY29tL29waW5pb24vY29tbWVudGFyeS9hcnRpY2xlL3dhdGVyLXRleGFzLWVkd2FyZHMtYXF1aWZlci1zYW4tYW50b25pby0xODUwOTMzOC5waHA%3D&time=MTcwMTExNzAzOTMwMw%3D%3D&rid=NGRhMDUzZjgtNTAwNS00YTQ3LWE2YTgtYTkyYjljNzczMWYx&sharecount=MA%3D%3D
Update on our proposed amendments to San Antonio’s building code
From the March 14 experience on the Park Dedication recommendations, it became apparent that staff support of an amendment is crucial.
Words to foolish (and the wise) on this April 1
In recognition of April Fools’ Day, GEAA would like to give a shoutout to some folks who are, in our opinion, worthy of the title.
An invitation to talk to the Legislature about the TCEQ
Join us to let the Sunset Commission staff know how well (or, not) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has been serving you.
Join us in Austin on Feb. 16 | Sign the Fair Oaks Ranch petition
GEAA has joined our Austin area member groups in opposing the Violet Crown Amphitheater, a totally inappropriate proposal to build a massive entertainment complex in the middle of Austin’s Barton Creek Habitat Preserve.
Hill Country Alliance joins GEAA as latest Member Group
Dear Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance members and friends, We are pleased to announce that the Hill Country Alliance has joined GEAA as our 34th member
GEAA hires two new full-time staffers to increase our efforts in 2022
Dear GEAA members and friends, I am delighted to announce that GEAA has hired two new full time staffers! Brendan Gibbons has joined the GEAA