Several Interesting Articles this week.

Texas Water Development Board Member Resigns

• by Neena Satija     Jan. 14, 2014

Mary Ann Williamson, one of three members of the Texas Water Development Board appointed by Gov. Rick Perry last summer, has resigned. Her departure comes at a transitional time for the agency.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LCRA proposes 19.5 percent water rate increase for some customers

By Asher Price

American-Statesman Staff 

The chief financial officer of the Lower Colorado River Authority, the nonprofit utility that doles out Colorado River water to people throughout Central Texas, announced Tuesday that it could increase its rates for drought-available water by 19.5 percent as soon as next January.
Brady Edwards laid out the proposed rate increase at a meeting of the river authority’s finance committee.
One entity safe from a potential LCRA rate increase is the city of Austin, which signed a $100 million contract with the river authority to ensure sufficient water through 2050.
Current rates for the drought-ready water is $151 per acre-foot. That could rise to $179.47 in January 2015.
An acre-foot is roughly equal to the amount of water need to cover a football field one foot deep.
The rates could continue up to $192 per acre-foot in 2016. Depending on a number of factors, the rate could be anywhere between $251 per acre-foot by 2019 or drop to $186 per acre-foot by that year.
The LCRA is considering raising rates to pay for a new reservoir and new groundwater supplies that would increase the amount of available water in time of drought by nearly 20 percent.
Interruptible water, also known as agricultural water, also could see water rate increases.

 

The pending vote tonight by the Lost Pines GCD on the Forestar mega-permit that may set the tone for this year's assertion's of water rights.

Please Come! This Wednesday January 15, 2014 to Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District Meeting!

January 11, 2014 

The Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District, at it’s regularly scheduled monthly meeting this Wednesday (at 7 pm at the Bastrop Convention Center), will deliberate and possibly take action on Forestar Real Estate Group’s permit request for the full 45,000 acre feet/year of water from the Simsboro formation of Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.
Remember that the Lost Pines GCD held a hearing on this issue in Lee County last month.
Click on the link below to read the full agenda.
Please come and bring folks with you!  Thank y’all!
Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District Agenda, January 15, 2014