HB 3918 - Needmore Ranch MUD Approved with Amendments

Despite strong opposition from the citizens and elected officials of Wimberley and Hays County, the Texas House and Senate have approved the Needmore Ranch Municipal Utility District (MUD) #1 for approximately 4,020 acres of the 5,000-acre ranch just east of Wimberley.   

While the existence of a giant MUD district, with special powers far beyond traditional property rights, has serious potential to do great harm to the Wimberley area and its other property owners, local citizens won a partial victory in their intense stand against legislation circumventing local input and opinion. 

Acknowledging the overwhelming opposition to the MUD by area citizens and local elected officials, Representative Jason Isaac authored last minute amendments to House Bill 3918 and presented them on the floor of the House. The amended bill was approved and sent to the Senate for concurrence. The amendments include:

• Eminent domain is prohibited except to provide right of way for importation of groundwater or surface water from sources other than the local Trinity or Edwards Aquifers.

• If a residential subdivision or planned community is developed within the MUD, water for that development must be imported - presumably, but not clearly stated - from sources other than the Trinity or Edwards Aquifers.

• If a residential subdivision or planned community is built, the MUD must develop a wastewater treatment plant in coordination with the state TCEQ, Hays County, and Wimberley.

• Land adjacent to the MUD may not be annexed into the MUD except by a petition signed by the owners of two-thirds majority of the assessed value of the land to be annexed. 

The amendments made to the Needmore Ranch MUD appear to be significant steps toward protection for the water resources of the Wimberley Valley and western Hays County.   Water needed for development inside the MUD would come from connections to a pipeline that might in the future be built along RR 12 from the San Marcos area, bringing groundwater from Lee and Bastrop County aquifers.

 Hays County currently is seeking a water supplier to bring in up to 50,000 acre feet (16 billion gallons) of groundwater annually to serve future growth and to reduce groundwater pumping within Hays County.   

Citizens Alliance for Responsible Development (CARD) thanks County Commissioner Will Conley, Judge Bert Cobb, Wimberley Mayor Bob Flocke, City Administrator Don Ferguson and the hundreds of citizens of Hays County and the Wimberley Valley who attended the Town Hall meeting April 25, wrote letters, made calls and signed petitions to help achieve this compromise.   

CARD strongly supports property rights, including the right of the Needmore ownership to develop the property in accordance with the subdivision rules of Hays County and applicable provisions of State and Federal law. We hope the property owner will review the Growth Corridor Plan - available on the CARD website (www.cardtexas.org, under Current Events) - and help maintain the low density and rural character that has always been the hallmark and attraction of central Hays County.   

 CARD Steering Committee Louis Parks, Chairman

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FERN BANK (LITTLE ARKANSAS) PUBLIC HEARING- Friday May 17th 5:30pm-8:30pm

Fern Bank Springs aka Little Arkansas

The USFWS is having a hearing about the critical habitat designation for this spring, and is holding their hearing on May 17 in San Marcos at the Activity Center.  The informational meeting will be held from 5:30p.m.-6:30 p.m.followed by a break and then the public hearing will be held from 7:00 p.m.–8:30p.m 

http://www.fws.gov/southwest/docs/comalNRdEA.pdf

Southwest Region (Arizona ● New Mexico ● Oklahoma ●Texas) www.fws.gov/southwest/
For Release: May 2, 2013
Contacts: Adam Zerrenner, 512-490-0057, ext. 248, Adam_Zerrenner@fws.gov
Lesli Gray, 972-569-8588, Lesli_Gray@fws.gov
 
SERVICE ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF DRAFT ECONOMIC ANALYSIS FOR THREE ENDANGERED COMAL INVERTEBRATES

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) today released an analysis that estimates the cost related to the revised proposed critical habitat for the Comal Springs dryopid beetle, Comal Springs riffle beetle and Peck’s cave amphipod over the next 20 years. In addition, the Service is announcing the reopening of the comment period for 30 days to allow all interested parties the opportunity to comment on the draft economic analysis, the amended determinations sections and the revised proposed critical habitat rule.
 
The Service will hold a public informational meeting followed by a public hearing on Friday, May 17, 2013, at the San Marcos Activity Center. The informational meeting will be held from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. followed by a break and then the public hearing will be held from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
On October 19, 2012, the Service proposed revised critical habitat for the three endangered Comal invertebrates. The Service is proposing approximately 169 acres in four units in Comal and Hays Counties, Texas.

Critical habitat is a term in the Endangered Species Act that identifies geographic areas containing features essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species, and which may require special management considerations or protection. Designation of critical habitat does not affect land ownership, establish a refuge or preserve and has no impact on private landowners taking actions on their land that do not require federal funding or permits.

When specifying an area as critical habitat, the Endangered Species Act requires the Service to consider economic and other relevant impacts of the designation. If the benefits of excluding an area outweigh the benefits of designating it, the Secretary may exclude an area from critical habitat, unless that would jeopardize the existence of a threatened or endangered species.

The draft economic analysis quantifies economic impacts of the conservation efforts for the three Comal invertebrates associated with the following categories of activity if these activities are federally assisted or carried out: changes to existing flow regimes; introduction or augmentation of nonnative species; and physical, biological, or chemical changes to the proposed revised critical habitat area. Total present value impacts anticipated to result from the critical habitat designation of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
 
News Release
Public Affairs Office
PO Box 1306
Albuquerque, NM 87103
505/248-6911
505/248-6915 (Fax)
 
all units for the three Comal invertebrates is $14,000 for water use actions and $57,000 for other actions over a 20 year period.

All three Comal species are freshwater invertebrates found in spring systems – Comal, San Marcos, Hueco, and Fern Bank – associated with the Edwards Aquifer, one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. The Trinity Aquifer may also provide some water to these spring systems, especially at Fern Bank Springs. The Comal Springs dryopid beetle and the Comal Springs riffle beetle are found in both Hays and Comal Counties. The Peck’s cave amphipod is only found in Comal County.
Comments on the revised proposed critical habitat will be accepted until June 3, 2013, and may be submitted by one of the following methods:

(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Search for Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2012–0082, which is the docket number for this rulemaking, and follow the directions for submitting a comment.

(2) By hard copy: Submit comment on the listing proposal by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R2–ES–2012–0082; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.

For additional information, contact Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; by telephone at 512-490-0057, extension 248; or by fax at 512-490-0974. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339.
America’s fish, wildlife and plant resources belong to all of us, and ensuring the health of imperiled species is a shared responsibility. The Service is actively engaged with conservation partners and the public in the search for improved and innovative ways to conserve and recover imperiled species. To learn more about the Endangered Species program, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/.
 
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. 

Connect with our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usfws, follow our tweets at www.twitter.com/usfwshq, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwshq.
http://www.fws.gov/southwest

ELEMENTAL Documentary - Partnership

ELEMENTAL

Monday, June 3rd at 7 pm 

Stateside Theater, 719 Congress Avenue

Followed by a Q&A with Director Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee

For advance tickets & group sales, 
contact: sara@filmpresence.com

"A rare, fresh look at environmental issues and sustainability...

Director Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee ties these threads together masterfully." 

-John Fink, The Film Stage

Elemental tells the story of three individuals united by their deep connection with nature, confronting the most pressing ecological challenges of our time. 

The film follows Rajendra Singh, a former  Indian government official, on a 40-day pilgrimage down India’s once pristine Ganges river. Singh works to shut down factories, halt construction of dams, and rouse the Indian public to treat their sacred “Mother Ganga” with respect. 

In northern Canada, Eriel Deranger mounts her struggle against the world’s largest industrial development, the Tar Sands, an oil deposit larger than the state of Florida. A young mother and native Denè, Deranger struggles with family challenges while campaigning tirelessly against the Tar Sands and its proposed 2,000-mile Keystone XL Pipeline, which are destroying Indigenous communities and threatening an entire continent. 

And in Australia, inventor and entrepreneur Jay Harman searches for investors willing to risk millions on his conviction that nature’s own systems hold the key to our world’s ecological problems. Harmon finds his inspiration in the natural world’s profound architecture and creates a revolutionary device that he believes can slow down global warming.

More Information:  website || facebook || twitter || trailer

Co-Directed Produced Co-Composed by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee

Co-Directed & Produced by Gayatri Roshan

Running Time: 93 minutes

Fill Up the Rainwater Tank

Posted by Mary Simon on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 

In late March, as we neared completion of construction on their new home, the sisters –Candy and Sue (see related story) — began to fret just a bit. “There’s been no rain. Should we go ahead and buy some water for the tank?”

Wayne shook his head. “Wait,” he told them. “Let’s see what happens. April showers, right?”

We broke ground in October. It took just a little over six months to build their home. The 30,000 gallon rainwater tank was one of the first things to be installed, and we had a truck deliver about 2,000 gallons of water for use during construction. The metal roof went on in December. (If you’re collecting rainwater, you want a metal roof.) Gutters and pipes were installed in January, and they were connected and ready for rain in February. And then it didn’t rain. And it didn’t rain. Remember?

And then came April, woohoo. A couple of good storms the first two weeks of April dumped up to four inches of rain in the area. Now, we didn’t have a rain gauge to the measure the specific rainfall at Candy and Sue’s house. But take a look at the photo and see what happened. I snapped this photo in mid-April. The red bobber indicates the tank’s water level. Almost half full, right? How is that possible, with just 4” or so of rain?

Well, get out a pencil, and let’s do the math.
The sisters’ house has 3,532 square feet of air conditioned space. Add the garage, front porch, the lovely screened porch at the back of the house, and two-foot eaves on all sides, and you’ve got 5,661 square feet of total house coverage. The roof surface is a whopping 6,289 square feet.
Got all that? Now here’s the magic: One inch of rain on 1,000 square feet yields about 600 gallons of water. Every time it rains one inch, the sisters harvest 3,773.4 gallons of water, or about 12% of the tank’s capacity. Those 4 inches of rain during the first two weeks of April produced about 15,093 gallons of water. The tank is half full.

If you’ve lived long enough in central Texas, you’ve figured out by now that our rain often comes in big bucketfuls all at once. Yes, we’ve got water problems in Texas, but the answer falls from the sky. We’re all drinking rainwater; it’s just that some people choose to catch and store it locally instead of waiting for it to flow into rivers, lakes, and aquifers, where it’s stored and later pumped miles and miles (at great cost) to reach homes and businesses.

The sisters decided to invest in a 30,000 gallon tank rather than a 20,000 gallon tank in order to have extra storage capacity to capture as much rainfall as possible during the “rainy” periods of the year. Chris Maxwell-Gaines of Innovative Water Solutions, who designed and installed the system, calculates that a “20,000-gallon tank would be sufficient to supply a 4-person household. Their system should allow them ample water supply even during drought years.”

Of course, the way the home operates and the behavior of its inhabitants have a lot to do with water use. Naturally, the sisters’ home was designed, built, and furnished to conserve water — the way the plumbing runs were laid out, the water heating system, the water-saving plumbing fixtures. A moderately conservative person might use around 50 gallons of water indoors. Outdoors, the sisters plan to leave the landscape in a natural state, so they won’t be using much water outdoors. However, they have installed a pool/spa that holds 1,500 gallons of water. Once it’s filled, it will need to be replenished occasionally. And the sisters do anticipate occasional long-term house guests. Installing the bigger 30,000-gallon tank has given them peace of mind.

You might be asking about now, “But is it really feasible to supply an entire household with its potable water from a rainwater harvesting system?” Yes. Here’s what Chris Maxwell-Gaines of Innovative Water Solutions had to say in a report to the lender’s underwriter:

For more evidence of the ability of rainwater harvesting systems to supply an entire household with its water, my company conducted a survey of about 70 of our potable water system owners in 2012. We asked them to look back over 2011 which was one of the worst year of drought since the 1950s. In 2011, our region only received about 16” of rainfall. We found that only 30% of the homeowners had to get water delivered during the year and a majority of this 30% only had to get one water delivery. It is our best guess and experience that due to the conservation technology of the rainwater systems, property owners use a much smaller quantity of water since they can directly see the entire supply of water for their household. Contrast this with a home that is supplied by a well: The homeowners can’t determine how much water is left in their well as they can with a rainwater harvesting system. If the water level in their rainwater cistern is getting low, they can proactively change their water usage patterns in order to extend their water supply. The costs to top-off their systems, which is a rarity, should not average more than a few hundred dollars per year according to cost data received from local water delivery companies in our region.

Question: “You mean, I can buy water for my rain tank?” Sure, you can buy a little water if you need it, say a couple thousand gallons to tide you over ’til the next big rain. You can buy water and store it in a rain tank. You can’t buy and store water in a well that’s gone dry.

Overall, rainwater as the sole water source for a home is more sustainable, more durable, more secure, and less costly over time than a well. Plus, you know where your water comes from and . . . you know what? It sure does taste good.

Question: “What about financing?” It is possible to get financing for a rainwater harvesting system as the sole source of water for a residence, but it requires a lender who knows how to get it done. The financing for the sisters’ project was arranged by Green Energy Money, whose appraisal process quantifies the homeowner’s return on investment for energy efficiencies — and for rainwater harvesting. Security National Mortgage Company provided the permanent financing. Plus, the sisters’ home is in Hays County, which offers a property tax exemption for water conservation initiatives, including rainwater harvesting.

Want to know more? Drop us a line, or leave a comment, and I’ll ask Chris Maxwell-Gaines to weigh in and help answer any questions.
– Mary
See Solluna Builders, LLC Resources page for links to more information about rainwater harvesting.

2013 Guadalupe River Basin Summary Report out for public review and comment

The draft 2013 Clean Rivers Program Guadalupe River and Lavaca-Guadalupe Coastal Basins Basin Summary Report is ready for public review and comment.  The link below will take you to the document that has been posted on the GBRA Clean Rivers Program web page.  It is a very large document so it has broken down into five parts. 

http://www.gbra.org/crp/default.aspx

The Basin Summary Report is designed to provide a comprehensive review of the water quality data collected in the Guadalupe River Basin.  It includes a detailed discussion of the findings of comprehensive data analyses.  The report serves to develop a greater understanding of basin water quality conditions, identify trends and changes, and aid in making decisions regarding water quality issues in the basin.  The report is completed every five years. 

The public review period will be closed on Monday, June 3, 2013.   After all comments and suggestions are incorporated into the report, the final Basin Summary Report will be posted on the GBRA Clean Rivers Program web page by June 15, 2013.

Groundwater to the Gulf training

There are a few remaining spaces left in this summer's Groundwater to the Gulf training.

Register now for Groundwater to the Gulf: A summer institute for Central Texas Educators! Every year, water experts from over 13 agencies in Central Texas combine forces to take 50 teachers to the aquatic hotspots in and around Austin. We go caving, canoeing, hiking, and splash in streams--all in the name of science. It is the most fun, free way to earn 22 continuing education credits.

Sign-up is limited to 50 teachers... and there are about 8 slots left.  It's free, but you have to mail in a $50 check--which we give back once you complete the training.  Join us!  More info below!
http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/GroundwatertoGulf

Groundwater to the Gulf Summer Teacher Institute http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/GroundwatertoGulf

Thanks!

Robin Havens Gary

Public Information and Education Coordinator

Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District

1124 Regal Row

Austin, TX 78748

512-282-8441 phone

512-282-7016 fax

rhgary@bseacd.org

www.bseacd.org

Neighbor to Neighbor News - Hill Country Alliance

Neighbor to Neighbor News              Bringing back the Milky Way, May 14 in Uvalde HCA has been partnering with the McDonald Observatory and local Hill Country community organization’s creating an entire menu of programs aimed at reducing light pollution. The next workshop will take place May 14 at the Cactus Room of the Uvalde Convention Center. Details Texas Groundwater Levels Suffer Sharp Drop, Study Finds According to the report, the greatest decline during 2010-11 occurred in the Trinity Aquifer of Central Texas, where 33 monitor wells showed a median drop of 16.7 feet, and an average drop of 19.7 feet. (The water board also includes one well in the Edwards-Trinity Plateau in that calculation.) More from the Texas Tribune. Water for Cities vs. Ag - Is it theirs? Or ours? Some more enlightened utilities and political leaders are beginning to realize that Texas must grow smart – not just fast. Texas county governments, long weak on any ability to properly manage and plan growth, are beginning to band together to get the attention of a largely urban Texas legislature. More from Mike Mecke in Ranch and Rural Living Magazine. People conform to political boundaries. Water does not. Ten years ago, recognizing the rapidly growing threat to the water quality of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer, 13 unconnected Texas Hill Country jurisdictions sat down together and talked. Acknowledging that water, especially groundwater, does not conform to human boundaries, they devised a bold plan to conform to water, by crossing those boundaries. With help from the HCA, 65 participants from those jurisdictions re-convened on April 26 in Buda for The Next Wave, a workshop to share how they are each implementing the plan now. Learn More More Hill Country Headlines Join HCA and The Rainwater Revival at the Texas Rainwater Catchment Association Conference this weekend in San Marcos Petitions opposing Needmore Ranch MUD sent to Sen. Donna Campbell and State Rep. Jason Isaac Join GEAA at City Hall in San Antonio on May 22nd San Antonio can lead in smart water policy Water, MUD and Beer: Recipe for an Explosive Hill Country Development Fight Interpretive Guide Certification Class Meet HCA’s first class of Certified Interpretive Guides- Congratulations! Learn about our program Upcoming Events May May 10 in Boerne - Grazing Practices to Mitigate Drought - Details May 11 in San Marcos - Texas Rainwater Catchment Association Annual Conference - Details May 14 in Uvalde - Night Skies over Uvalde - Learn how to save money, preserve our night skies and help bring back the Milky Way - Details May 16 in San Antonio - Inspired by Nature: Artists on Mitchell Lake - An Evening with Ansen Seale - 6:00pm to 8:30 pm at the Mitchel Lake Audubon Center -  Details May 18 in Blanco - The Bicycle Sports Shop Real Ale Ride - For all levels - Details May 22 in San Antonio - Join GEAA at City Hall in San Antonio on May 22nd - GEAA invites you to engage the Mayor and City Council of San Antonio in a dialogue about development on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, and whether or not to expand SAWS service into Comal County - Details May 22 in Fredericksburg - Texas Watershed Steward Workshop on water quality and availability issues related to the Pedernales River - Details May 28 in San Antonio - Native Plant Society of Texas, San Antonio meeting - Topic: Gardening for butterflies using native and adapted plants - Free and open to the public - Details May 28-30 in San Antonio - Southwest Stream Restoration Conference - Details May 30 near Hunt - Range and Wildlife Management Field Day - For landowners, land managers and brush control contractors operating in possible endangered species habitats - Details Pass it on: