Fish and Wildlife Service contributes $1 million to Edwards Aquifer plan San Antonio Business Journal Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 10:28am CDT The _U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service_ (http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/gen/U.S._Fish_and_Wildlife_Service_F0513E41308A4DA6A8BA046460EC194A.h tml) awarded the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program a $1 million habitat conservation planning assistance grant. The _Edwards Aquifer Authority_ (http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/gen/Edwards_Aquifer_Authority_33949D81ABAA473FBBF17235EF3D2622.html) will use the funds, in part, to develop a comprehensive plan for protecting federally listed endangered or threatened species while managing pumping rights out of the aquifer. In 2007, the Texas Legislature mandated the creation of the aquifer recovery implementation program. The Edwards Aquifer Authority has a deadline of Sept. 1, 2012 to complete this plan. So far, stakeholders in the program have contributed more than $775,000 towards the plan. In addition to the Edwards Aquifer Authority, other stakeholders in the plan include water utilities, cities, groundwater conservation districts, agricultural users, industrial users, environmental organizations, individuals, river authorities, downstream and coastal communities and state and federal agencies. These stakeholders rely on water from the Edwards Aquifer. Local stakeholders are currently working with the Texas Legislature for additional funds. “The stakeholders have been working extraordinarily hard to meet goals set by the Legislature,” says Robert Gulley, program manager for the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program. “Thus far, they have met and exceeded all the goals set for them. All parties understand that the work ahead will be difficult. This is a truly significant grant that will not only assist the stakeholders in continuing to meet their goals but also reinforces the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s commitment to our program.” The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance sponsored the grant application before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Reps. Charlie Gonzalez, Ciro D. Rodriguez and Lamar Smith all wrote letters of support toward the federal grant application. _http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2009/04/20/daily20.htm l_ (http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2009/04/20/daily20.html) **************Access 350+ FREE radio stations anytime from anywhere on the web. Get the Radio Toolbar! (http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000003)
