Begin forwarded message: > From: "Annalisa Peace" <annal...@aquiferalliance.org> > Date: August 23, 2019 at 5:21:05 PM CDT > To: <cwilliamste...@gmail.com> > Subject: News about Honey Creek and Lady Bird Lake > Reply-To: annal...@aquiferalliance.org > > > Dear GEAA members and friends, > On August 20th approximately 90 people came together at a meeting hosted by > the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) held in Bulverde, Texas > to voice opposition to a plan they believe will cause irreparable harm to two > Texas treasures. > > Developers of Honey Creek Ranch propose to release up to 500,000/gallons per > day of treated sewage effluent from a planned subdivision of 2,396 new homes > on 592 acres directly into an unnamed tributary that flows into Honey Creek > just upstream of the Honey Creek State Natural Area and Guadalupe River State > Park. > > > > Preliminary water quality testing of the receiving water body conducted by > the GEAA and the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment indicate that > Honey Creek is one of the clearest-flowing streams in the Texas Hill Country. > Guadalupe River State Park, immediately downstream of the confluence of Honey > Creek and the Guadalupe River, has long been one of our state’s most popular > places to toss in a tube and 'float the Guadalupe.' During average > conditions, a substantial portion of the flow into the State Park would > consist of nutrient-laden effluent, impacting recreational activities such as > swimming, fishing, canoeing, and inner tubing on the river. > > > > At the TCEQ meeting, GEAA was joined by citizens affiliated with the Meadows > Center for Water and the Environment, Texas Cave Management Association, > Bexar Grotto, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Rivers Protection > Association, Bulverde Area Republican Women, and local economic development > agencies, as well as local residents – all elucidating a host of reasons why > TCEQ should deny this permit. No one spoke in favor of issuing the discharge > permit. > > It was noted that the testimony offered at the meeting likely represented > more well qualified expertise (in the fields of water chemistry, karst > geology, aquatic biology, economic development, land use planning) than has > ever opposed a TCEQ permit application of any type. All predicted that the > introduction of such a large amount of sewage effluent into the pristine > waters of Honey Creek would permanently alter an aquatic ecosystem that is > internationally famous as unique to the Texas Hill Country. Testimony also > warned that floods would cause effluent from the sewage treatment plant to > flow into Honey Creek Cave, the longest known cave in Texas, a tributary to > the Guadalupe River where you can swim right into the aquifer. > > Given that the citizens of Texas have made such a substantial investment in > the Honey Creek State Natural Area and Guadalupe River State Park, GEAA asked > that all citizens who requested standing in contesting the permit be > recognized. > > TCEQ has not yet ruled on approving the permit. In our experience of > opposing the introduction of sewage effluent directly into Hill Country > waterways that recharge the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, we expect that the > permit will be approved. > > The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance is taking the lead in organizing > opposition and raising funds to cover the legal expenses of contesting this > permit. A generous donor has offered $15,000 to match tax deductible > donations of $100 or more. You can mail donations to GEAA at PO Box 15618, > San Antonio, Texas 78212. Be sure to note Honey Creek on the check. > > You can learn more about the impact of sewage on Hill Country waterways and > about this cause on GEAA’s Waste Water page at > https://aquiferalliance.org/waste-water-discharge/. You can sign up to > receive e-mail alerts by sending your e-mail address to > i...@aquiferalliance.org. (Be sure to write Honey Creek in the subject > line). And, you can enter the discussion, post pictures, and keep up with > the latest news at the Save Honey Creek Face Book page. >
> As always, I am so grateful to all the folks who work with GEAA to protect > our water. Have a great weekend! > > Annalisa Peace > > Executive Director > Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance > > You can donate to GEAA on line or mail a check to PO Box 15618, San Antonio, > Texas 78212 > > You can always keep up with interesting water news on GEAA's Face Book page > > Manage Your Subscription > This message was sent to cwilliamste...@gmail.com from > annal...@aquiferalliance.org > > Annalisa Peace > Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance > 1809 Blanco Road > San Antonio, Tx 78212 > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > > > >
_______________________________________________ Texascavers mailing list | http://texascavers.com Texascavers@texascavers.com | Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/texascavers@texascavers.com/ http://lists.texascavers.com/listinfo/texascavers
