Citizens from throughout the Texas Hill Country are concerned about the impacts of high-density development on our water resources - both in terms of the quantity of water available and the quality of our groundwater. The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA), working with our member and the region’s elected officials has crafted a legislative agenda that includes:
· Expand authority for Hill Country counties, including buffer zones between incompatible uses. GEAA supports HB 1119 by Valinda Bolton and HB 2167 by Patrick Rose, as advocated by the Hill Country County Commissioners group, that will give much needed authority to manage incompatible land uses by local option.
· Prohibit treated sewage effluent discharge into Edwards Aquifer waterways. HB 595 filed by State Representative David Leibowitz and its companion SB 822 filed by Leticia Van de Putte prohibit permits authorizing the discharge of sewage effluent directly into any water of the Contributing or Recharge Zones of the San Antonio or Barton Springs segments of the Edwards Aquifer. HB 1508 filed by Valinda Bolton and SB 1099 by Kirk Watson prohibit this practice in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards.
· Grandfathering projects from regulation has severely inhibited municipal enforcement of water quality and other ordinances that promote environmental protection. HB 2506 filed by Mike Villarreal essentially limits vesting to five years, allowing adequate time to protect investment in a project while protecting the public from development that does not conform to ordinances within this reasonable time frame.
· Invest in clean water by using proceeds of the federal stimulus for green infrastructure and requiring the state to assess the penalties of water polluters that at a minimum recover the economic benefit of noncompliance. Make improvements to sewage treatment facilities and sewage mains a high priority for Federal stimulus funding.
· Reform the Texas Department of Transportation in the sunset review process to promote a comprehensive and environmentally sound state transportation policy. GEAA supports transportation systems that protect rural values and avoid habitat fragmentation.
· Provide Authority and Resources to Hill Country Groundwater Management Districts that will enable them to effectively manage scarce water resources.
· Give municipal and county governments the ability to assess Impact Fees on new development adequate to pay for the cost of new and additional infrastructure required by new growth. Get involved! Sign up on our web site to recieve action alerts. Keep us posted about your efforts to promote legislation during the session by using this blog. Working together, we can make the 81st Session of the Texas Legislature the best ever.
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