Good News! WaterDefenders will sponsor an evening of "fun and water games" at the Paige Roadhouse, 147 Old Hwy 20 E, Paige, TX 78659, on July 18, 4-8 p.m. ~~ stay tuned for details, but please volunteer to help, we have things you can do!
Important NEW! Water Alerts (updated June 28, 2021):
WaterDefenders.org traveled to Fairfield, TX on June 22 to speak to the Mid-East GCD Board on the proposed Desired Future Conditions (DFC).
An estimated 150 citizens were there for a very controversial permit hearing, but they were interested in what SAWDF Director Andy Wier had to say about the DFC! Many thanks to Andy for carrying the message, and to Linda Curtis for working her magic to connect with the crowd. Their efforts produced new contacts for our efforts to have GMA-12's proposed DFC rejected by our groundater districts.
You have until July 19, 2021 (subject to change) to send written or emailed comments to the Mid-East Texas GCD Board of Directors
Three more hearings on the GMA-12 proposed Desired Future Conditions have been scheduled as in-person ---or in-person and virtual, in the case of Brazos Valley GCD.
Please try to attend, and in any event please consider delivering comments at these hearings in person, by mail, or by email.
Mid-East Texas GCD -- Comments on the Proposed 2021 Desired Future Conditions will be accepted by email or regular mail at the District Office at 101 W. Main, Suite B22, P O Box 477, Madisonville, Tx 77864, through July 19, 2021. Email address: info@mideasttexasgcd.com (or call 936-348-3212 for more information).
Fayette County GCD -- in person hearing in La Grange at the Fayette County Agricultural Building, 255 Svoboda Lane, Conference Room 104.
- July 12, 9:30 a.m.
Agenda and more information here (note: see agenda for GMA-12)
Comments on the Proposed 2021 Desired Future Conditions will be accepted by email or regular mail by the District at its office at Fayette County Agricultural Building, 255 Svoboda Lane, Room 115, La Grange TX 78945, through August 23, 2021. Email address: info@fayettecountygroundwater.org (or call 979-968-3135).
UPDATE Post Oak Savannah GCD --in person and virtual hearing in Milano, Milam County, at the District's office at 310 E Ave. C.
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July 13, 5:30 p.m.
Instructions for virtual hearing will be posted later --- we believe this is what they will be and we will update:
Members of the public who wish to attend virtually and listen, observe, or actively participate during this meeting may join this meeting from their computer, tablet or smartphone at:
You may also dial in for audio only using your phone at:
United States: +1 (408) 650-3123 Access Code: 295-323-645
To actively participate with virtual public comment in the meeting, please email the General Manager with your name and the topic or agenda item you wish to address at gwestbrook@posgcd.org by 3:00 pm, July 13, 2021. [Comments probably limited to 3 minutes]
Comments on the Proposed 2021 Desired Future Conditions will be accepted by email or regular mail by the District at its office at 310 E Ave. C, P.O. Box 92, Milano, TX 76556, through July 23, 2021. Email address: admin@posgcd.org (or call 512-455-9900).
UPDATE Brazos Valley GCD -- You have another opportunity to appear and comment on the proposed DFC~~ in person~~ before the BVGCD Board:
- July 8, 2:00 p.m.
Plan to give comments -- in person or virtually-- at the next Regular BVGCD Board Meeting on July 8, 2021, at 2 p.m., 112 West 3rd Street Hearne, TX 77859. The hearing on proposed DFC is at the top of the agenda; the Board decided to hear from the public one more time.
It's a hybrid meeting ---you can join in person or online --- but the instructions for joining online are a bit confusing, so try this:
Go to bvgcd.org, and on the HOME page, click on "Upcoming Public Meeting" and scroll down to the July 8 board meeting --- they don't make it easy for you!
ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE IN ROBERTSON OR BRAZOS COUNTY, YOUR COMMENTS COUNT -- Plan to give comments -- in person or virtually-- at the next Regular BVGCD Board Meeting on July 8, 2021, at 2 p.m., 112 West 3rd Street Hearne, TX 77859.
Comments on the Proposed 2021 Desired Future Conditions will be accepted by email or regular mail by the District at its office at 112 West 3rd Street Hearne, TX 77859 or at the District's Mailing Adress: P.O. Box 528 Hearne, TX 77859 through July 26, 2021. Email address: aday@brazosvalleygcd.org or call 979-279-9350.
Here's an important point to consider -- it's the reason we are telling you about all of the hearings in GMA-12. We hope you will participate in each district's DFC hearing for Water Defenders, but mostly for yourselves:
You don't have to live in a particular district to offer comments to that district.
This is an important point: We want all of the five groundwater districts in GMA-12 to know that, collectively, they conduct joint planning for themselves and for each other, so we are all in this together --- we are all trying to protect and conserve the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, and the other minor aquifers, that we all depend on for our groundwater.
GMA-12 has to have a 2/3 vote of five districts to make their PROPOSED DFC the final DFC for the next five years -- if two districts vote against the proposed DFC, they are not adopted --- the Districts have time to set new, more balanced and more fair DFC by their deadline of January 5, 2022.
We need to defeat the adoption of the proposed DFC, GMA-wide--- which means we can't be content to change the minds of only our own groundwater district.
GMA-12 has proposed Desired Future Conditions that unreasonably and impermissibly impact our aquifers, private property rights, domestic and livestock wells, and river systems.
Each district should vote to reject the proposed DFCs and instead work to establish DFC that properly balance the impacts of the DFCs among the various interests that Texas water law requires them to consider. They have not done this, instead they have preferred one interest --- the big pumpers --- over all others. So instead of balancing "conservation and protection" of aquifers with "development" (pumping) of our aquifers, they have decided to prefer depleting our aquifers over sustainability of our aquifers (and rivers that depend on aquifers).
Please submit written comments whether or not you are able to attend in person ~~ it has more impact if the districts' boards see an audience in front of them, and there's definitely nothing better than speaking your mind to them!
Go here for continuing updates on all scheduled hearings on the proposed DFC and helpful info for submitting comments.