During its recent meeting, the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District (CTGCD) board voted unanimously to maintain Stage 4 extreme drought mandatory water-use restrictions currently in force since several weeks ago.
“We really need much above-average rainfall to get some movement on recharge levels in the aquifers, for surface water, too,” General Manager Mitchell Sodek told the board members.
The board met Feb. 21 in Burnet at district headquarters, 228 S. Pierce St.
Also during the meeting, District Counsel Ty Embry mentioned he is watching the 89th session of the Texas Legislature, particularly Texas Sen. Charles Perry (District 28) chairman of the Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
“He (Perry) is going to have a big bill that will talk about water infrastructure and creating a dedicated funding stream and funding new water supplies,” Embry said.
The prospective bill authored by Perry could call for some of an anticipated state surplus of more than $2.5 billion to help fund new water infrastructure and supplies, Embry added.
“Hopefully, if the bill passes, it will be on the ballot in November as a constitutional amendment,” the attorney said.
During time set aside for public comment, Burnet County resident Bill Mc-Cartney reminded board members the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recently approved a permit by Asphalt LLC to build a “rock crusher” quarry near Hoover Valley, Park Road 4 and RR 3509.
“TCEQ gave the approval despite 4,500 comments opposed to it,” Mc-Cartney said. “It doesn’t seem they (TCEQ members) are paying much attention to air quality.”
Lower Colorado River Authority officials are also reviewing the quarry application, McCartney added.
“LCRA has responded to the application by asking some very, very good technical questions,” McCartney told the district board. “We are pleased somebody is paying attention and not just rubber stamping this.”
During the past weeks, McCartney and many other local residents have supported SaveBurnet. com, a local organization that urges Texas officials to deny the rock crusher quarry permit, claiming its operations will spew harmful dust in the atmosphere, overload local roadways and damage local parks and water sources.
“There are a lot of folks paying attention to this (the permit controversy) and when it gets here (at the groundwater district board), you will recognize it is relevant.”
The board members could not respond directly to McCartney about the permit.
Several minutes later, coincidentally, Sodek told the board, “We (district staff) are looking at wells near the proposed quarry site for long-term monitoring.”
Also during the meeting, Sodek mentioned the district current fund balance shows more than $1.3 million on the books.
The next board meeting is 9 a.m. March 26 in Burnet at district headquarters.
