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a application several months ago, but in a recent decision, LCRA said they “will not accept new applications” during the moratorium. Contributed
After rejecting an application for a commercial dredge operation on Lake LBJ, the Lower Colorado River Authority Board of Directors Feb. 24 adopted a one-year moratorium prohibiting commercial dredging on the Highland Lakes.
“LCRA’s Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance, which is designed to protect water quality, addresses non-commercial dredging related to projects such as retaining walls, shore stabilization and boat docks and marinas, but does not address large-scale commercial dredging activities that take sand and gravel from a lake for processing and sale,” according to an LCRA statement, released Feb. 24. “The board determined that new rules are necessary to address commercial dredging projects and their potential impact on water quality, aquatic life and public safety on the lakes.”
The decision comes on the heels of a contentious battle between Kingsland area Comanche Rancheria residents and Collier Materials Inc.
Collier submitted a dredging application several months ago to LCRA to remove sand from Lake LBJ adjacent to the community. The board considered the resolution at the recent meeting as a result of concerns by opponents of the operation.
“We’re extremely pleased that the Kingsland and Lake LBJ folks were heard,” said Virgil Yanta, the attorney for Save Lake LBJ, who represents Comanche Rancheria residents. “We salute and thank the LCRA for its wise decision to prevent heavy industry-type operations from destroying our beautiful Lake LBJ and all of the fantastic Highland Lakes for at least the next 12 months.
“We in Llano and Burnet counties have been given a one-year reprieve from the devastation which a sand-mining factory would have inflicted upon Kingsland-area water quality, air purity, health, recreation and life in general,” he added. “Countywide, all citizens should be relieved that their own property taxes won’t have to be raised to make up for the millions of dollars in value that lakefront properties would have lost after ending up next to loud, smelly and downright-dangerous industrial operations.”
Collier company Vice President Kevin Collier — who contends the operation would remove excess sand deposits caused by past floods — said he has reached out to LCRA.
“They sent it (application) back to me, and it looks like I’ll have to resubmit it,” Collier said. “We have meetings set up with them. We’ll find out more.”
(See Collier’s company statement on the LCRA decision below).
According to the LCRA press release, the entity “will not accept new applications, review pending applications or issue permits for commercial dredging,” during the moratorium.
As a result, LCRA administration canceled a March 10 public meeting on Collier’s application.
“The application, which requested permission to dredge and remove sand from Lake LBJ, has been returned to the applicant,” the statement read. “Over the next year, LCRA will review potential water quality impacts of commercial dredging, coordinate with other entities, and conduct a robust public and stakeholder input process.
“Before the end of the moratorium, LCRA staff will report to the LCRA Board of Directors and either make a recommendation related to regulations on commercial dredging, or request additional time to propose an effective recommendation.”
The moratorium does not apply to non-commercial dredging projects.
The resolution adopted by the LCRA board is available at lcra.org/hlwo.
