Critical Groundwater Hearings Next Week

🗣️ Speak out against irresponsible developments in fragile Central Texas water zones!

Community, we want you to know about these pivotal permit hearings that require our collective action. The proposed Mirasol Development in Northern Hays/Western Travis counties, surrounding the pristine Roy Creek Canyon (pictured above), is having permit hearings next week with both the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and the Southwestern Travis County Groundwater Conservation District. Each of the districts have issued draft permits, and the meetings will decide whether those draft permits will be accepted or contested. The outcome will determine how much groundwater Mirasol is allowed to pump, which could affect nearby springs in both counties, including those in Roy Creek Canyon, at Hamilton Pool and Westcave Preserves, and at Reimer's Ranch.

There are several threatened and endangered species potentially at risk, including the Pedernales River springs salamander, fatmucket mussels in the river near the mouth of the creeks, Golden-cheeked warblers nesting in the canyons, and Guadalupe bass in the river and creeks. The Mirasol team is planning significant development, including 40-50 large home lots, 2 restaurants, a 70+ room luxury hotel, ~30 rental casitas, a farm, and a research field station, in an area that is mostly under conservation easements, or is parkland. The amount of water used will impact flows in both the Pedernales River (already quite low), and in numerous springs throughout the nearby area. SOS, Save the Pedernales, Travis County, and numerous individual landowners will be requesting contested case hearings, as will the developers themselves, as they are not content with the limited amount of water and conditional restrictions the groundwater districts are intending to implement. We want to be sure to support the groundwater districts' stellar efforts while also holding these developers to standards that will not negatively impact Roy Creek and all of the various and beloved parks and preserves nearby. 

Although the Mirasol development has good intentions, they are planning to build a high water use luxury hotel and two restaurants in a place with very limited water availability. They will start by pumping Pedernales River water to drought-like conditions before switching to groundwater, at times when springs and the life that depends on them will already be stressed. The Pedernales River provides up to 24% of the inflow to Lake Travis, Austin's drinking water supply. Reducing its flow reduces the drinking water supply of hundreds of thousands of Austinites. Mirasol plans to collect rainwater on the homes, however it will not be nearly enough to meet the needs of the commercial development.

Your Voice, Your Impact: Take Action!

Please let the groundwater districts know you care about the health of these springs, and their viability as preserves and as public recreational spaces which support abundant and endemic wildlife. Support the districts in limiting the amount of water available for use by the development. If you are a regular user of any of the above mentioned parks and preserves, or of the river itself, please consider speaking on their behalf. Most of these springs and the river itself have been greatly reduced in the last few years, and are already under high stress from prolonged drought. They just cannot support intensive commercial development. You can email the districts with your comments, or come to the meetings and deliver them orally in person. If you prefer not to speak, being in the room to show support for our precious springs will still be extremely helpful; Save the Pedernales will have stickers on hand to wear to show your support. We would like to fill these large spaces to let the developers know they are being carefully watched.
Monday, 1/22/24, 5:30 pm, Bee Cave City Hall, 4000 Galleria Pkwy, Bee Cave, TX 78738: Southwestern Travis County Groundwater District Discussion of SWTGCD draft permit.
 
For Southwestern Travis: Anyone interested in the application may submit written comments to the District up to the start time of the hearing, or may attend the hearing to submit written comments in person, or make oral comments.
 
Thursday, 1/25/24, 5:00 PM, Sunset Canyon Baptist Church, 4000 US-290, Dripping Springs: Hearing on the HTGCD Draft Permit. The initial meeting will allow the board to hear from both sides to determine whether the permit will be contested. If it is, another meeting will follow immediately after to begin addressing the contested case. 
 
For Hays Trinity: The District will accept written comments by 4pm the business day before the Board Meeting, 1/24/24. Public comment, limited to 5 minutes, can also be spoken at the meeting, by registering to speak at the start of the meeting. Four of the five wells being used are in this district.  For reference, this district has been in Stage 4 Emergency Drought, their most severe, for over 18 months. 

And Later In January 2024...Monday, January 29th at 7PM TCEQ Public Meeting about Fitzhugh Concert Venue (Blizexas, LLC) The meeting will be held at Dripping Springs Ranch Park, 1042 Event Center Dr., Dripping Springs, TX. Attending this public meeting is the most effective way to share your concerns with the state officials who will play a deciding role in whether this ill-conceived concert venue moves forward. You can also sign the petition HERE.

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Your involvement is crucial in safeguarding the Texas Hill Country and ensuring responsible development that aligns with our shared commitment to water conservation.
Thank you for your unwavering support. Together, we can make a difference!
SOS Alliance