On February 22, 2012 the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Board of Directors approved a new Water Management Plan (WMP) that is more protective of our region’s precious water supply reservoirs, the Highland Lakes. The plan, which determines how water is allocated from lakes Buchanan and Travis, was the culmination of more than 18 months of work by LCRA staff and an advisory committee, a majority of who collectively came to a consensus. The advisory committee was made up of volunteers from throughout the basin and included representatives from the rice industry, municipalities, lake area businesses, property owners and environmental groups. The plan is now in the hands of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for final approval. This approval is critical for protecting our water supply and local economy.

There was consensus among LCRA and the vast majority of members (including three out of four rice industry members) leading up to the approval by the LCRA Board. Subsequently, the rice industry’s powerful lobby, the Texas Rice Producers Legislative Group, opposed the plan and asserts that regional Highland Lakes businesses, property owners, municipalities and environmental groups should have no input on how their local water reservoir should be managed. Despite the equal participation of all involved groups in developing the plan, the rice industry’s lobby rejects this process and wants to overturn the LCRA’s decision, nullifying the protective portions of the plan. Failure to implement this water management plan will harm our water supply and will have a devastating impact on our local economy.

The Central Texas Water Coalition (CTWC) strongly disagrees with the rice industry’s lobby. CTWC maintains that Central Texas water policy should not be dictated by only the rice industry. The fiscal impact of persistently low lake levels will have a devastating impact on the regional and statewide economy and should be vigorously avoided. We must protect our most vital natural resources from special interests groups who have demonstrated little interest in conservation.

CTWC strongly urges TCEQ to approve the February 22nd proposed water management plan as presented.

SO WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU AND THE HIGHLAND LAKES AREA? 

- There are 43 taxing entities in the Lake Travis area
- There are 19,300 homes in the Lake Travis area
- There are 38,000 parcels of land in the Lake Travis area
- There are 3,900 commercial businesses in the Lake Travis area
- There are 6 hotels and 362 rental homes in the Lake Travis area
- There was $207.2 million in municipal and state revenue in the Lake Travis area in 2010
- Lake Travis 2010 Study Area, Burnet and Llano Counties market property values total approximately $20.3 billion, $5.9 billion of which is waterfront.

PLEASE SUPPORT AND SIGN CTWC’s PETITION TO TCEQ NOW!