LCRA staff proposing limiting Highland Lakes water for downstream in 2013

November 02, 2012, 6:00 pm by Phil Schoch

The LCRA Board of Directors will consider at its Nov. 13-14 meeting a recommendation from LCRA staff to seek emergency drought relief from the state to send less water to downstream rice farmers next year than the current state-approved Water Management Plan requires.

The Board will consider the recommendation at its Water Operations Committee meeting on Nov. 13 in Fredericksburg. Public comment on the recommendation will be taken at that time. The Board could take action at its Nov. 14 Board meeting in Fredericksburg.

Details will be available at the meetings, LCRA said in a news release.

In October, LCRA staff said it did not recommend seeking emergency relief from the Water Management Plan at that time. Since then, conditions have not measurably improved, and updated weather forecasts call for drier conditions. Accordingly, staff will now be recommending the Board consider seeking emergency relief from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

In 2011, because of the severe drought, LCRA received permission from the state to deviate from the current Water Management Plan. That resulted in most downstream farmers receiving no water from the Highland Lakes in 2012.

At the Nov. 13 and 14 meetings, LCRA staff will recommend emergency relief that is different from both the current Water Management Plan and the emergency plan in force this year.

The Water Operations Committee and Board meetings on Nov. 13 and 14 will be at the Hangar Airport Conference Center, 155 Airport Road in Fredericksburg.

Reader Comments

One thing that must happen now is the state and our elected officials need to wake up to our water issues before its too late. The LCRA it appears has had its eyes opened a bit to the issue at hand of no water in the highland lakes. It looks like the TCEQ needs to wake up to this fact also. Rick Perry needs to head this up and quit hiding from this issue.
November 02, 2012, 6:17pm by dr joe

This reads as tho LCRA staff are going to send water downstream, they may have found a new way. 'READ LAST SENTANCE NEXT TO LAST PARAGRAPH. once again saying to those of us living upstream, even tho your business is going broke, your property tax is going up while your value is going down its all OK. Because the LCRA NEEDS to sell water to the rice farmers for$ 6,50 avg. on the per ac foot while we upstream folks pay just a little more of time say 151.00 SOUNDS FAIR to me how bout you?
November 08, 2012, 11:14pm by connie myers