Senators join water fray

November 12, 2012, 9:00 pm by James Walker

Another showdown in the ongoing duel between Highland Lakes residents and businesses and downstream rice farmers is scheduled to be played out in Fredericksburg the next two days at the Lower Colorado River Authority’s monthly meeting.

At Tuesday’s Water Operations Committee, LCRA’s directors who sit on the committee are likely to hear competing requests from two powerful state senators as they grapple with whether they should extend an emergency drought declaration that has been in place most of this year.

Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Horseshoe Bay, said Monday he planned to attend Tuesday’s committee meeting and ask the directors to keep the emergency drought order in place.

"I plan to ask that they implement the same drought emergency measures that they approved last year, which would mean that no water would be released to the lower basin for agriculture use next year,” said Fraser, who is chairman of the senate’s Natural Resources Committee.

Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, reportedly asked LCRA board chairman Tim Timmerman in a phone call Sunday evening to not hold a vote on the matter when the board reconvenes Wednesday in Fredericksburg for its full board meeting.

Reader Comments

To Vote or Not Vote. That seems to be the priority question. Do nothing or do something.
November 13, 2012, 4:48pm by Dwayne