Protecting the Colorado River Basin, Aquifers, and Bays of the Texas Gulf Coast
Bulletin: TWO VICTORIES:
A more reasonable Desired Future Conditions
for the Simsboro Aquifer, and
Surface Water Monitoring in LCRA Permit.

We are thankful this holiday season for these victories,
and for your unwavering support for these many years.

Greetings!

We want to thank the Lost Pines Board of Directors for taking a strong stand in its recent vote to adopt conservation based Desired Future Conditions (DFCs) for the Simsboro aquifer. At the GMA-12 meeting yesterday, November 30th, we were able to confirm that the District will be able to adopt DFCs that are 10% more conservative for all aquifers as soon as they get certification back from the Texas Water Development Board that the adopted DFC are administratively complete, that their is agreement on the results of the pumping file, and Modeled Available Groundwater has been calculated for each aquifer.

Here is a brief summary of what happened over the last month.

After a major victory for conservation and consideration of domestic wells and surface waters by Lost Pines GCD Board (November 9 Bulletin), the Groundwater Management Area 12 (GMA-12) representatives voted against Lost Pines’ request at the November 12th meeting.

Fortunately, we have been able to confirm that there are adjustments to the adopted drawdown values that can be made for both the Simsboro and Carrizo aquifers that will result in even less impact on domestic wells and surface waters. The final “desired future conditions,” expressed as average drawdown, can be adjusted up/down by a maximum of 10% by the District as described above. These variances need only be adopted by the Board and included in the next revision of the District's management plan.

Lost Pines GCD can now reduce the 240 feet average drawdown in the Simsboro down to about 216 feet average drawdown -- which is about 100 ft less than the DFCs proposed in May; about a 31% reduction in drawdown. This reduction in average drawdown representing about 56,500 acre-feet per year (AFY) of pumping; a 54% reduction in pumping from the originally proposed DFC.

This is a significant victory for WaterDefenders, stakeholders, landowners and surface waters in Lost Pines District.  

Please consider a donation today!

--------------------------------- GET THE DETAILS HERE -----------------------------


Surface water monitoring in LCRA's Permit
was updated in the November 23rd bulletin.

Request for Donations

Finally, as we near the end of the year, we are requesting that you keep Environmental Stewardship, and the work we do to protect your surface water, groundwater, coastal bays and estuaries, in mind as you make your year-end gift plans.  Currently our work is limited by the amount of individual and business donations we receive each year, so your generous donation by year-end will help us maximize the work we will be able to do in 2022. 
On behalf our Board of Directors and me, 
thank you for your help and participation.

Sincerely,
Steve Box
Board President and Executive Director
Environmental Stewardship
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Steve Box | Executive Director | Environmental Stewardship | A WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE Affiliate
Our Mission

Environmental Stewardship is a charitable nonprofit organization whose purposes are to meet current and future needs of the environment and its inhabitants by protecting and enhancing the earth's natural resources; to restore and sustain ecological services using scientific information; and to encourage public stewardship through environmental education and outreach.  

We are a Texas nonprofit 501(c) (3) charitable organization headquartered in Bastrop, Texas.