If the State Pipeline becomes a reality, the Governor's allies will pick the winners and losers in the water war, threatening property rights, economic stability and local food sources
Note: Click on the link here for the related Jan. 5 story in the San Antonio Current about oil and gas well "fracking" and the dire effects the process is having on groundwater resources in areas of South and North Texas. Some say a water crisis is already upon us – forget about the well engineered smokescreen known as the 50-year State Water Plan. The Texas Water Development Board says the water plan "is based on a "bottom-up" consensus-driven approach to water planning." We're not so sure about the "bottom-up" claim. In reality, only a handful of policymakers, politicians and water dealers and developers are paying attention who stand to profit handsomely from the capture and sale of the remaining supply.
Send your comments and news tips to roundup.editor@gmail.com, to Ms. Curtis at ljcurtis@indytexans.org or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story
Media Release from Independent Texans
Linda Curtis, Founder
Wednesday, December 5, 2011
Months ago, we incorrectly reported to some of you that the plan by private water profiteers to raid the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer that feeds Bastrop and Lee counties (aka the Simsboro Pipeline Project) was all but dead. It is VERY much alive.Its statewide implications are now clear. On Dec. 16, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB, all 6 Perry appointees) approved the pipeline over the objections of the local community and groundwater district – while in the same breath claiming Texas could not afford water conservation.
The original plan for a 50-mile, $300 million pipeline is now a 100-mile, $400-plus million pipeline. Watch the entire meeting online here – our discussion starts at 51.44.The stage is now set for a statewide water war and the related rise of an independent (outside the parties, non-aligned) unified movement. The question is whether local communities will have any real control over their groundwater – as we have argued – a bigger, badder Trans-Texas Corridor.
Consider these facts: 1,000 people per day are moving to Texas – many from California who already lost their water war. Growth should pay for itself, but is currently rigged to help large-scale developers. (See CostofGrowth.com and ChangeAustin.org.)
Hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") is mushrooming and requires massive amounts of water. Citizens and officials in the DFW area are raising legitimate concerns about potential contamination of groundwater from thousands of wells. Now, Chinese state owned energy company investments that will help escalate fracking wells from Milam County to south Texas counties (through Fayette & Lee counties.) The Texas Railroad Commission already has the power to exempt oil and gas drilling from the regular process for groundwater permitting.
Local control of groundwater is under attack. The TWDB decision was a set up for private water vendors to sue local groundwater districts. If the State Pipeline becomes a reality, the Governor's allies will pick the winners and losers in the water war, threatening property rights, economic stability and local food sources.
We at Independent Texans have called together this forum to begin statewide organizing plans. Much more will follow this event: The Texas Water War: Will the people unite? Saturday, January 15, 2-4 pm, Bastrop Library, 1101 Church Street. Speakers will include Steve Box, Environmental Stewardship; Phil Cook, Sierra Club; Linda Curtis, Founder, Independent Texans; Pati Jacobs, Bastrop rancher; and Judith McGeary, or her rep, from the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance.
For more information contact Linda Curtis, Independent Texans, IndyTexans.org. PO Box 6718 Austin, TX 78762. Office, 512-535-0989. Cell, 512-657-2089.
5 comments:
Oh no, another Austin liberal trying to muzzle in on our God-given free markets right to pilfer water for short term profits and to control the masses through private water utility torture tactics such as exorbitant rates and unsafe drinking water for our children.
Keep government hands off our government water (unless of course our government wants to sell those water rights to crony capitalist water profiteers, in which case I love government meddling).
Waterboarding would be too good for MS. Curtis. We miss you George W.
Wow, no one responds to this article. Where are all the right wingers attacking Ms. Curtis? Maybe, finally, even the wingnuts see the light regarding our water.
Maybe we should all be saying: "Keep your private money off our public water." Now that one makes sense.
Since this does not directly apply to Hays County groundwater the water fairies of our area don’t care much. The way it works, if it doesn’t threaten Jacob’s Well, it ain’t worth a comment. You see, it is an obsession the lefties have as victims of the WVWA and the Nature Conservancy.
No, you got it wrong, last Anonymous.
The victimization caused by the WVWA and Nature Conservancy deals is an obsession of the right wingnuts.
We don't have a problem with those deals - after all the environmental and aesthetic damage done in Hays County by your pro-development political cronies.
Of course, facts have never been a desireable strong suit of the right wing.
get back to the initial process of creating a gas well- its called "fracking" and there are close to 300 various chemicals along with millions of gal water that penetrate deep into the ground to release the gas-very very bad for peoples well water. Everyone needs to watch "Gasland" a doc. movie of companies and their impact on wells.It is chilling. People can literally light their tap water on fire...
Post a Comment