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News-Dispatch Volume XXXVI No. 40
Serving Western Hays County, Texas since 1982
75¢
Thursday, July 14, 2016
More officials stand against discharge permit Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District President Linda Kaye Rogers (left) speaks up as she addresses the crowd at the July 7 special called board meeting held at Dripping Springs City Hall on Mercer Street. By a 4-1 vote, the HTGCD made a resolution opposing issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of Dripping Springs’ proposed permit to discharge treated effluent into Walnut Springs until more science is conducted.
Defining family? Controversy erupts at Wimberley City Council BY BAILEY BUCKINGHAM News-Dispatch Reporter
Emotions boiled over at the last Wimberley City Council meeting after the definition of family came into question during a discussion on possible changes to the city’s single-family zoning ordinance. Council ultimately voted 4-1 to instruct city administration to create a broad definition of the single-family zoning ordinance so future issues would have a clear and defined solution. But the decision came after an explosive council discussion, which arose as an agenda item over a conflict between two neighbors. Council discussed the item after Wimberley resident Chelsea Kelley, who purchased a home on June 15, took to Craigslist in search of a roommate to lease a room in her home. Kelley starting receiving “harassing” messages from her neighbor, Sara Catherine Kirkpatrick Dishman, regarding her Craigslist ad. Dishman sent Kelley
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BY MOSES LEOS III
News-Dispatch Editor
PHOTO BY MOSES LEOS III
Roughly a week after the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) formally opposed Dripping Springs’ proposed discharge permit, the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD) Thursday followed suit. On a 4-1 vote, the HTGCD made a resolution opposing issuance by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) of Dripping Springs’
proposed permit to discharge treated effluent into Walnut Springs until more science is conducted. Board member Jimmy Skipton cast the lone dissenting vote. District 4 board member Linda Kaye Rogers said passage of the resolution was a “sigh of relief.” She said the GCD needed to be “leaders in this” and was “embarrassed Barton Springs got on this before we did.” On June 30, the BSEACD passed its resolution asking Dripping Springs and TCEQ to delay action on the proposed
discharge permit, which could directly discharge treated effluent into the recharge zone of the Trinity Aquifer. “I feel like some of our board members closer to all of this should have brought it up,” Rogers said. “I’m pleased. It opens it up for us to have time to come to the table and do what we need to do (to find a solution).” In a some times contentious meeting on Thursday, 14 people spoke against Dripping Springs’ permit and voiced
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Tasty times at Tomato Roundup
PHOTO BY KYLA MORA
A young reveler shows a rather puzzled look after sampling tomatoes at the Tomato Round-Up held at the Triangle in Dripping Springs on Saturday. Local tomato aficionados descended on Dripping Springs for the event, which saw Melanie and Hayden Lewis, of Blanco, win Best in Show category. Results and photos from the round-up can be found on page 3 and online at haysnewsdispatch.com.
Goforth water, EP deal moves forward BY KYLA MORA
News-Dispatch Reporter
A move by Goforth Special Utility District (SUD) approving a second amendment to its water supply agreement with Electro Purification, LLC (EP) means the water supply company has a year to prove the quantity and quality of its water to Goforth. EP has to deliver a feasibility notice to the the SUD. Goforth has leased water from EP, which is in the process of drilling test wells on an 18-acre tract of land in order to determine the quality and quantity of water to be supplied to Goforth. EP received approval from the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to file for approval for the test wells under a regular permit. The board has estimated 2.5 million gallons per day as the projected capacity of the proposed well field. Given recent protests from community members over the water supply agreement, EP representative Ed McCarthy suggested following a procedure similar to one utilized by the Lost Pines Groundwater District in its 2015 agreement with Forestar Real Estate Group. In that agreement, Forestar
EP received approval from the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District to file for approval for the test wells under a regular permit, with 2.5 million gallons per day as the projected capacity of the proposed well field.
was authorized to initialize pumping up to 12,000 acre-feet of water and then to gradually increase that amount based on data provided via monitor wells. “We could phase in accordingly so we could keep ahead of it and the district would have the opportunity to do the review and do the analysis,” McCarthy said. According to McCarthy, a pump test conducted in February and March 2015 on existing
wells in the target area showed “productivity at 2.5 million gallons per day (gpd) which is extremely realistic.” McCarthy added that “as part of this pump test they would acidize these wells, further develop them, clean them out, so our hydrogeologist projects a much greater and stronger capacity.” Given the rainfall levels over the past year, board president Debbie Sandoval said previous hydrological predictions regarding recharge levels underestimated the potential for recharge. The difference was due mainly because the predictions “were based on people who live in residential areas and have wells that are 80 feet or shallower in the Upper Glen Rose [formation], which is a completely different formation and much tighter,” McCarthy said. Sandoval said the distinctions in the aquifers make it possible to move forward with the water supply agreement, despite community opposition. Sandoval said the water supply agreement with EP would pump water from the Middle and Lower Trinity formations. “The majority of the people in
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LAGNIAPPE Birds of a Feather
Learn about your feathered friends through a live bird demonstration from Paul Fushille. Kids will learn the tips and tricks of becoming a backyard bird-watcher by creating their own guidebook, birdfeeder, and birdcall. This event will be held July 14 from 9-11 a.m. at the Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead in Dripping Springs for kids ages 6-12. Reservations are required. Visit www.drpoundhistoricalfarmstead.org to sign up today.
Rocket Derby 2016
On July 16 from 9-11 a.m., the public is invited to join Pack 101 at the Rec Center in Belterra to learn about the pack and launch a rocket. It’ll be a blast for all!
Coloring for Grownup Girls & Boys
On Monday, July 18, the Wimberley Village Lirvry will host this coloring group from 5:30 - 7:30
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