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Wake up Texas! Hopefully, you’re not leaning on a wall somewhere on Trigger, waiting for us to track you down. Wake up, Texas, to defend your water, your land and OUR future!track you down. Please attend Tuesday’s press conference at 9 am (NOTE THE TIME CHANGE — location Speaker’s Committee Room 2W.6, Texas Capitol) with hydrologist George Rice and John Cyrier — Rice is releasing his supplemental report on the combined pumping effects of all mega-permit demands on the Simsboro aquifer underlying Burleson, Milam, Lee and Bastrop counties. Please stay for Tuesday’s House Natural Resources Committee hearing on water markets/massmovement of water starting at 10 am in Room E2.010 — underground building, Texas Capitol. Notice anything missing in the agenda — might that be landowners or anyone to represent them ?  More details here too. Whether you speak or not, your presence is a statement the committee needs to see. We’re also happy to help you prepare a statement — reply or call us. DIRECTIONS :  We have rides!  Call us if you want to ride with us at 512-213-4511. Leave a message if we don’t pick up. Park in the parking lots to the east of the Capitol. This is paid parking. Walk over to the Capitol and ask for directions. Awake yet? Let this shake and bake ya! The H20 for Texas coalition that pushed Prop 6 in 2013 — a coalition of big business, special interests and urban governmental authorities — is beefing up for this statewide tour to push us in the wrong direction on water. Note that their honorary chairs are Rep. Jim Keffer, who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee and Sen. Charles Perry, who chairs the Senate on Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs Committee. (H2o’s first event is in Austin on February 9 ). The coalition of members of H2O pushing this tour is noticeably missing landowners and citizens who would rather see conservation first and investment in longterm solutions, like desalination and big-scale rainwater harvesting (scroll down to see the big wigs hoping to roll right over us) :  http://texaswatertour.info/ Is this massacre in the making or an opportunity to alert Texans in a much bigger way? That, dear citizens, depends on us pulling together now. Please share this message with your friends and be seen and heard. PS This is not a campaign event — Rep. Cyrier will attend as — so far — the only elected state official who represents the affected counties willing to stand with us. #GeorgeRice #RepJohnCyrier

Ride those water marketers high!  There’s lots going on, including a very important press conference and hearing at the Capitol next Tuesday . Join us this Sunday at 5 pm to talk about all things listed below. Reply for the conference call instructions. Important Events! ► Tonight!   Apologies for the late notice! Debate tonight in Frederiskcburg in the very crowded field in the Republican primary for Troy Fraser’s seat, Senate District 24. Details here. ► Monday, Feb. 1, 6 to 8 pm, Performing Arts Center, Bastrop – debate in the Republican primary race between John Cyrier and Brent Golemon for Texas House District 17 – Lee, Bastrop, Caldwell, Gonzales and Karnes counties. This will also be streamed at btxn.tv — go there on the internet when the event starts. Details here . ► Tuesday, Feb. 2, 9:30 am, Press Conference at the Texas Capitol with Rep. John Cyrier and hydrologist George Rice on “What Are the Risks to the Simsboro?” Rice, a respected hydrologist and former Edwards Aquifer Authority Board member, will release his new report on the cumulative impact of mega-permits on the Simsboro formation of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer. Location to be announced. If you’re coming, be on Sunday’s call or call us!►Following the press conference on Tuesday, please attend the Texas House Natural Resources Committee Hearing on Water, at the Capitol, underground building, Rm. E2.010! Starts at 10 am sharp. More here . ► Thursday, February 11, San Marcos, Texas Water Symposium, sponsored by Hill Country Alliance – this is a big deal!!! More here . The Back Story…. A regional movement to let our state leaders know that the “ California water model ” – draining rural Texas to fuel development in dry areas. is a mistake that no one — even the development community — can afford. Though “Gridzilla” – a little bill to study mass movement of groundwater – was killed last session, death by a thousand cuts to groundwater supply are the wish of groundwater sharks circling the Simsboro underlying Burleson, Milam, Lee and Bastrop counties. No matter where you live in Texas, this affects you. Whether you can make the hearing or not, do this. Call your state representative and state senator and ask them to get involved on the “water front”. Let them know you do not support the “California Water Model”. Get their contact info here . Let us know how it goes. Got questions or need more information? Reply or call us and get ready to ride those water marketers high! #SimsboroAquifer #groundwater #EdwardsAquifer #GeorgeRice #JohnCyrier

We meant to report to you yesterday about the Forestar Settlement on Monday night — mostly a big win for us all, BUT THEN this article appears in yesterday’s Statesman: Vista Ridge proves the old adage there is no honor amongst thieves Merry Christmas, y’all! We’ll have more to say after Christmas — meanwhile, enjoy this report on the Lost Pines GCD: This is no hype, folks. Monday night’s meeting of the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District was extraordinary. You can even watch it on the city of Bastrop’s TV channel: Click here — our own Michele Gangnes starts at 47.13 . The Forestar Settlement was passed . This flier we handed out at the meeting is our take on the good and not-so good of this settlement. The VERY good in this deal is that Forestar agreed to allow Lost Pines to watchdog the aquifer and to enforce various provisions in the contract that allow Lost Pines to limit the permit. That includes if the Desired Future Conditions are not met. And some of the best news all year is that Forestar must reimburse Lost Pines’ legal bills, dismiss its lawsuit, and drill monitor wells for the District to use! Most importantly, the Lost Pines Board is setting out a path for reform of groundwater district’s permitting practices. This includes recognition of affected communities’ concerns in the decisions governing their most precious resource. Yup, that’s right — local control is becoming a reality in practice, at least in the Lost Pines. The Board took seriously the comments submitted jointly by Environmental Stewardship, the League and two other local watchdog groups, and even incorporated some into the settlement. Special thanks to Steve Box (ES), our hydrologist George Rice and Phil Cook. We owe a debt of gratitude to General Manager Jim Totten, Board President Mike Talbot and all the board members for their willingness to open their doors to what we hope will become a real stakeholder process at Lost Pines. And once again, we thank our local officials — pictured here — in a pow-wow taking place as the Board deliberated in Executive Session. From left to right are Lee County Commissioner Charles “Chappy” Murray, Giddings Mayor John Dowell, Rep. John Cyrier and Lee County Judge Paul Fischer. Bastrop City Councilmembers Kay McAnally and Kelly Gilleland, not pictured, were sitting in the back. The battle over the Simsboro is only going to heat up in 2016, but we’re beginning to believe that someone out there is looking out for us — all Texans and our resources, that is. Have a peaceful Christmas and make ready to ride those water robber barons high! PS When founding Lost Pines Board member Keith Hansberger — the aquifer’s most ardent defender —-made the motion to approve the permit, we knew for sure the settlement was the right move. #GiddingsMayorJohnDowell #BastropCityCouncilwomanKayMcAnally #LeeCountyJudgePaulFischer #BastropCityCouncilMemberKellyGilleland #localcontrol #LeeCountyCommissionerCharlesChappyMurray #StateRepJohnCyrier

We are alerting you to the possibility that an important precedent for groundwater policy, affecting all of central Texas, could be set tomorrow night. TOMORROW (Monday, December 21st), just 4 days before Christmas, a settlement between Forestar Real Estate Group and Lost Pines GCD will be considered. Come a little early to read more about this, as the details are still in negotiations! Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District Meeting — come early at 5:30! 6 pm Bastrop City Hall, 1311 Chestnut Street, Bastrop, TX map here Forestar Real Estate Group is pushing hard to settle its lawsuit against the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District before the end of the year. The good news is that Forestar has agreed to reduce its permit demand to 28,500 acre-feet per year — down from the full 45,000 AFY. (Remember, they already have a permit for 12,000, and this is included in the 28,500). Forestar has also agreed to “stair step” this permit with a monitoring regime that could be a positive step forward for managing large permit applications. In any event, it has moved forward what we’ve been fighting for all these years – a seat at the table for those of us whose primary interests are sustaining the aquifers and supporting private property values of all landowners. This is definitely a step in the right direction for local control of groundwater. The District’s manager sat down with a group of us and State Rep. John Cyrier in a productive discussion of our comments and forwarded them to the district’s attorneys for further review. The bad news is that the devil is in the details and a settlement with Forestar may well be just too rushed AND we cannot forget that there are two other mega-permits in play over Simsboro water. This agreement, in our view, must be considered fully within the context that End Op continues to push for 46,000 AFY in the Lost Pines District and the 800-pound (50,000 AFY) gorilla, Vista Ridge , just over the Lee County line in Burleson and Milam counties, are very much in play. Rep. John Cyrier receives appreciation from LIV’s Linda Curtis We’ll have some news on Vista Ridge just after New Years on a growing movement across the region to scuttle this dangerous project. Bottom line for tomorrow night is this. We cannot say exactly what the Lost Pines Board may be voting on OR whether we can support this agreement. That is why YOU need to be there to hear or read our comments and to make your own if so moved. Your presence is also a statement. We are very grateful that the volunteer team of “water wonks” Steve Box (Environmental Stewardship), Phil Cook and Michele Gangnes (Neighbors for Neighbors and the League) — together with Rep.Cyrier — for the many hours they have spent on this in the middle of the holidays. We gave this plaque of appreciation to Rep. Cyrier at yesterday’s Christmas Party. Thanks to those of you who could make it, and we apologize that it was not more festive. Y’all come! #EndOp #ForestarRealEstateGroup #VistaRidgewaterproject

All we really want for Christmas is to see you this Saturday, from 2-4 pm at our Christmas Party at The Roadhouse in Paige. We’ll be recognizing some folks and we’ll have some of those big “I Oppose the Hose” signs as door prizes ! Details here . AND, do mark your calendars to attend the Forestar special settlement meeting on Monday night, December 21st — details here. ) We wish to THANK Rep. John Cyrier for his letter and Judge Paul Fischer for his letter to the Lost Pines District urging a more open settlement process. Giddings Mayor John Dowell and Bastrop City Councilwoman Kay McAnally also weighed in. Thank you. A quick take on why we think Forestar Real Estate Group is pushing so hard for settlement only days before Christmas. Maybe it has to do with any uncertainty associated with five expiring Board member terms as of December 31st at Lost Pines. Or it might hae something to do with the 800-pound gorilla on the other side of the Simsboro in Milam and Burleson counties, aka Vista Ridge/The San Antone Hose. And perhaps they want to beat End Op/Recharge’s bid for 46,000 acre-feet of Simsboro water to the punch. (By the way, water marketer, Joe Beal’s, appointment to the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation Board, be a warning looks like it’s going to be game with the water robber barons starting early in 2016. So, have yourself a feisty little Christmas and show up at the party on Saturday AND at next Monday night’s Lost Pines GCD meeting at 6 pm Bastrop City Hall. More coming soon. Please note that all negotiated settlements are complex. The League is collaborating with Environmental Stewardship and Neighbors for Neighbors to evaluate what this means, so pay close attention before you drink too much eggnog. (ES and NFN have engaged respected San Antonio hydrologist George Rice to help us as he has done with Vista Ridge.) Happy Holidays, y’all, come see us and hold on to your hats for 2016! PS Please consider giving a gift of membership in the League to a friend or family member. Thank you! PPS What are we celebrating? That the League is still standing as bright and tall as this Christmas tree and we’re only 2 years+ old. #ForestarRealEstate #Paige #TheRoadhouse

We applaud the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District’s decision yesterday to extend the comment period on the proposed settlement with Forestar  Real Estate Group until December 16th . They have also cancelled their meeting this Wednesday (tomorrow) and have yet to put out a notice of when the District will deliberate on the decision, but we believe the date will be December 21st — so pencil that in. Please come to our meeting instead tomorrow night (see more below). We thank several local officials who quickly responded to our calls to slow this process down in order to fully understand the deal. Please note that neither we, nor any of these officials, have expressed any position on the Forestar deal…yet. We, at the League, are not opposed to it, though at this time we do have concerns so please come out tomorrow night to our (LIV) meeting: Special Meeting on Proposed Forestar Settlement with Lost Pines — Open Discussion Wednesday, Dec. 9, 6:30 – 8 pm, First National Bank of Bastrop 489 Highway 71 West, Bastrop, TX 78602 We will share our concerns about the Forestar settlement offer and open this up for discussion. Feel free to bring friends, but please note that water marketers, and their allies, are not welcome at this private meeting. Are you a local official? You are more than welcome to attend. We will in no way assume that because you are present you are adopting our position and will assume that you are present simply to understand our concerns. Caldwell Commission Alfredo Muñoz, Mary and Fermin Islas (Chairman of Tejano Democrats of Caldwell County), Lou MacNaughton (EPICC board, Vice Chair of TDCC) and Wayne Lesser (EPICC member) and James Abshier (President of EPICC). A SPECIAL CONGRATULATORY NOTE !   In our previous emails, we failed to congratulate EPICC (Environmental Protection in the Interest of Caldwell County) for their victory. We attended their wonderful fundraising event and took this picture. Click here for more details on their “Bump the Dump” victory. Got questions? Call us or show up tomorrow night! PS Don’t forget our Christmas Party on Saturday, December 19th, 2 – 4 pm at The Roadhouse in Paige to partake in celebration and to hear exciting announcements! More here. PPS Our statewide conference calls are on hold for the moment. Keep an eye out in the next email. #BumptheDump #EPICC #ForestarRealEstateGroup

Remember the efforts to “Bump the Dump” in Caldwell County? Congratulations to the residents and Caldwell Commission Alfredo Muñoz, Mary and Fermin Islas (Chairman of Tejano Democrats of Caldwell County), Lou MacNaughton (EPICC board, Vice Chair of TDCC) and Wayne Lesser (EPICC member) and James Abshier (President of EPICC). members of EPICC (Environmental Protection in the Interest of Caldwell County)! On Monday, November 9th, Caldwell County Commissioner Alfredo Muñoz made a motion that the commissioners end negotiations with landfill company Green Group Holdings over a host agreement. He cited hundreds of calls from concerned citizens who opposed these negotiations and the discrediting facts about the landfill company and its associates discovered in the Waller County case. The motion passed by a 3-1 vote. Now Caldwell County will continue in a joint contested case hearing, along with the citizen-group EPICC, the PCCD water district and local landowners, to be brought to court in April, 2016. #BumptheDump #CaldwellCountyTexas #EPICC

This urgent message is about the possible settlement action to be taken by the Lost Pines  Groundwater Conservation District at a specially called meeting this coming Wednesday, December 9, at 6 pm at Bastrop City Hall .  The action is a settlement with Forestar Real Estate Group to replace Forestar’s permit to export 12,000 acre-feet of water annually from the Simsboro aquifer in Lee County. Forestar could be permitted for up to 28,500 acre-feet per year under the settlement. Public comments are supposed to be in writing no later than tomorrow (Monday) at 5 pm — and that’s just too soon! No oral comments will be taken at the meeting. At this time, we have no position on the settlement because it’s complicated (read Environmental Stewardship’s email blast here for some of the details). Tomorrow we will at least send a respectful request to the Lost Pines Board to delay action on Wednesday and to open public comment until after the holidays, because: 1.    The notice with documents were released at 4 pm on Wednesday, December 2 , with no advance notice a settlement was in the works. Although we appreciate advance notice and opportunity to comment, we are unable to participate in a meaningful way during the holidays in a rushed and complex settlement. There appears to be no legitimate reason for the Board either to act hurriedly or cut off public comment unreasonably. 2.    We believe from feedback so far from officials and local governing bodies (municipalities and county governments) is that they are unaware of what this settlement means, and they too need time to review it. What can you do? 1.    Click here to send your own email to the Lost Pines GCD Board to respectfully request more time for the public to review the settlement offer, taking us past the holidays. (If that link doesn’t work, copy this email address and address it to the Board of the Lost Pines GCD: lpgcd@lostpineswater.org .) 2.    Show up on Wednesday at 6 pm at Bastrop City Hall , 1311 Chestnut – your presence will “voice” your concern about this rushed action. Here’s the agenda . Remember that the Simsboro underlies Milam, Lee, Burleson and Bastrop counties and this water is being targeted to serve unbridled growth along the I-35 Corridor. Therefore, like Vista Ridge, Forestar’s permit demand has brought us together, so y’all come! If you have the desire and time to review the documents about this settlement, they are posted at the top of this page on the Lost Pines GCD website. Feel free to reach us for more information, and we hope to see you on Wednesday night. #ForestarRealEstateGroup #unbrildedgrowth

This post is an update from the one below it: A dear friend to us all here at the League, Helen Smith, passed away on Saturday evening. Helen Smith of Giddings, Texas. She will be missed by all at the League of Independent Voters, and especially her friends in Lee County. Helen was active to the very end and surprised us all by coming with her husband, John, to the Burleson County LIV meeting in October. She was ill, but determined to be there and it did not go unnoticed. Helen, like our water, was a precious resource of Lee County who taught for years in Giddings I.S.D. She and John, also a teacher, never gave up teaching others as they worked to get their fellow Lee countians and neighbors in Giddings involved in protecting Lee County’s most important resource — the Simsboro aquifer. We will see you at Helen’s funeral to be held this Saturday, December 5, at 11 am at the First Baptist Church, 600 Sunrise Avenue in Giddings. Our deepest sympathies to John and all of Helen’s family, and to all who knew and loved this lovely lady. You are cordially invited: Christmas Holiday Party! Saturday, Dec. 19, 2 to 4 pm  The Roadhouse *  147 Old Highway 20 * Paige, TX We hope to share some very exciting announcements at this event for our growing regional cooperation of citizens from San Antonio to Burleson & Brazos counties. We will also bestow our first “Leader in Open Government” award. Important News! Two courageous Bastrop City Councilwomen, Kay McAnally and Kelly Gilleland, stood up for transparent and ethical government on the day before Thanksgiving when Bastrop Mayor Ken Kesselus appointed water marketer, Joe Beal , to the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation. It was reported here in the newspaper. Beal’s appointment followed a failed attempt by Kesselus to appoint his boss to the EDC — Mark Rose , CEO of Bluebonnet Electric Coop — and Rose’s wife, Dianna, to another City Board. Rose asked Bastrop City Attorney, JC Brown, to explain Bastrop’s Ethics Ordinance to him. Here’s what Brown wrote in a Memorandum to Rose . Watch the video of this Council meeting ( click on that weird looking cat on the left ) and share! More soon… Jack Hollon, Founding Member Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District In Memoriam: We send our condolences to all who knew, loved and admired Jack Hollon of Wimberley who, among other wonderful things, was a founding member of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District. Please read this touching tribute to Jack from dear friends at the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association . We hope to see you at the memorial and celebration of Jack’s life on Saturday, December 5th at 1 pm at Blue Hole on Cypress Creek in Wimberley. PS You San Antonians hold on to your hats for an announcement on fighting the Vista Ridge rate hikes. PPS Please consider a gift of membership in the League as a present for our future. #JoeBeal #KayMcAnally #KellyGilleland #KenKesselus

Robert Puente, SAWS CEO, turning his back on the ratepayers, was unanimously supported by a very nervous San Antonio City Council. Not surprisingly, the San Antonio City Council turned its back on SAWS ratepayers, unanimously voting for the rate hikes for Vista Ridge. Read this Texas Tribune piece — please leave a comment. Here’s LIV’s 2 minute address to the SA Council . If you’re really up to it, watch the 5-hour video of this meeting here . PLEASE NOTE:  On Wednesday, Austin Mayor Steve Adler spoke at an event in Bastrop, along with three other area Mayors. Adler offered nothing concrete about his plan to deal with Austin’s affordability crisis driven by unbridled growth. Any hard questions about how to protect Bastrop and Caldwell counties’ affordability, not to mention the aquifer to their northeast that is under continual siege, were not allowed from the floor. Shameful. (Sponsors: United Way, Bank of America, Bluebonnet Electric, Cap Metro, Goodwill, ACC and Community Advancement Netwo rk). Frankly, it’s a relief to get to the next stage of the battle where the gloves come off. We have expended our funds to get to this point. Please donate, if you can. DONATION INFORMATION HERE Populist revolts, outside the confines of gooey government, are lots more fun. Join us on Sunday. PS SA Councilman Cris Medina did say he had been getting 100s of calls. Good for you, San Antonio…the “little people”, that is! #VistaRidgeWater

You know how sometimes, in the middle of a fight, you miss the forest for the trees? We did that on Vista Majority of San Antonio’s chambers backing SAWS rate hike plan, San Antonio Business Journal Ridge. Check it out: San Antonio Water System has yet to explain — or remedy — the loss of 32 million gallons per day of water in the SAWS system. Meanwhile, at the behest of the real estate lobby, the San Antonio City Council is about to vote on 50%+ rate hikes mostly dedicated to purchase 44 million gallons per day of NEW water — Vista Ridge.* San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor needs to have her phone ringing off the hook today before the vote tomorrow — as well as appropriate City Council members. Here’s the number:   210.207.7040 Click on the picture to read “San Antonio Water System is being backed by six local chambers” in the San Antonio Business Journal. Is it not time — long overdue — for a united movement of rural, suburban and urban Texans to cut off the perpetual hogs at the public trough? Please share this message today by forwarding this message or using the share buttons on this page. We’ll be at the Council meeting at 114 W. Commerce tomorrow at 9 am. You can also watch online at:  http://sanantonio.gov/tvsa.aspx PS The rates are spread out over 5 years. Just note that SAWS has yet to say what their plan is after 2020. #SanAntonioChamberofCommerce #VistaRidgeWater

Do not let the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce get away with it! This Thursday, the San Antonio City Council will vote on 50%+ water rate hikes (SAWS) mostly for Vista Ridge “the San Antone hose”. If you agree it’s time for a SAWS ratepayer revolt, pass this message on to anyone you know in the SAWS service area. Even if they don’t vote for San Antonio City Council, they have a right to complain. If you live in San Antonio or are a SAWS ratepayer: Do this today or tomorrow before the San Antonio City Council votes on Thursday for this inexcusable 50%+ water rate hikes and “water grab” in Burleson County some 142-miles away.  We do not want to pay to drain our neighbors and we must refuse to pay for this developer giveaway to build in dry areas over the sensitive zones of the Edwards aquifer – our own drinking water supply. Call 210.207.7040 right now . Insist that Mayor Ivy Taylor (and your council member, if you live in the city of San Antonio) delay or stop Vista Ridge (the “San Antone Hose”) when they vote on the 50%+ rate hikes for Vista Ridge on Thursday. Note:  Vista Ridge is some of the most expensive water in Texas and San Antonio doesn’t need that much water. Therefore, SAWS is looking to become a water broker in the region WITH YOUR DOLLARS! More Background : The “San Antone Hose” is set to hose the 400,000+ ratepayers of San Antonio Water System as a $3.4 billion giveaway to real estate developers to bring water to dry areas OUTSIDE San Antonio. The Chamber of Commerce wants to tell the world San Antonio will never have drought restrictions — and ratepayers will pay the price for water hungry businesses to move in. Vista Ridge is just one more way developers continue to offload the costs of growth onto the backs of current residents. That’s right, you’re paying for the infrastructure (roads, schools, water, etc.) for the newcomers. The lack of transparency on Vista Ridge is abominable. SAWS continues to withhold all kinds of information, a breach of open and ethical government. Most San Antonians we know believe a $3.4 billion project that carries so many risks to ratepayers and neighbors across the region, should have been put to a public vote. More here on Costs of Growth . Want more information? Watch the video on our home page, sign the petition next to it and call or get your friends in the SAWS area to call San Antonio City Hall right away! LIV Home Page- StopWaterGrab.org One thing SAWS did right. They left an exit provision in the contract that allows them to leave Vista Ridge for pennies on the dollar . We’ll be back soon with other things you can do to help — regardless of what happens on Thursday. We also need funds – see the DONATE button? ==> Now, get after it, Texans! PS We are continuing our petition drive, so keep those signatures going from our home page or in person. Thank you all. #CostsofGrowth #SanAntonioChamberofCommerce