Author: dyoungblood

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County Makes a Step in the Right Direction

Why should you care about coun­ty subdivision rules?

The Gillespie County Commissioners will be considering  a  change to the Subdivision and Manufactured Home Rental Community Regulations this month. The changes decrease the density of future subdivi­sions and manufactured home rental communities (MHRC).

Are these changes important? We believe they are, we support these changes and we urge you to support them, too.   •

The Texas Hill Country is one of the fastest-grow­ing regions in the nation. Population in Gillespie County has grown by near­ly 50% in the past 20 years and is expected to grow another 35% in the coming 20years.

In Gillespie County alone, a staggering 7,588 new lots or units are currently proposed or under con­struction, according to the Gillespie County Economic Development Commission. Where will all these new folks live? Increasingly, subdivisions and manu­factured home rental com­ munities (MHRC) pop up in unincorporated areas, where there is almost no land use planning authority to help guide and manage growth.

In Gillespie County, it is estimated that from 1990-2020, growth in unincor­ porated areas was 50%.

Why do developers target unincorporated areas?

Lower land prices, lower taxes, and

the appeal of “country” living drives much of this growth.

Further, for developers, the lack of county regula­tion is attractive.

Counties cannot zone for land use or set development standards, such as requir­ing sewer and wastewater system performance or fire suppression systems to the same extent .as municipalities.

Counties also cannot require buffers between incompatible neighboring land uses (such as mining or battery energy storage systems next to residences) nor can they require resi­dential developers to pre­serve open space for rec­reation and environmental protections.

Nor can they charge impact fees to cover the costs of services that the new home buyers will expect.

Of course, the ability to employ any of the tools mentioned above would be helpful to rapidly growing counties but would require changes to state law that are unlikely in the near future.

Commissioners may not have many tools to work with, but one tool they do have the authority to change the density of lots and spaces in new develop­ ments.

These proposed county rule changes will not solve the problems we face with a burgeoning population but they are definitely a step in the right direction.

We urge you to let your county commissioner know you support reduc­ing the density of subdi­visions and manufactured home rental communi­ties. We also urge you to attend the Commissioners Court meeting at 9 a.m. on Monday, December 23,  at the Gillespie County Courthouse to show your support.

For questions or more specific information, please visit
https://pedernalesriveral­liance.org for our contact information.

By Katherine Peake

Peake is a former Fredericksburg resident and municipal judge, now residing in Blanco County. She has been active in conservation­ related causes. She wrote this with Pedernales River Alliance steering committee members Deb Youngblood, Kris Weidenfeller and Ryan Behrends.

 

 

 

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Club Remorse

by Katherine Peake

After the “Developers, pants first, then shoes” article, I received a phone call from a couple who had bought property in one of the condominium development projects and now had buyer’s regret. You might get the same mailings and emails that I do.

These developments look so appealing. They’re attractive renderings and advertisements of “all-inclusive world-class amenities” like a resort-style pools and splash pads, hot tubs, yoga studios, amphitheaters, pickle ball courts, fire pits and eye-catching common areas. It also sounds urgent, “one day only specials” and most importantly, it sounds affordable, with home sites starting at $159,900. For Fredericksburg, where the median home listing price is almost $800,000, that sounds like a real deal.

So why do they have buyer’s regret? “We were promised we could start building in August”, But sadly, they didn’t get this in writing and the 210 page condominium rules had proved overwhelming. Did you know that they didn’t have a TCEQ waste water permit yet? Well, no, they didn’t. So, if you’re thinking of buying in one of these developments, to avoid buyer’s remorse, start
 with a few questions.

ASK: Is this in the City or County? County rules are much more lax, and developers like less rules, but issues of utilities, especially water availability and waste water treatment are more complicated because they aren’t provided by the City.

ASK: Where will the water come from? Is the development currently in a Critical Groundwater Depletion Area? Has a Stage 4 Drought been declared? Does you have a commercial well permit? For how much water? How is this measured? Can groundwater be used to fill the “resort-style” pool? Will there be limitations on my water use? If nearby wells start to go dry, can other landowners sue me personally?

ASK: How will the waste be handled? Will there be a septic system or wastewater discharge? Do these need a permit? Who gives these permits? Does the development already have a permit for this? If not, how long will it take? Does the community have environmental concerns about waste water discharge? Who would I talk with to find out more about this?

ASK: Is any part of the development in the flood zone? Understanding that there are different flood zone maps, ASK which one is the developer using. Are there other maps that show the land is in the flood zone?

ASK: When will the developers be turning over the running of the development to the Homeowners Association (HOA)? Will the developers be long gone at this point? Will the HOA be responsible for water shortages, permitting and water use violations? Will the HOA be responsible for running the waste water treatment plant?

ASK: How much will the initial monthly fee be? Does the HOA have the right to fine me if I violate one of their rules? Can the rules be changed? How? Who determines if a rule is broken? What happens if I can’t or don’t pay it? Can the Condo Association put a lien on my property? What happens if there’s a problem with the waste water treatment system, the swimming pool, the amenities? Who is responsible? The bottom line and my advice is READ EVERYTHING, ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS, get answers in writing and read the 210 page document. Carefully. At least twice.

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A Big Thank-you!

On Monday evening, August 19, people from all over the Hill Country came together in one place to voice opposition to the discharge of treated wastewater by Arch Ray, LLC.  into the Pedernales River. Some came from Austin, San Antonio, Llano, Blanco, Johnson City and many from Gillespie County to clearly say to the Arch Ray developers, “No discharge of wastewater into the Pedernales River!”

We all know that there is a connection between groundwater (aquifers) and surface water (rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, etc.) In the Pedernales River, we know it for certain. When August hits, the Pedernales goes to ground leaving a spate of puddles behind in pockets of limestone (karst.) Walk the exposed karst and you will still find life, the remnants that will bring life to the river when it returns. Sit and watch the wild untamed riverbanks where black willow sways in the afternoon breeze. Look carefully, you may find a tiny cypress growing in a willow nursery. In the stillness, all sorts of animals come forth: snakes, birds, insects of all sorts. The little water that is still present ties all of this together and includes us.

Every Hill Country stream is connected within a larger River’s watershed. As the water flows, the stream connects to the River; the River grows. Communities are connected along the banks of the River. Walking the River, listening to it, wading, swimming, baptizing, always wary because it can grow in a flash. The power of the River is ignored or minimized at one’s peril but, even when it is at its greatest, we still come together and bear witness to its strength.

On August 19, people came from all over the Hill Country to bear witness to the ebb and flow of the River, to acknowledge the power of the River in their lives. At the Pedernales River Alliance we are grateful for each scientist, naturalist, and resident who came and testified – together, we shall not allow our River to be polluted. Evidence of each persons’ commitment comes in various ways: picking up trash, removing old dams and weirs, limiting the use of fertilizers and pesticides, allowing nature to re-establish the natural growth along the riverbanks, planting only native plants, and speaking out about their care for the River. On behalf of the Pedernales River Alliance, thank you.

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Public Meeting with TCEQ and Arch Ray Developers

Friends,

I am posting this on the website because you, gentle reader,  are a vital member of the Pedernales River Alliance and right now, we need you.
 
TCEQ has scheduled a meeting on ArchRay’s request for a permit to dump 35,000 gal of treated wastewater into the Pedernales every day. If you have not already submitted your comments online, please do so now. If you have learned how detrimental treated wastewater is to Hill Country Rivers, including the Pedernales River, and want to make comments, please do so.
 
Here is how to make Comments to TCEQ:
Enter this permit #WQ0005452000
Fill in your personal information
Enter your comments or questions regarding this permit in the Comments block
Submit
 

Mark your calendars, The Public Meeting will be held on 

Monday, August 19, 2024 at 7:00p
Rockbox Theater
109N. Llano Street
Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
 
After introductions, you may ask the developers or TCEQ any question. Please note, if you have already asked your questions in your online comments, it is not necessary to ask them again as all online questions will be answered offline via USPS. However, if you feel that your question(s) is important enough to ask it in this public forum, do so. During this part of the meeting you may also make comments to describe what the Pedernales River means to you. Please limit your questions and comments to this permit. This is an open discussion time with the developers and TCEQ. Note: comments or questions made during this first period are not for the record.
 
Please plan to stay for the second half of the meeting, which is very important. Any questions or comments you have not submitted online can be asked for the record during this time. It is vital that we get your unasked questions and comments recorded. If you are unable to stay, please consider writing your comments and questions down and submitting them for the record. 
 
The Pedernales River is a direct recharge zone for the aquifer that provides drinking water to most of Gillespie County. No treated wastewater is fit to drink. Help us protect our drinking water and our river.
 
Regards,
Deb
 
P.S. Please share this message with others who care about clean drinking water.
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Citizens Stand Up & Speak Up for the Pedernales River

On Jun 13, 2024, a large crowd of Gillespie County citizens showed up to ask questions and make comments to Developers of the Village – Fredericksburg (formerly known as the Village at Grape Creek) and TCEQ. The Village has applied for a permit to pollute  – to dump 20,000 gallons of treated wastewater into Beckman Branch (just west of Jenschke Lane off Hwy 290.)

It was clear that no citizens present in the room were supportive of the permit. Many were angry at the thought the dumping that would be approved by the permit. Some concerns were odor, pollution of the aquifers, pollution of local wells, the density of the development, noise, flooding potential, and more. Many cited the years and generations of their families who have lived on the Pedernales River and the importance of the River to them.

As expected, there were two opportunities to speak. The first was supposed to last for 1 hour but went well over. During the first comment time, people lined up to speak. It was an informal time when they could ask questions of the Developers or TCEQ. During this Informal time, the Developers or TCEQ attempted to answer questions. During the second time, Formal Comments were recorded for the record. TCEQ or the Developer will formally respond in writing via US post to each comment/question that was submitted.

Now that the formal comment time has expired, all comments/questions that were submitted online or by fax or mail or during the Formal Comment period at this meeting, will be answered. Upon answering these questions, TCEQ will make the decision to approve or disapprove the permit. We hope that the permit will be disapproved or that the Developers will decide to drop this permit in exchange for a No Discharge Permit. Until we hear one way or another, we wait.

Thank-you for caring enough to show up and speak up. Please continue to conserve water as we are still in drought conditions, pick up trash along roads and at river crossings. Take good care of the Pedernales River – there is non other like it.

 

 

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Texas Standard Interview with HCA’s Katherine Romans

By Michael MarksFebruary 9, 2024 2:47 pm

There’s a new luxury development coming to the Hill Country. CB Wine Tourism – a Mexican real estate company – purchased 218 acres between Fredericksburg and Johnson City to build homes, a spa, restaurants and retail amid the numerous wineries along Highway 290.

Projects of this kind have become more common in the beautiful, rural area just west of Austin and San Antonio. The development, however, raises major concerns about its future.

Katherine Romans, executive director of the Hill Country Alliance, spoke to the Texas Standard about what’s driving growth in the area. 

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity:

Texas Standard: So for folks who may not be familiar, can you just describe the kind of population growth that the Hill Country has experienced in the past decade or so? 

Katherine Romans: When we think about the things that really define the Hill Country, it both is defined by its natural resources, its stunning scenery, but also its growth. It routinely falls among the fastest growing places in the entire country, especially close to the I-35 corridor, where you have communities like Hays County, Comal County and Kendall County that have been among the top 10 fastest-growing counties in the country for years now. 

Did this accelerate as far as you can tell during the pandemic? 

Absolutely. I think people kind of intuitively felt that acceleration during the pandemic. And it stands to reason, because a lot of people during the pandemic were really looking for connection to nature, looking for space.

The number of transactions of land sales that were happening during and immediately after the pandemic, the cost of land in the Hill Country really accelerated dramatically. We’ve seen a little bit of a leveling off, but we know that the developments that were kind of started in the pandemic are only going to continue to come online. 

So who, if anyone, is trying to manage this explosive growth?

Yeah, it’s a great question. Because a lot of folks would intuitively say we don’t have the the resources to support this level of growth. We are a region that is really defined by drought and has limited surface waters, as well as limited aquifer resources. And so there are a lot of folks concerned about the rate of growth that we’re seeing.

Unfortunately, in the state of Texas, we’re the only state in the country where outside of incorporated municipalities, we really have very few tools to plan for and manage growth. So we are the only state in the country where counties don’t have anything in the way of land use management tools.

And so that means that when development is happening outside of incorporated communities, whether those are urban areas like Austin or San Antonio or more rural communities like Johnson City or Fredericksburg, there’s not a lot that the county commissioners court can do to direct or guide growth in a way that’s beneficial for the communities.

So we’ve done some research into just how much of the growth that we’re seeing in the region is happening in those unincorporated areas, and it turns out that most of the growth that we’re seeing is happening in counties. 

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Who are the sorts of people moving here? Are they people who are able to work remotely? Are they are retirees? Are they folks who want a second home and are out there all the time? All those kinds of people? 

I think it’s a little of all of those kinds of people, for sure: More and more folks who are looking to have their kind of country getaway, especially as the cities of Austin, San Antonio and the I-35 corridor are growing. Folks really want, you know, their weekend retreat in the Hill Country.

I get this sense a lot when I talk to long time landowners, multi-generational Central Texas, families that feel kind of the loss of connection, the loss of community, of knowing your neighbors. With new folks, especially those who aren’t there all the time, it’s just a challenge.

In some places that may not be seeing their permanent population, their census numbers, growing up dramatically, they may still be feeling the impacts of growth, which is the same number of new rooftops and driveways and infrastructure required to support those homes, even if they’re not getting the population growth itself. 

What else gives you optimism when you think about the future of this region and its resources? 

That central fact that folks are called to the Hill Country because of the quality of life that we enjoy here, the flowing rivers and creeks, the rural communities and charming downtowns – I feel like that, you know, intrinsically makes a really strong community of advocates that can speak up when we do see problematic impacts of development.

And so we’ve seen just a huge expansion in the number of grassroots community groups that are working across the region, whether they be dedicated to a specific issue, like the protection of the Llano River or working to raise awareness of the importance of our dark skies and our view of the Milky Way. There’s just a broad diversity of folks who are coming together with a shared interest in the conservation of the Hill Country. That gives me a lot of optimism. 

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Discharging Treated Effluent into Hill Country Streams and Creeks – Myths and Truths

The Hill Country Alliance (HCA) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to raise public awareness and build community support around the need to preserve the natural resources and heritage of the Central Texas Hill Country. They create resources, conversations and forums for landowners, neighbors, elected officials and all concerned citizens. The Pedernales River Alliance partners with HCA. The below content was extracted from a Hill Country Alliance flyer:

Iconic swimming holes from Jacob’s Well to Barton Springs start from stored groundwater reserves below and go on to supply some of the most beautiful treasures of the Hill Country – our crystal-clear rivers and their networks of rocky streams and creeks.

These beautiful natural resources are just as enticing to new development as they are sensitive to change. As development expands into pristine sections of the Hill Country our water needs will follow. Freshwater must be supplied, and our sewage must be treated and either disposed of or reused. Because new development is often too dense to rely on septic tanks as a solution, wastewater is most often treated through sewage treatment plants. Sewage treatment plants then are faced with the decision to either use wastewater effluent produced by our communities on-site for irrigation or to simply discharge treated wastewater into a neighboring stream.

At this time, we are seeing a proliferation of permit applications across the Hill Country to discharge treated effluent directly into Hill Country waterbodies. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) range of treatment and disposal permit standards are suitable for most of the state’s waterways, but do not take into account the inability of our smaller Hill Country rivers and streams to process added levels of nutrients – including algae-producing phosphates and nitrates – found in even highly treated effluent.

Myths and Truths

TRUTH: Treated effluent may look cleaner because modern sewage treatment plants do a good job of scrubbing the suspended particulates that make dirty water cloudy. However, even effluent treated to drinking water standards has more nutrients - like phosphorus and nitrogen (which are notorious for producing algae blooms) – than what many of our clear, rocky-bottomed streams can handle. Furthermore, current drinking water standards do not require the removal of pharmaceuticals, micro-plastics, and personal healthcare residuals that are found in treated effluent.Accordion Sample Description

TRUTH: State agents inspect sewage treatment plants for mechanical compliance only infrequently or in response to complaints. Treatment plants are required to self-test to ensure they are complying with TCEQ permit requirements, but the only time the TCEQ makes water quality tests is when a downstream property owner files an odor or water pollution complaint. Usually, repairs are only completed after a stream has been overloaded with improperly treated sewage.

TRUTH: Many streams across the country are to some degree “self-cleaning” due to adequate flow throughout the year and riparian environments capable of processing nutrients. However, the Hill Country has few rivers or streams with the capacity to remove added organic contaminants, since most of our creeks and streams do not flow for many months at a time and lack the biological capability to provide natural clean-up services. Additionally, no streams in the Hill Country are capable of “cleaning” non-organic pollutants like petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and other non-organic chemicals without adverse impacts to aquatic life. It is also important to note that while large rainfall events deliver contaminants to water bodies, they do so sporadically; effluent discharges occur every day, even when streams may have little or no natural flow.

TRUTH:  Many of our Hill Country creeks and streams act as direct recharge conduits to our aquifers, which supply our drinking water. In the case of at least one Hill Country sewage treatment plant, the discharge pipe is less than a mile upstream from an aquifer recharge feature in the bed of the creek. These streambed recharge features often provide a more direct path to groundwater than the soil surrounding our wells. Furthermore, soils can provide an additional filtration opportunity when treated effluent is used for irrigation purposes. When effluent is applied to the land there is more opportunity for soil, sunlight, plants, and microbes to further reduce contaminants and nutrients in effluent before they come directly in contact with our streams and aquifers.

TRUTH:  Most of our smaller Hill Country streams are highly oxygenated and have less than perceptible organic nutrient loads. That is why they are so clear and fresh. The majority of our native flora and fauna thrive in these creeks due to millions of years of evolutionary adaptation. The contamination of our creeks with even the minimum TCEQ allowable nutrient loads create an environment ripe for damaging algae blooms that degrade water quality and limit access to streams for both humans and wildlife. Algal blooms deplete oxygen levels in our streams and result in fish and other aquatic biota die-offs, which throw natural biological systems out of order. These malfunctioning biological systems can be an open invitation to harmful invasive species.

TRUTH: Recent research of EPA databases show that between 2016 and 2018, of the 48 Hill Country sewage treatment plants, there were 411 violations. TCEQ reported a recent dump of concentrated effluent sludge into the South San Gabriel River that caused a massive 3.6-mile-long algae bloom that resulted in fish kills downstream. Sewage treatment plants regularly malfunction due to mechanical failure or operations error. Some waterways are better equipped to dilute and assimilate those spills than others, but the majority of our Hill Country streams do not have the capacity to quickly recover.

TRUTH Affected property owners have the right to submit written comments to the TCEQ in order to state their objections or concerns. However, because there is no disclosure or notification requirement, many property owners are not aware of the discharge until permits have been issued and the treatment
plant is built. If a property owner is affected by a proposed discharge, they may file a contested case hearing at the State’s Office of Administrative Hearing (SOAH) Court. Even after this lengthy legal process, the TCEQ Commissioners are not required to follow SOAH Court rulings and may overturn the ruling in favor of the discharger.

TRUTH: Some of the fastest growing and most prosperous areas of the Hill Country already prohibit the discharge of any effluent into streams or rivers. The TCEQ created and enforces specific, no-discharge rules to protect both the Highland Lakes and the recharge zones of the Edwards Aquifer in order to allow growth while also protecting valuable water resources. While these rules cover the recharge zone, they do not extend to the contributing zone of the Edwards Aquifer – despite the fact that water quality in the contributing zone directly impacts the quality of water recharging the aquifer.

A Final TRUTH: In most sections of the Hill Country the best solution for managing treated effluent is by beneficially reusing that water for purposes that do not require potable, or pure drinking water. As wholesale prices for water in some parts of the Hill Country explode, utilities are beginning to understand that any grade of water is too valuable to release down the river as “waste.” Many are reusing or re-selling their treated effluent to ranchers for pasture crops or to municipalities for parks and common area irrigation. These willing buyers are aware of the cost benefit of paying less than drinking water prices for appropriate, non-potable uses.

This HCA Flyer can be found online at https://hillcountryalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/WaterResourceMythsIP.pdf

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Say “Yes!” to Low Impact Developments

When I first heard the phrase “Low Impact Development,” I thought it was referencing a low speed 2-car crash. The way things are these days with plastic bumpers, I really thought the development concerned crumbled bumpers on both cars. Imagine my chagrin when I learned that Low Impact Development has a completely different meaning.

Low Impact Development (LID) is a term to describe a land planning and engineering design approach to manage stormwater runoff as part of green infrastructure. LID emphasizes conservation and use of on-site natural features to protect water quality. LID practices use or mimic natural processes that result in the infiltration, evapotranspiration or use of stormwater in order to protect water quality and associated aquatic habitat. Even that sounds like a mouthful.

Maybe a better way to approach this is to ask, “What are the practices of LID?” Here are a few:

      • Rain gardens and swales
      • Rainwater harvesting
      • Wetland creation and preservation
      • Use of pervious surfaces
      • Stream setbacks and riparian buffer zones
      • Preservation of tree canopies
      • Green corridor preservation
      • Greenroofs
      • Keeping development densities low

Aha! Now I get it. When you know how water flows across your land, you can make good choices to slow the flow of water so that it can soak into the ground and down to the aquifer.

When you discover a wetland on your property you can take steps to preserve it.

When you stare out the kitchen window planning the new patio, you can choose to forgo a concrete surface for one that will allow water to soak into the earth.

If you are fortunate enough to own land on the river or on a creek, you can allow the river or creekbanks to “go back to nature.”

When you walk the land and count the trees, you plan for ways to keep all of the trees–the tall ones, the small ones and every tree in between. Somehow, you realize that the Texas Persimmon, the Mt. Laurels and the various sumacs are needed as much as the trees.

You dream of turning your roof into a garden but more than anything, you know that subdivision down the road has reduced lot sizes to 1/10th of an acre so that the developer can cram more houses into a small space and it feels like you can do nothing to change the impending crunch.

A Low Impact Development is not about one thing alone but rather about how you approach the use of land.  If you value the land, you will do all we can to preserve it.

You’ll do all all the things that will get you labeled  a “tree hugger.”

You’ll do everything possible to limit runoff, slow the flow and conserve water. You will support stream setbacks and buffer zones along the river and creeks.   

More importantly, you will raise your voice in opposition to tiny lots and high density neighborhoods.

High density developments with no eye to the future are the Developers’ choice but it does not have to be your choice. You can support strengthening of sub-division rules for Gillespie County.

You can boldly encourage and practice water conservation even when it is raining.

You can join the Native Plant Society of Texas and learn how to xeriscape or wildscape your lawns and then do it.

You can vote for candidates who put conservation first.

Maybe Low Impact Developments are a little like a slow speed 2-car crash in the sense  that they are in direct opposition to those who would use up Hill Country resources  with little or no remorse, a clash of values. Where do you stand?

https://pedernalesriveralliance.org/

 

 

 

 

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Getting Ready for Winter Water Conservation

Winter is coming! Consider taking a few steps to “winterize” your house so that when winter arrives, your pipes, faucets and wells will be ready.

Outdoor water faucets, especially ones facing north, can freeze and burst leading to a huge mess and a waste of water. You can buy simple fiberglass pipe sleeves, foam and faucet covers at most hardware stores and install it now rather than waiting until a freeze is upon us.

If you own a home that is on pier and beam, you should look at insulating water pipes that might be exposed to the elements as well.

Also, in case of water emergency, you need to be ready to turn off your water at the meter. The tool you’ll use is called a “water meter valve key” and you can get those at local hardware stores. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but it can save lots of damage to your home if you can get the water shut off immediately when a water line is broken and leaking.

Speaking of leaking water, now is also a good time to check for any plumbing leaks or dripping faucets. Fixing leaks is probably the best step you can take to save water and extra dollars on your water bill this winter.

Next, if you have an automatic sprinkler system, turn it off. We are way past the growing season and any kind of small outdoor watering needs you may have should be handled with a hose. And even though you might have the hose out, please don’t use it to “sweep” leaves off of driveways and sidewalks. Rake those leaves into flower beds where they can mulch.

Finally, make sure all family members are using good water-saving habits. Taking shorter showers, not running the water while you brush your teeth, and washing only full loads of clothes and dishes are all key components of a water efficient household.

For those who have a well, the following is a great article from www.WellOwner.org. This important advice could help save you lots of trouble if extreme cold weather appears on the radar over the next few months.

Protect Your Pump

Many well systems are buried deep underground, which provides protection from the cold. But for well owners with above ground plumbing, action should be taken to keep the system insulated and warm. Constructing a small insulated enclosure or pump house that covers the plumbing will help keep the system above 32 degrees and reduce the risk of freezing and other damage. This small “pump house” can save thousands of dollars in repairs and ensure a well operates throughout a cold winter. 

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Exploding development in Gillespie County

Katherine Peake
Author: Katherine Peake 
Published in the Fredericksburg Standard, 12/06/2023

Aquifers, rivers need high consideration along with growth

“Everyone is concerned about the explosion of growth”, said Paul Tybor, General Manager of the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District.

The current rate of growth and development is staggering as 7,588 new lots/units are proposed or under construction, according to the Gillespie County Economic Development Commission.

Multifamily housing (1,897 units), single family long-term rentals (358 units), single family residential subdivisions (1,121 lots), condominiums and townhomes (170 units), rural subdivisions (361 lots) hotels (1,314 units) STR complexes (133 units), and RV/Tiny Homes (2,234 units) make up the list of potential developments.

While all growth is not bad, the impact of this frenzied development will affect the availability of water in our existing wells and aquifers as well as pollute our rivers and streams.

Granted, not all the projects will be built, but Gillespie County is in the sights of promoters and developers. The recent mass gathering permit request for 30,000 visitors for a music festival near Albert is an example. Thankfully, the County Judge recently denied the application.

Who regulates this explosive growth? In Fredericksburg, the city has authority and provides water and sewer services.

In the county, regulatory authority to is much more limited. Gillespie County Judge and County Commissioners, along with the County Engineer, are reworking the County Subdivision Ordinance, but developers are cleverly finding workarounds.

Protecting the aquifers and groundwater resources is the job of the Hill Country Underground Water Conservation District (HCUWCD). It regulates water wells by permitting and regulations. The website https://hcuwcd.org/ has more information.

Developers may not get all the water they request especially if they are planning “lazy river” features and vanity lakes.

Protecting our rivers and streams is the job of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

It regulates and approves wastewater discharge permits, which are effectively permissions to pollute.

Currently, one pending development has requested to discharge 2,000 gallons per day into a dry creek leading to the Pedernales River.

Two more waste discharge applications are rumored to be filed soon. The TCEQ process is complicated, but public participation is allowed and encouraged when discharge permits may pollute rivers and streams.

While there is no coordinated oversight of this explosive growth, a group of your concerned neighbors has formed The Pedernales River Alliance to gather at a website.

Visit https://www.pedernalesriveralliance. org/ to keep informed.

Peake is a former Fredericksburg resident and municipal judge, now residing in Blanco County. She has been active in conservationrelated causes.