Board delays decision on appealing Judge’s ruling favoring landowners

 The Lost Pines’ Board was unable to make a decision on appealing Judge Carson Campbell’s ruling favoring landowners at its January 17 meeting.  

Read today’s article in the Bastrop Advertiser/Statesmen

The Aquifer Protectors! From L to R, Eric Allmon (attorney for Environmental Stewardship), Michele Gangnes (pro bono attorney for landowners Meyer, Hanna and Brown), Andy Meyer (Paige landowner), Darwyn Hanna (Bastrop landowner), Ernie Bogart (pro bono attorney for landowners Meyer, Hanna and Brown), Betz Brown (Lee County landowner), Don Grissom (pro bono attorney for landowners Meyer, Hanna and Brown), Steve Box (Executive Director Environmental Stewardship)

The Aquifer Protectors! From L to R, Eric Allmon (attorney for Environmental Stewardship), Michele Gangnes (pro bono attorney for landowners Meyer, Hanna and Brown), Andy Meyer (Paige landowner), Darwyn Hanna (Bastrop landowner), Ernie Bogart (pro bono attorney for landowners Meyer, Hanna and Brown), Betz Brown (Lee County landowner), Don Grissom (pro bono attorney for landowners Meyer, Hanna and Brown), Steve Box (Executive Director Environmental Stewardship)

The Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District’s Board of Directors declined to make a decision on its option to appeal  Judge Carson Campbell’s January 4, 2018, ruling favoring three landowners and Environmental Stewardship.  The District has until February 3 to take action or lose its option to appeal, in which case Judge Campbell’s ruling stands.  (Click here for Campbell’s Order)

Judge Campbell’s order ruled that the District erred in denying party status to the four landowners and REVERSED the District’s decision. Campbell also REVERSED the permit to pump 46,000 acre feet of groundwater per year that was given by the District to Recharge Water, L.P. and REMANDED the case back to the Lost Pines District for proceedings consistent with the Court’s decision.

Environmental Stewardship and two dozen other local landowners and environmental advocates urged the District to accept the Judges’ rulings and acknowledge that the District erred by not allowing the landowners to be parties to the hearing on Recharge/End Op’s permit application. “Perhaps the single best reason for the District to decline the opportunity to appeal the Judgment” said Steve Box, Environmental Stewardship’s Executive Director, “is to allow the District, the Applicant, and the Landowners to spend their time, energy, and money having a serious discussion about the impacts of groundwater pumping on the environment, rivers and springs, and our communities.”   (click here for ES’ comments)

After almost an hour, meeting behind closed doors in executive session, the Board members returned to the bench and tabled action on a decision, saying they need more information and the attorneys need more time to answer their questions. 

 

####

For more information about this legal battle to

defend and protect our aquifers and the Colorado River

visit our website:  Landowners’ Affected Persons Appeal

 

IF YOU ARE A LANDOWNER, ESPECIALLY

IN BASTROP, LEE,  BURLESON or MILAM COUNTY,

 YOU SHOULD READ THIS CAREFULLY

 — IT AFFECTS YOU —

DONATE