Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District Archives - Page 2 of 4

One Landowner’s perspective on a landmark water decision

The following article provides the history of creating the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District and one landowner’s perspective on a landmark water decision

Bastrop County Courthouse

This Wednesday, January 17, 2018, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District (District or Lost Pines District) will consider and possibly act on its option to appeal Judge Carson Campbell’s January 4, 2018, ruling to the state court of appeals. (Click here for agenda)

Judge Campbell’s order ruled that the District erred in denying party status to 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.…

January 15, 2018Steve BoxGroundwater, Groundwater Districts21st State District Court, Landowner Appeals, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District

Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District considers appeal of Judge’s decision in favor of Landowners

The Board will meet on Wednesday January 17, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. at Bastrop City Hall, 1311 Church Street, Bastrop,TX. We request that you attend and/or write to the District urging it NOT TO APPEAL the trial court ruling upholding private property rights. This Wednesday, January 17, 2018, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District…

January 15, 2018Steve BoxGroundwater, Groundwater Districts21st State District Court, Judge Carson Campbell, Landowner Appeals, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District

Judge Rules for Landowners In Groundwater Export Dispute

Bastrop County Courthouse

BASTROP January 4, 2018 – A state district judge in Bastrop has ruled in favor of Environmental Stewardship and three other landowners in their suit against the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District (District). Judge Carson Campbell’s order rules that the District erred in denying party status and reverses the District’s decision. The order further reverses the permits for 46,000 acre feet per year of groundwater given by the District to End Op (now Recharge Water, L.P.) and remands the case back to the District for proceedings consistent with the Court’s decision.

The following is a press release from the Simsboro Aquifer Water Defense Fund (SAWDF) regarding the decision:

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January 15, 2018Steve BoxGroundwater, Groundwater Districts21st State District Court, Judge Carson Campbell, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District, Simsboro Aquifer Water Defense Fund (SAWDF)

Judge Hears Arguments on Landowners’ Right to Protest Groundwater Export, Ruling to Come

BASTROP – A state district judge in Bastrop on Wednesday heard arguments for and against the contention that four landowners are entitled to a new hearing because they were wrongfully excluded by the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District from participating in a 2013 administrative hearing.

The 2013 hearing resulted in a permit to water marketer End-Op LP (now known as Recharge Water) that allows massive amounts of groundwater to be pumped and exported from Lee and Bastrop counties. The Oct. 18 hearing was part of a legal challenge to that permit.

Judge Carson Campbell ruled in favor of the landowners from the bench Wednesday on the question of whether he even has the authority to review the District’s decision to exclude them. A ruling on the landowners’ right to protest the permit is pending from Judge Campbell.

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October 19, 2017Steve BoxCarrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, Colorado River, Environmental Stewardship, Groundwater, Groundwater Districts, Science & Ecology, Simsboro Aquifer21st State District Court, Aqua Water Supply Corporation, Bastrop County, End Op, Groundwater permits, Judge Carson Campbell, Landowners, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District

Simsboro Aquifer Water Defense Fund (SAWDF)

New Group Launches Fight To Protect Local Groundwater and Aquifers

Bastrop County Court House

ELGIN – Veterans of a long-standing fight to protect the area’s groundwater have joined forces and launched a new organization to help lead that effort.

The new group, the Simsboro Aquifer Water Defense Fund (SAWDF), includes volunteers from the League of Independent Voters, Environmental Stewardship, Sierra Club and Neighbors for Neighbors.

SEE END OF THIS POST FOR LINKS TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SAWDF response to Bastrop Advertiser’s misleading article on July 21, 2016.

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July 14, 2016Steve BoxCarrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, Colorado River, Environmental Stewardship, Groundwater, Groundwater Districts, Simsboro Aquifer, Surface WaterAdministrative Law Judge Michael J. O’Malley’s (ALJ), Aqua Water Supply Corporation, Bastrop County District Court, End Op Contested Case Hearing, Landowner Appeals, Landowners, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District, Simsboro Aquifer, Simsboro Aquifer Water Defense Fund (SAWDF), State Judge Carson Campbell

Board Delivers Verdict after LCRA Whines

The Lost Pines Board, at its January 21st meeting, delivered its decision on the LCRA’s application to amend Condition (1) of its groundwater pumping operating permit after LCRA whined that the Board was paying too much attention to the public’s concerns, especially Environmental Stewardship.…

ES, Landowners’ appeal to be heard by Board on August 13, 7:00 p.m., Bastrop Convention Center

Lawyers for Environmental Stewardship and Landowners will make oral arguments before the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District Board of Directors on August 13, 7:00 p.m. at the Bastrop Convention Center. ES and Landowners are requesting that the decision by the ALJ to deny party status be reversed and remanded back to SOAH for contested case hearing.

The public is encouraged to attend. Though public comments will not be heard, the face of the people needs to be seen. This is a very important hearing about your rights to defend your interests in the groundwater beneath your land.

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August 8, 2014Steve BoxCarrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, Environmental Stewardship, Groundwater, Simsboro AquiferAqua Water Supply Corporation, End Op Contested Case Hearing, Landowners, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District

ES, Landowners appeal denial of party status

Environmental Stewardship (ES) and Landowners (Andrew Meyer, Bette Brown, and Darwyn Hanna) have filed an appeal of the decision by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) to deny party status in the End Op contested case hearing. The request was filed with the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District Board of Directors on August 1, 2014 and will be heard at a special meeting on August 13, 2014 in Bastrop, TX. The time and location of the meeting has not yet been established. …

August 2, 2014Steve BoxEnvironmental Stewardship, Groundwater, Groundwater Districts, Simsboro AquiferEnd Op, End Op Contested Case Hearing, Environmental Stewardship, Landowners, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District

Forestar Files Suit Against Groundwater District & Directors

Forestar (USA) Real Estate Group, Inc. has filed suit in the 335th Judicial District in Lee County against the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District and its Board of Directors (Case No. 15,369). The suit is 1) an appeal of the Boards’ decision to deny Forestar’s application for 33,000 acre-feet per year of the 45,000 acre-feet per year of groundwater it requested, and 2) a claim for the taking or damaging of its property, and for its damages and attorney’s fees due to the District’s actions (a takings claim).

Click here for copy of the petition.

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March 21, 2014Steve BoxCarrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, Environmental Stewardship, Groundwater, Groundwater Districts, Simsboro AquiferForestar (USA) Real Estate Group, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District

Forestar Rehearing Well Attended and Well Organized

On December 16, 2013, the Board of Directors held a rehearing on the Forestar application requesting 45,000 acre-feet of groundwater per year. The Board has previously granted Forestar a permit for 12,000 acre-feet per year.

The hearing was a well attended and well organized. We thank the Board and staff for working with Environmental Stewardship and others to ensure that the public had an opportunity to hear the arguments of the Applicant (Forestar) and District Staff prior to making public comments. We also thank the Board for allowing the public to pool its time so that we could make our arguments in a manner that could be heard and understood by the Board, the Applicant, and the Public.

At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board adjourned the hearing but did not take action on the application. Our impression is that the Board will take some time to review the information provided at the hearing and make a written response to the Applicant early next year. At that time the decision of the Board on the application will be final. The board can, however, render its decision any time before that date.

Our message to the Board:

Nothing has changed, STANDING STRONG!

We have your back.

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December 20, 2013Steve BoxCarrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, Environmental Stewardship, Groundwater, Groundwater Districts, Simsboro AquiferBastrop County, Forestar (USA) Real Estate Group, George Rice, hydrogeologist, Lee County, Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District