Dear GEAA members and friends,

As National Groundwater Week concludes, we have been inundated with threats and gifts to both the quality and quantity of our Edwards and Trinity groundwater. Here are some brief updates.

It ain’t rocket science to worry that a rocket testing site on the Edwards Recharge Zone is bad news. It’s common sense.

GEAA has been working with founding GEAA member group, the San Marcos River Foundation to support them in urging Texas State University to reconsider their plans to locate a rocket testing site on the Freeman Ranch property. The problem is that the Freeman Ranch is located 100% on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, so all stormwater runoff goes straight into our aquifer with very little filtration, which is why we’re concerned about water quality for both the aquifer and river.

As SMRF Executive Director, Virginia Parker points out, “There are some chemicals in the solid rocket motor fuel like aluminum oxide and ammonium perchlorate, and perchlorate persists for centuries. So if there is any that gets into the Edwards Aquifer, there’s no way to scrub that out of the aquifer. And that is where this river comes from. And it’s also the drinking water source for over 2.5 million people in Central Texas.”

You can watch Virginia’s video asking for your help here.

If you’d like to ask Texas State University to move the project OFF of the Edwards Aquifer, please sign the petition here. Please sign and share.

Data Center update

According to a report by KXAN, “Utility regulators in Texas will start asking data centers and crypto-mining operations statewide within a narrow timeframe to share information about how much water they’re using.

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) received an update Friday about the agency sending out a survey to these facilities in the spring. Luisa Venegoni, the chief of staff to the agency’s executive director, said data centers and cryptocurrency facilities will then have six weeks to respond.

She added the PUC is working with the Texas Water Development Board on the questions. She said those would include asking about direct water use, the types of cooling technology used and insight about indirect water use, like what sources provide power to the facility. Venegoni also noted the data collected will then be compiled into a report by the end of the year that will help with statewide planning on water.”

Glad to see that Texas is taking this seriously. GEAA is, too. We have been taking a deep dive into all aspects of data centers and water use and will be publishing a report with recommendations for best practices and regulation so, stay tuned for more.

Our local elected officials are concerned

This week Blanco Mayor, Candy Cargill sent an impassioned plea urging protection of the Hill Country.

Senator Donna Campbell sent a letter to TCEQ requesting them to:

*conduct a cumulative watershed impact assessment addressing projected growth and future drought scenarios

*Evaluate whether current permitting standards sufficiently protect against incremental degradation, and

*Determine whether enhanced regulatory measures, including potential watershed-specific rulemaking, are warranted.

You can read the letter here.

Hays County Judge, Reuben Becerra is convening a Clear Water Summit to review historic water use, current consumption, projected demand, and a realistic capacity of future water demands across Hays County. GEAA will be participating so, stay tuned for more on this.

GEAA and others are working with a group of County Commissioners from the Hill Country region to devise a legislative agenda for measures needed to allow them more latitude in planning for and addressing the tremendous amount of growth in the unincorporated areas. Hats off to all of them for informing GEAA’s legislative agenda and, most importantly, for taking their own asks to Austin in 2027.

All of these folks deserve our support and our gratitude. Let them know the next time you see them or drop them a line thanking them.

Sierra Club is hosting an informative panel on brackish groundwater!

If you’re interested in how brackish groundwater may shape Texas water future, this upcoming virtual panel brings together experts to discuss science, policy, and regulations on this topic. You’ll learn:

* How Groundwater Conservation Districts are managing brackish groundwater production and how Texas’s brackish groundwater production zone framework works.

* Why the connection between brackish and fresh groundwater makes data so critical.

* What responsible brackish development could look like — and what questions policymakers should be asking.

Speakers:

• Adam Foster, Executive Director, Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts
• John Dupnik, Deputy Executive Administrator for Water Science and Conservation, Texas Water Development Board
• Shauna Fitzsimmons Sledge, Partner, SledgeLaw Group
• Wade Oliver, PG, Vice President and Regional Director, EKI Consult
• Moderated by Vanessa Puig-Williams, Senior Director of Climate Resilient Water Systems, Environmental Defense Fund

Click here to register!

You can learn about these issues and more on our Facebook page. Check it out. We would love to have your comments.

In conclusion, thank heavens for the smattering of rain that we got and, for this lovely spring weather. Enjoy!

Annalisa Peace