Background: LCRA owns and operates a regional water treatment plant that serves western Travis County and parts of Hays County. Three landowners along Hamilton Pool Road in western Travis County have requested water service from LCRA via that treatment facility for existing and proposed developments on four properties. In return, they have agreed to abide by water quality protection measures developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for areas that contribute runoff to the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. For more than a year LCRA staff has discussed the request for service extension with those landowners and with environmental groups.
Q: Who has requested water service and for what purpose?
A: Landowners have requested water service from LCRA to serve both proposed and existing development in the Hamilton Pool Road area, some of them as long as four years ago. In the proposal before the Board, three landowners who represent about 1,400 acres, including a portion in the Barton Creek watershed, came to LCRA more than a year ago with a request for water to serve developments they are proposing. In addition, representatives from existing neighborhoods with about 2,000 platted lots, including about 660 existing houses, also have shown interest in getting surface water from LCRA, although no formal proposals for service have been developed.
Q: What are the three landowners offering in return for water service?
A: Protection of water quality and endangered species is a concern because this area is in the contributing zone of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. The area is outside the jurisdiction of any city and therefore not subject to any city's development regulations. However, the three landowners have agreed to abide by measures that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other experts developed for the Barton Springs watershed. These measures were developed to protect water quality and endangered species. This means that water quality protections would be brought to an area that has limited development and state water quality regulations and no regional planning rules.
Q: What are the financial arrangements?
A: Discussions have resulted in proposed financial arrangements under which LCRA would design, build and obtain easements for a water transmission project that includes a water pipeline as well as water tanks, pump station and related equipment. The three landowners would provide financial security in the form of letters of credit for the design, construction and easement costs, if revenues from new customers do not cover costs. These arrangements would minimize LCRA's exposure for capital recovery of the investment in facilities needed to extend the water service.
Q: When would the water pipeline be completed?
A: LCRA staff estimates that the project would take two to three years to design and build.
Q: Why can't this wait until a regional planning process is complete for the area?
A: A regional plan concept has been in the works for more than four years, but landowners want to develop their property now and don't want to wait any longer for the development of a regional plan. Terry Tull, executive director of the regional planning effort, says a consultant working with the regional planning group could develop a general concept for the plan by November. A developed plan ready for consideration by local jurisdictions could be completed by February 2005. The progress of a regional plan depends on the ability for stakeholders to work together.
LCRA strongly supports regional planning and has committed to a contribution of up to $100,000 to support a regional planning process. But because the landowners are ready to proceed now with development, this is an opportunity to provide high-quality surface water and local water quality protections to an area that does not have either. Providing surface water to the area also would reduce reliance on groundwater. Furthermore, part of the agreement with the developers would specify that the developers would abide by any standards or guidelines resulting from a regional plan, if those standards are stricter than the Fish and Wildlife Service measures and are in place prior to preliminary platting.
Q: Are the properties subject to any other water quality regulations?
A: Although the properties are in the contributing zone of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer, they are not in any city's extraterritorial jurisdiction and are not subject to Austin's Save Our Springs water quality ordinance. The properties are subject to state water quality regulations, including Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans and the Edwards Aquifer Rules.
Q: What is the potential benefit of the request?
A: The proposed project offers the opportunity to make sure that deed restrictions, restrictive covenants and conservation easements are in place to protect the Barton Springs watershed. The proposed agreement with the three landowners could serve as a model of regional planning for future development in environmentally sensitive areas. Even if LCRA does not build the water line, service could be provided through groundwater or through another service provider bringing surface water to the area. The result could be developments of greater density than is currently planned and with limited water quality controls.
Q: Has LCRA held public meetings to inform residents of its plans?
A: LCRA staff has met to discuss the proposed project with some affected landowners at their request. Also as part of a public input process, LCRA's Board of Directors set aside two hours to hear from the public on this issue at the April 21 Board meeting in Austin. A follow-up public meeting with LCRA staff and Board officers was held on May 6, at the Dripping Springs High School. Public input from this meeting is being provided to the Board before the Board considers the proposal at its May 19 Board meeting at Canyon of the Eagles Natural Science Center near Burnet.
For more information: Call LCRA at (512) 473-3200, Ext. 2386.
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