Dear Hill Country Friends and Partners,
Aggregate mining, the extraction of sand, gravel, and limestone rock from where it naturally occurs, is a challenge facing communities across the Hill Country as the region grows and the need for infrastructure in Texas expands. When Aggregate Production Operations (APOs) move in, their impacts on nearby communities and natural resources are significant. The impacts of these around-the-clock operations include dangerous air pollution, water pollution and over-use, heavy truck traffic, increased flooding impacts, and nuisances like blasting, noise, odor, and light pollution.
On Wednesday, November 17th, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) Board of Directors is scheduled to vote on a new Highland Lakes Dredge and Fill Ordinance. For the first time, if this ordinance is adopted as written, the LCRA will allow major aggregates producers to bring their industrial operations into the Highland Lakes. While Tiers 1 & 2 cover existing, non-commercial dredging projects, Tier 3 of the proposed ordinance would allow for commercial dredging, which is unprecedented in the Highland Lakes.
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1. Email the LCRA Board of Directors
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Please email the LCRA expressing your concerns at board@lcra.org. Please feel free to pull from or add to the below template email:
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Dear LCRA Board members,
I am writing to voice my concern regarding the proposed Highland Lakes Dredge and Fill ordinance. In particular, I am strongly opposed to Tier 3, which would facilitate commercial dredging in the Highland Lakes. Commercial dredging would industrialize the Highland Lakes in ways we have never seen, creating dangerous conditions for nearby communities, and significantly reducing enjoyment of the lakes by people and wildlife.
Here are some of the reasons why you should remove Tier 3 from the proposed ordinance:
- Tier 3 does not support the LCRA’s mission to enhance the quality of life of Texans through water stewardship, energy, and community service.
- Tier 3 is a solution in search of a problem: The Highland Lakes have never needed commercial aggregates activity before and don’t need it now.
- The aggregates industry is notoriously damaging in Texas. It is well documented that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality already struggles to effectively manage the industry's impacts on air and water quality. See here, and here.
For these reasons, Tier 3 should be removed from the ordinance. The LCRA should say no to commercial mining in the Highland Lakes.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Info: Phone + Address]
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2. Attend the LCRA Board Meeting on Wednesday, 11/17
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The LCRA Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 17 at LCRA General Office Complex Board Room – Hancock Building 3700 Lake Austin Blvd. Austin, TX 78703. Please join us at 9:15am, wearing a white shirt. Save Lake LBJ has chartered a bus to transport folks from the Marble Falls area to Austin for the meeting. For additional information, see this recent email from Save Lake LBJ.
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3. Tell your friends and join our partners
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You and your network of friends and neighbors have a voice - the LCRA considers ANYONE who enjoys the benefits of Lake LBJ an affected party. For more information about the impacts of the aggregates industry both locally and across the state, visit our partners at Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining (TRAM), Save Lake LBJ and Save Sandy Creek.
"Keep in mind this is not just about one company getting one permit, this ordinance is setting up the process for anyone on any of the Highland Lakes to operate an aggregate operation." – Save Lake LBJ
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Commercial dredging would industrialize the Highland Lakes in ways we have never before seen, creating dangerous conditions for nearby communities and significantly reducing enjoyment of the lakes by people and wildlife. Click here to tell the LCRA we don't want commercial dredging in the lakes. Please email the board and if you can, show up on November 17th, wearing white!
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Thank you for taking action and helping us spread the word,
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Cliff Kaplan
Program Director
Hill Country Alliance
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