Oct 16 2009
TX: San Marcos protest accelerates
A protest of a substantial water diversion and impoundment this fall on the San Marcos River has picked up mor steam after an initial protest gathering on September 26 (see earlier post).
The dispute concerns a new housing development at Martindale, Texas – a development that uses so much water, they said, that it could harm general water supplies in the area.
The development, near the San Marcos River (and roughly in between Austin and San Antonio), which covers about 200 acres, is based around the Emmett Harper Ranch. Substantial water rights, amounting to about 150 acre feet per year, were attached to the ranch, and more were obtained besides. Some of the water rights might have been lost, ordinarily, because of lack of need for beneficial use.
However, developer Gordon Hall said that he planned to built in the gated community not only 100 houses but also extensive parkland and three lakes.
The conversion of use has upset a number of neighbors from Hays, Caldwell and Guadalupe counties, who are concerned that the large amount of water use at the San Marcos River Ranch (as the development is called) could impact other neighboring water uses. [see the San Marcs (TX) Daily Record, September 25]
Beyond them, it has energized the San Marcos River Foundation and the Texas Rivers Protection Association which helped set up the September 26 protest and are continuing action.
News reports also noted that drought conditions are underway across much of Texas, and this has been a factor in concerns as well.
