The ASR project, approved as part of Austin’s Water Forward Plan, aims to store and draw water at the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer through a facility Austin officials plan to build in northeast Bastrop County, as previously reported by Community Impact.
What residents should know
Although the resolution was tabled during a meeting Sept. 8, Precinct 2 Commissioner Clara Beckett noted a recent conversation she had with the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District—an agency the Texas Legislature created to protect the water supply for residents in Bastrop and Lee counties.
She asked the president of the Lost Pines Groundwater Conservation District board, “If you could be king for the day and write a piece of legislation, what would it be?”
“His comment was that he would like to see the groundwater districts have some kind of permitting authority as it relates to these projects,” Beckett said. “The Legislature charged groundwater districts and charged them with a number of things—one being protection of the aquifers.”
However, when the Texas Legislature codified ASR, the permitting authority was placed in the hands of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
“I think it’s definitely worthy of discussion to pass a resolution, urging the Legislature to allow groundwater districts permitting authority,” Beckett said. “If you have a body that’s been charged with protecting the groundwater in the district, how can you then give the authority to another agency?”
Bastrop County Judge Gregory Klaus noted the comments he has heard from the community regarding the ASR project.
“I think 100% of Bastrop County is not for having this ASR here,” he said.
Some context
Austin Water hosted its first of five open houses Sept. 3 at the Bastrop County Community Center, where residents had the opportunity to learn more about the ASR project.
“We've been meeting with some stakeholders here in Bastrop County since April, talking about the project—what protections and benefits would they like to see in the project, and now we're here to talk with the community in general, and we're really happy to do so,” said Emlea Chanslor, who works in the public information office at Austin Water.
Brandon Niese, an engineer on the Water Resources Team with Austin Water, highlighted that the dialogue was good.
“Most of the people I've interacted with [today] may have come from a place of uncertainty,” he said during the come-and-go event Sept. 3. “They are maybe not coming completely around, but they're more understanding of what's happening.”
Moving forward
Four additional open houses will follow, including those from:
- 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Paige Community Center, 117 Main St., Paige
- 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Bastrop County Annex Community Room, 702 Bull Run Road, Elgin
- 10 a.m.-noon Sept. 13 at the Paige Community Center, 117 Main St., Paige
- 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Royston St., Smithville
