STWR Presents Scientific Studies On How The Uvalde Water Project Protects Springflows, Endangered Species In The Edwards Aquifer

Online, August 5, 2010 (Newswire.com) - San Antonio, July 28, 2010 - Rodney T. Smith, President of Southwest Texas Water Resources, LP (STWR), was invited to make a second presentation on Tuesday to the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP) summarizing scientific studies in support of the Uvalde Water Project -- a project that would provide a quick, long-term and responsible solution to managing water resources in the Edwards Aquifer. STWR is a private company that is working to provide an affordable and reliable water supply for the San Antonio metropolitan area while also providing environmental and endangered species protection in the Edwards Aquifer region.

"Multiple studies conducted by Pape-Dawson Engineers -- a firm founded in 1965 -- on behalf of STWR demonstrate how the Uvalde Water Project will better manage the Edwards Aquifer," stated Smith. "Without the project, unrestricted permits for Edwards water in the Uvalde Pool will be pumped in San Antonio. This further concentration of pumping in the San Antonio Pool will reduce the reliability of water supplies of all permits in the San Antonio Pool and reduce vital springflows for endangered species."

Smith then described in detail to EARIP that by delivering water pumped in Uvalde County to San Antonio via pipeline, the reliability of all permits in the San Antonio Pool will be increased and increase springflows, especially at Comal Springs, on a sustained basis by an amount EARIP has been looking for in other programs. The project would benefit springflows even during the drought of record. The project would have little impact on flows at Leona Springs in wet years and would have no material impact on surface water in the Nueces River basin.

"Based on multiple engineering studies, we know the Uvalde Water Project would protect springflows in Comal and Hays counties in a manner consistent with what the EARIP has desired in other proposals, and would have little if any impact on the water availability in Uvalde County," Smith said. "We believe that an effective habitat conservation plan must recognize that the location of pumping in the Edwards Aquifer has environmental consequences, and address how the inevitable transfer of unrestricted permits from the Uvalde Pool for use in the San Antonio Pool impacts the baseline condition of the Habitat Conservation Plan that Texas must prepare to the satisfaction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service so users of Edwards water may take permits under federal law to continue their use of Edwards water."

The Uvalde Water Project involves the creation of a water company based in Uvalde County to develop, finance and operate a well field there and construct a regional water pipeline from Uvalde County to Bexar County. The project would employ hundreds of people during construction and operation and provide an economic benefit to the entire region, including the Uvalde local economy.

Rodney Smith made a presentation in February to EARIP this year and has also made presentations to the Texas House Committee on Natural Resources, the Uvalde City Council and many other groups. Since the Uvalde Water Project would require a change in Texas law, the Texas Legislature itself could make the changes in law to take advantage of the projects benefits.