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Standing room only was left at the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District's public hearing on Thursday, July 18.
Photo by Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
July 19, 2024
Groundwater District delays decision on controversial water supply permit request
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District directors pressed pause on deciding whether to grant two public water supply permit requests from RR 417 LLC, for Camp OTX near Tarpley. Standing room only was left at a 45-minute public hearing, during which scores of concerned citizens implored the district to deny the applications.
“As a landowner in Bandera County, I believe it to be irresponsible and derelict to grant new well permits to Camp OTX or any other recreational interest in the area,” David Munro told the Prophet. “With severe drought, even residential water sustenance is hard to maintain for many, not to mention agricultural and urban needs. Recreational interests should be the last in line when deciding proper allocation of scarce resources.”
At yesterday’s meeting, Steve Childers provided a brief history of the Flying L subdivision wells. He said levels dropped 75 feet last summer, and after recovering, dropped another 55 feet in May and June of this year.
“I am very concerned about water in the Middle Trinity,” he said. “My concern is all of the residents at the Flying L are basically at the mercy of one man,” he said.
RR 417 LLC is currently permitted to withdraw 85 acre feet of water per year at the 760-acre summer camp on FM 470; the company is requesting an increase to 270 acre feet per year.
RR 417 Attorney Derek Seal, with McGinnis Lochridge lawfirm in Austin, said the applications were submitted in December after the completion of a “robust” water supply study.
“We’re comfortable that the water is there… If we didn’t think our request was reasonable and supported by science, we wouldn’t ask for it,” Seal said, adding he did not agree with BCRAGD Executive Director Dave Mauk’s recommendation to approve a new Lower Trinity well limited to pumping no more than 50 gallons per minute, and deny any increase in total acre feet.
“We wouldn’t ask for the water if we didn’t think we owned it. We are legally entitled to these permits,” Seal said.
According to Chris Torn, RR 417 manager and Camp OTX director, the faith-based summer camp had 1,500 attendees and 160 seasonal staff members in 2021. He said registration grew this year to 4,500 attendees and 300 staff members.
“We’re not interested in any conflict,” Torn said. “We’re thankful for the community and the partnerships that we’ve formed.”
Mauk said he has “pretty big concerns” about the proposed drawdowns and beneficial use, as well as how the increased water usage would affect neighboring properties. Citing the governor’s proclamation certifying exceptional drought conditions pose a threat for several Texas counties, including Bandera, Mauk said all governmental and political entities are authorized to use their available resources to cope with and mitigate the disaster.
“There is a problem at this time with our water and groundwater,” Mauk said.
District directors unanimously approved a contested case hearing, following a request from Friends of Hondo Canyon. BCRAGD Attorney Richard Mosty said the preliminary hearing should be scheduled as soon as reasonably possible.
“This is a matter of ethics. We are supposed to be stewards of these gifts that are precious and fragile,” Craig Hunt said. “These gifts are neither earned or purchased. We should not be misusing them.”
“As a landowner in Bandera County, I believe it to be irresponsible and derelict to grant new well permits to Camp OTX or any other recreational interest in the area,” David Munro told the Prophet. “With severe drought, even residential water sustenance is hard to maintain for many, not to mention agricultural and urban needs. Recreational interests should be the last in line when deciding proper allocation of scarce resources.”
At yesterday’s meeting, Steve Childers provided a brief history of the Flying L subdivision wells. He said levels dropped 75 feet last summer, and after recovering, dropped another 55 feet in May and June of this year.
“I am very concerned about water in the Middle Trinity,” he said. “My concern is all of the residents at the Flying L are basically at the mercy of one man,” he said.
RR 417 LLC is currently permitted to withdraw 85 acre feet of water per year at the 760-acre summer camp on FM 470; the company is requesting an increase to 270 acre feet per year.
RR 417 Attorney Derek Seal, with McGinnis Lochridge lawfirm in Austin, said the applications were submitted in December after the completion of a “robust” water supply study.
“We’re comfortable that the water is there… If we didn’t think our request was reasonable and supported by science, we wouldn’t ask for it,” Seal said, adding he did not agree with BCRAGD Executive Director Dave Mauk’s recommendation to approve a new Lower Trinity well limited to pumping no more than 50 gallons per minute, and deny any increase in total acre feet.
“We wouldn’t ask for the water if we didn’t think we owned it. We are legally entitled to these permits,” Seal said.
According to Chris Torn, RR 417 manager and Camp OTX director, the faith-based summer camp had 1,500 attendees and 160 seasonal staff members in 2021. He said registration grew this year to 4,500 attendees and 300 staff members.
“We’re not interested in any conflict,” Torn said. “We’re thankful for the community and the partnerships that we’ve formed.”
Mauk said he has “pretty big concerns” about the proposed drawdowns and beneficial use, as well as how the increased water usage would affect neighboring properties. Citing the governor’s proclamation certifying exceptional drought conditions pose a threat for several Texas counties, including Bandera, Mauk said all governmental and political entities are authorized to use their available resources to cope with and mitigate the disaster.
“There is a problem at this time with our water and groundwater,” Mauk said.
District directors unanimously approved a contested case hearing, following a request from Friends of Hondo Canyon. BCRAGD Attorney Richard Mosty said the preliminary hearing should be scheduled as soon as reasonably possible.
“This is a matter of ethics. We are supposed to be stewards of these gifts that are precious and fragile,” Craig Hunt said. “These gifts are neither earned or purchased. We should not be misusing them.”