Capitol Grounds
Stop Draining Lake Travis Dry
RECEIVED Tue., Feb. 24, 2009
Dear Editor,
As a former member of the Lower Colorado River Authority Lake Travis Advisory Panel and a Lake Travis fan for many years, I want to register my extreme concern for the continued and increasing pressure on our lake as competing interests seek ever more water [“Dumping the Water Pump,” News, Feb. 20]. We are now witnessing a very easy to understand phenomenon with the lake, as follows: Lake Travis will fall further and faster (than in the past) between the infrequent rainfalls that return it to a full level. So, while the LCRA will argue that there is still enough water to meet additional needs, the use and desirability of the lake will now and forevermore be greatly impacted.
If we do not suspend the actions that are placing greater demands on the resource, we will quickly move from the current deteriorated state to an even more significant scenario which will render the lake useless for recreation and enjoyment for extended periods of time. In the final phase of unbridled development of the resource, we will then discover that we are unable to depend on the lake for its primary function, to supply water for residents in the watershed of the Colorado River.
Please remember that the LCRA is a quasi state agency that is allowed to lobby the Texas Legislature. The agency mission is to increase development and use of the resource and thus line the pockets of the LCRA, its board, and its employees with financial rewards. The mission of the LCRA is not to preserve our beautiful lake but to increase its usage to the maximum possible level, for development interests only. Please understand that when their models turn out to be in error and the development and water commitments have been made, we will have moved past the time and opportunity to solve the problem, and our only option will be to live with the result. We must create a moratorium on further development until a mission and a board for the LCRA that is more favorably focused on every aspect of preserving the resource, not using it, becomes the goal.
As a former member of the Lower Colorado River Authority Lake Travis Advisory Panel and a Lake Travis fan for many years, I want to register my extreme concern for the continued and increasing pressure on our lake as competing interests seek ever more water [“Dumping the Water Pump,” News, Feb. 20]. We are now witnessing a very easy to understand phenomenon with the lake, as follows: Lake Travis will fall further and faster (than in the past) between the infrequent rainfalls that return it to a full level. So, while the LCRA will argue that there is still enough water to meet additional needs, the use and desirability of the lake will now and forevermore be greatly impacted.
If we do not suspend the actions that are placing greater demands on the resource, we will quickly move from the current deteriorated state to an even more significant scenario which will render the lake useless for recreation and enjoyment for extended periods of time. In the final phase of unbridled development of the resource, we will then discover that we are unable to depend on the lake for its primary function, to supply water for residents in the watershed of the Colorado River.
Please remember that the LCRA is a quasi state agency that is allowed to lobby the Texas Legislature. The agency mission is to increase development and use of the resource and thus line the pockets of the LCRA, its board, and its employees with financial rewards. The mission of the LCRA is not to preserve our beautiful lake but to increase its usage to the maximum possible level, for development interests only. Please understand that when their models turn out to be in error and the development and water commitments have been made, we will have moved past the time and opportunity to solve the problem, and our only option will be to live with the result. We must create a moratorium on further development until a mission and a board for the LCRA that is more favorably focused on every aspect of preserving the resource, not using it, becomes the goal.
Thanks,
Steve Lesem
Steve Lesem
