Lest you think protecting the environment is a lost cause in the new Legislature, along comes a bipartisan push to salvage Texas rivers with a proposed ban on off-road vehicles in the state’s waterways. Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs is leading the charge to pass legislation prohibiting the all-terrain machines from further destruction of aquatic life and plants in rivers and riverbeds. Off-road enthusiasts have argued that the “beds and banks” law would deny them their right to access public rivers. But Combs, in a press conference outside the State Capitol on Thursday, pointed to documented studies showing the damage off-road vehicles do to water quality and fish and wildlife. The proposed ban is not about access, she said. “This is a resource-destruction issue.”
Joining Combs, a Republican, at the press conference were Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, and Rep. Robert Puente, D-San Antonio, who sponsored companion bills to prohibit the vehicles. San Antonio Republican Sen. Jeff Wentworth, who represents parts of Travis Co., has also thrown his support behind the bill.
This article appears in December 27 • 2002.
