SUWCD district directors nix interlocal agreement
By MAT TAYLOR Special Correspondent

At their recent monthly meeting, Saratoga Underground Water Conservation District directors voted 4-1 not to sign an interlocal agreement with Groundwater Management Area 8.

Earlier this year, the agreement also was not approved.

Board Chairman David Hamilton recommended acceptance of the document after it was reviewed by the county attorney.

"The county attorney said he did not see any problem with the agreement, and I see no danger in the document," Hamilton said. "All other districts in GMA-8 have approved the agreement."

Hamilton was the only director voting to accept the agreement. Directors Robert Wright, T.P. Wingo, Lee Hoffpauir and Randall McGuire all voted "no."

McGuire said although the district did not approve the interlocal agreement, the Saratoga Underground Water Conservation District still would be a voting member of GMA-8 through action of the Texas Legislature.

"What bothers me about the agreement is the provision that even though we did not approve an action of GMA-8, we would still be liable for our portion of any expended funds," Wright said.

"In my opinion, we have been operating without an agreement, so why do we need one now?"

Other directors noted the local district does not have taxing authority like most groundwater districts and operates on limited revenues.

The board also voted not to fund an additional $500 request from GMA-8 that was spent to develop desired future conditions for the area. The money would be in addition to previously submitted funding.

As it was determined that these funds would be used for other districts and that no bill was submitted, directors decided not to spend the Saratoga's limited resources on this request.

In other business, the SUWCD board unanimously approved the district's annual report.

The report will be submitted to the Texas Water Development Board.

Some highlights of the previous fiscal year are that six wells now are monitored by the TWDB, including four in the Travis Peak formation and one each in the Marble Falls and Ellenberger formations.

Also, more than 25 wells were drilled the previous year, and all are exempt wells. The district did approve new rules and fees for the drilling of non-exempt wells. Non-exempt wells are those that pump in excess of 25,000 gallons a day and are not used primarily for domestic or livestock use.

In conjunction with the Lampasas County Extension Service, a well-testing program was conducted in October.

Nitrates and fecal coliform were screened in more than 70 water wells. About 10 percent of the wells showed some contamination.

And the board this last year developed desired future conditions for the Trinity Aquifer.

The findings were submitted to the TWDB, and the report indicated Lampasas County should have adequate groundwater for up to 50 years.

Also at the recent meeting, Hamilton reviewed the Palmer Drought Status report.

Lampasas County remains classified as being in wet conditions with above-average rainfall.

In a final action, officers for the coming year were elected. The current slate was re-elected, which included chairman David Hamilton, vice chairman Lee Hoffpauir and secretary/treasurer T.P. Wingo.

SUWCD directors are to meet Monday at 1:30 p.m. in the county courtroom.