One of the proposed routes for the 345kV transmissions lines is along County Road 223 on the north side of the Lampasas River, and other routes are on the south side along CR 222 and 221. These routes would directly affect the Lampasas River valley.

As I own a ranch that has been in my family for approximately 130 years in this valley, I am deeply concerned about the damage these routes would pose to this vital area. Just to mention a few of the problems:

· The towers are 120 feet to 150 feet tall and require a 160-foot clear-cut easement. This clear-cut easement would cause loss of trees and degrade the caliche soil of the hills, causing erosion, silt, into the shallow river basin.

· This, in turn, affects the water supply for our entire area.

· The irreplaceable wildlife habitat supports the endangered golden cheeked warbler, the black-capped vireo, the threatened bald eagle and the monitored Guadalupe bass.

· The counties of Lampasas, Bell and Burnet, just to name a few, will have the income from hunting decreased because of the impact to deer, turkeys and doves.

· Not to mention the irreversible damage to the agriculture. This valley also contains rich bottom land that is used to grow large hay crops not grown as plentifully elsewhere. The large machinery needed to install and maintain the 120-foot towers could not help but cause deep tracks in those fields.

· Finally, the beauty of the surrounding scenery would be forever ruined for us and the future generations.

· Currently, CR 223 is a road taken frequently by classic car, bicycle and motorcycle clubs, as well as just individuals out for a drive.

While Oncor Electric is advertising this as windmill energy, they also will tell you the grid, once installed, will carry all types of energy. I am very much aware that we do need to go "green," and that everyone needs to be a part of the effort. However, I do not think that one environmentally friendly system needs to be used at the expense of another vital environmental system, namely the Lampasas River valley.

I hope that Oncor Electric and the Public Utility Commission will pick routes away from this beautiful, environmentally sensitive area.

Helen Howard