Welcome to AGUA!AGUA is San Antonio's most effective environmental action organization. We use law, science, and the support of volunteers and online activists to protect our city's source of drinking water, the Edwards Aquifer. |
The Unforeseen |
AGUA sues to halt toll roadAGUA and TURF have joined in filing a federal lawsuit asking that the US 281 toll road project be stopped pending full compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. More... Ask SAWS board to stop service area expansionSan Antonio Water Systems board is planning a service area expansion that will open vast areas of NW Bexar county to high intensity development. Please contact them today to encourage them to withdraw their applications. More...  The Scene at The UnforeseenA standing room only crowd showed up for the San Antonio premier of Laura Dunn’s film “The Unforeseen” (pictures). Read and comment... |
AGUA sues to save San Geronimo Valley and Golden-cheeked warblersAGUA has filed a federal lawsuit against the Fish & Wildlife Service and Corps of Engineers alleging their approvals of a CPS transmission line violated the Endangered Species Act. Read about the lawsuit here Please Donate Today!Lawsuits are expensive. We need to raise funds immediately to win this important fight and save the San Geronimo Valley. Click the warbler to make a donation  |
|
The Edwards Aquifer
Map of Edwards Aquifer in Bexar County (1.4 MB PDF document) |
Council votes down bus transit facility over aquiferOn December 6th, City Council voted against an annexation/rezoning that would have paved the way for a VIA Metro transit park over a sensitive area of the aquifer recharge zone. More... and more... Council approves land acquisition to protect aquiferOn January 10, 2008, San Antonio City Council unanimously approved the purchase of development rights on 2,251 acres in Uvalde County as part of the Edwards Aquifer Land Acquisition program. More... Developer of huge subdivision denied water serviceSAWS board refused to provide water to the developers of an 1,800 acre subdivision that planned to dump treated sewage into beautiful San Geronimo Creek. Council rezones recharge land at 73% imperviousA rezoning will bring intense, high-impervious commercial development to vulnerable land near Loop 1604 and Hausman Road. More... Grass-roots groups get standing to contest SAWS expansionA judge granted legal standing to several citizens and environmental groups opposing SAWS' service area expansion far into sensitive areas of the Hill Country. More... TCEQ slaps wrist of developer who polluted Hamilton PoolTravis County officials are calling a small fine against the developer "ill advised". More... Citizens speak out on SAWS utility expansion over aquiferForty citizens spoke out at a meeting about SAWS' plan to extend its service area far into the Hill Country. Almost everyone in the audience expressed concerns with the planned expansion. Read more... Bexar Met finds contaminants in aquiferBexar Met Water District Hill Country reports that ethylbenzene and xylene were found in its drinking water supply in 2006. However, levels were well below the Maximum Contaminant Level set by the EPA. Recharge zone development scaled backDevelopers reduced the density of The Rim development after the Army expressed concerns that the project would hamper its operations at Camp Bullis. More... Council rezones Kyle-Seale ranchlandCity Council rezoned land over the aquifer recharge zone to allow high intensity commercial development, but imposed a 50% impervious cover limit. Grandfathering rejected in case that AGUA helped fight An appeals court has overturned a ruling which upheld a developer's grandfathering claim, and sent the case back to lower court. AGUA had filed a appeals court brief against the unfounded grandfathering claim. The developer was claiming to be exempt from drainage regulations, the tree ordinance, and all other development rules adopted in the last 25 years. ´Til Your Well Runs DryHow the State of Texas Converted the Edwards Aquifer into a Multi-Million Dollar Commodity. An eye-opening report on the millions that private Edwards permit holders have spent lobbying the legislature. Read the report. EAA board rejects exemption from fuel tank rulesEdwards Aquifer Authority directors voted against a request by Methodist Stone Oak Hospital to construct a 4,440 gallon diesel storage tank over the aquifer recharge zone. More... Aquifer contamination lands Leon Valley on Superfund listCarcinogens found in wells around Leon Valley prompted the EPA to add that portion of the Edwards Aquifer to the Superfund list of critically contaminated sites. More... Ken Kramer: Increased pumping threatens progressState legislation to increase pumping from the aquifer will hurt endangered species and coastal economies. More... Carlos Guerra: Would setting higher pumping cap on Edwards hurt conservation?Funny, isn't it, that a Texas attorney general's opinion on Edwards Aquifer pumping rights was released Tuesday, the day the 80th Texas Legislature was convened. More... Aquifer system to limit pumping is ruled in errorThe impetus for lawmakers to increase the legal amount that can be drawn from the Edwards Aquifer got a boost Tuesday when Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued an opinion that the plan the Edwards Aquifer Authority created to limit that pumping is not legally authorized. More... Carlos Guerra: Worrying about water shortage while threatening source is absurdSan Antonio's peripheral development boom isn't only turning agricultural land into suburbs. It is also expanding demand for infrastructure and public services. More... Carlos Guerra: Latest aquifer pumping skirmish could lead to a major water warWatch out. The water wars are about to kick off again. More... Planning Commissioner neededThe City of San Antonio is currently seeking applicants to the San Antonio Planning Commission to fill a vacancy. More... Edwards pumping battle is revivedThose taking directly from aquifer want cap raised; those downstream seek tougher drought limits. More... Quihi citizens shift strategy on recharge zone quarryEnvironmentalists in Quihi have ended opposition to a recharge zone quarry, but are continuing to oppose a rail line through sensitive areas. Authority votes not to transfer pumping rights across creekWater marketer wanted to sell water to Kyle and a utility district. More... Texas water plan ignores global warming, scientist warnsClimate changes will raise temperatures, possibly cut rainfall, A&M professor says. More... Voters elect new Edwards Aquifer Authority board membersEdwards Aquifer Authority: Incumbent credits fourth victory to talk about recharge Council approves changes to PGA Resort dealIn an 8-3 vote, City Council gave a time extension and Edwards Aquifer water to developers of the PGA golf resort over the Edwards Aquifer. City Council rejects grandfathering claimThe City Council, taking a path that could lead to a court fight over environmental protection rules, denied a developer's grandfathering claim on a 1,700-acre aquifer recharge zone tract. More... AGUA lawsuit halts construction on highway over aquiferResponding to a lawsuit by AGUA, federal officials halted work on the U.S. 281 toll road pending results of an environmental assessment. More… AGUA exposes sewage leak over aquiferAn investigation by AGUA exposed a broken sewer line over the recharge zone that leaked raw sewage into the aquifer for a month. More... Injunction filed to stop 281 toll roadAGUA and People for Efficient Transportation, Inc. filed an injunction in federal court today asking that work on converting US 281 to a toll road be stopped. More... AGUA sues to stop toll road over recharge zoneAGUA and People for Efficient Transportation filed a lawsuit to stop expansions of U.S. 281 and Loop 1604 north of San Antonio. More... AGUA presses for stronger aquifer rulesAGUA announced its revisions to San Antonio's Aquifer Protection Ordinance and urged City Council to quickly adopt the needed protections. More... |
