Texas Rivers Protection Association (Join or make donations on-line using PayPal or Credit Card)

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Audra Lang
5 years ago
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1 8/27/2008 TRPA 1

2 Texas Rivers Protection Association (Join or make donations on-line using PayPal or Credit Card) 8/27/2008 TRPA 2

3 TRPA Mission To protect the flow, water quality and natural beauty of the rivers of Texas; 8/27/2008 TRPA 3

4 TRPA Mission To promote the safe and wise use of Texas rivers; 8/27/2008 TRPA 4

5 TRPA Mission To develop an awareness of the rights of the public to use navigable rivers in the state of Texas and an awareness of the rights of riparian landowners to be protected from trespass and other intrusions; 8/27/2008 TRPA 5

6 TRPA Mission To foster an awareness and respect for the diverse natural waterway environments of Texas; 8/27/2008 TRPA 6

7 TRPA Mission To promote a mutual respect between river users and landowners for each other's legal rights; 8/27/2008 TRPA 7

8 TRPA Mission To educate its members and the public concerning water conservation and preservation of Texas rivers and streams, and to perform such related educational services within Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and Regulations. 8/27/2008 TRPA 8

9 TRPA Mission To acquire property and/or easements that provide its members, and the public, access to Texas Rivers and streams. 8/27/2008 TRPA 9

10 Sponsorship of River Cleanups and Events 23 rd Annual Great Texas River Cleanup (San Marcos): March 1, 2008 (Annually on 1 st Saturday in March) 8/27/2008 TRPA 10

11 Sponsorship of River Cleanups and Events Brazos River at Glen Rose: April 5, /27/2008 TRPA 11

12 Sponsorship of River Cleanups and Events Hidalgo Falls Festival on Brazos River: April 12-13, /27/2008 TRPA 12

13 Sponsorship of River Cleanups and Events Medina River: May 3, /27/2008 TRPA 13

14 Sponsorship of River Cleanups and Events Upper Guadalupe River: August 16, /27/2008 TRPA 14

15 Sponsorship of River Cleanups and Events Trinity River / TRC: Sept. 27 & Oct. 4, /27/2008 TRPA 15

16 Hidalgo Falls on Brazos River 8/27/2008 TRPA 16

17 Hidalgo Falls on Brazos River TRPA and friends raised over $100,000 to purchase and improve riverside land at historic Hidalgo Falls near Navasota for the exclusive use and enjoyment of boaters. Users must belong to TRPA or donate stewardship time for upkeep or improvement of the property. HF is the closest whitewater / slalom course to Houston. Information and contacts at 8/27/2008 TRPA 17

18 Purchase the Texas Whitewater DVD on-line for $20 and all proceeds will benefit Hidalgo Falls 8/27/2008 TRPA 18

many others, San Marcos officials were persuaded to rebuild the dam as a dynamic whitewater

19 In 2005, Rio Vista dam on the San Marcos River was deemed unsafe. Due to support of TRPA President Tom Goynes, TRPA member and Olympian kayaker Ben Kvanli and many others, San Marcos officials were persuaded to rebuild the dam as a dynamic whitewater play spot. It was re-opened in May 2006 and was the site of Olympic Team Qualifying Trials in February /27/2008 TRPA 19

20 Legal and Grassroots Support for Contesting Water Permits and Access Issues 8/27/2008 TRPA 20

21 Legal and Grassroots Support for Contesting Water Permits and Access Issues Legal and financial support for grassroots organization GREAT (Guadalupe River Environmental Action Team) in opposition to the Wheatcraft Corp. rock crushing operations at Center Point on the Guadalupe River, downstream of Kerrville. 8/27/2008 TRPA 21

22 Wheatcraft Corp., Center Point, TX 8/27/2008 TRPA 22

23 Wheatcraft Corp., Center Point, TX 8/27/2008 TRPA 23

24 Wheatcraft Corp., Center Point, TX 8/27/2008 TRPA 24

25 Wheatcraft Corp., Center Point, TX 8/27/2008 TRPA 25

26 Legal and Grassroots Support for Contesting Water Permits and Access Issues Legal support for the Hix case soon to be heard in the Texas Supreme Court that questions the right of the public to use navigable waterways. 8/27/2008 TRPA 26

27 Legal and Grassroots Support for Contesting Water Permits and Access Issues Financial support for Friends of the Brazos River to conduct instream water flow studies. 8/27/2008 TRPA 27

28 Legal and Grassroots Support for Contesting Water Permits and Access Issues Financial and legal support for San Marcos Bed & Banks case that was eventually appealed to the Texas Supreme Court. This legal victory has resulted in fewer cities attempting to use the bed & banks scam* that pollutes our streams. 8/27/2008 TRPA 28

29 Legal and Grassroots Support for Contesting Water Permits and Access Issues Financial support to SMRF for legal efforts to maintain legal right for a permit to execute environmental flows. This is in appellate stage now. 8/27/2008 TRPA 29

30 Legal and Grassroots Support for Contesting Water Permits and Access Issues TRPA is providing legal support for Castroville, TX citizens and Medina River stakeholders who are troubled by a proposed 20/20 water treatment plant. 20/20 is about the worst quality permit that TCEQ writes. In April 2008, TRPA requested a contested case hearing in support of a 5/5/2/1 water treatment system. Water treated to this level is much easier to sell for reuse, so it is unlikely that any effluent will ever end up in the river if Castroville is required to treat to this level. (San Marcos, TX has a 5/5/2/1 permit). 8/27/2008 TRPA 30

31 Legal and Grassroots Support for Contesting Water Permits and Access Issues In July, 2008 the TRPA Board of Directors voted to be on record in opposition to the Dept. of Homeland Security wall along the Rio Grande in Hidalgo County. The wall impede wildlife movement in the river corridor. The wall will prevent boater access on the US side. The wall creates a no mans land, essentially ceding the northern river boundary to Mexico. On Nov.1, 2008 the Los Caminos del Rio festival will be held on both sides of the border in Hidalgo County to celebrate the river and the cultures. River races, challenges, food and music will make this a very special event. TRPA encourages your participation and heartily endorses this event. 8/27/2008 TRPA 31

32 Victory in the San Marcos Bed and Banks Case! In Texas, it's relatively easy to get a permit to transport private water in a public stream (that is, using the bed and banks of a river as a pipeline). The problem arises when a city decides that the sewage it is disposing into a river is private water that it should be allowed to take back out downstream, or sell to someone else. Lots of things happen when this is permitted. First of all, a city is only given permission to dump its sewage into the river because there is adequate flow to dilute their effluent in the first place. If every city took out an amount of water equal to their discharge, the flows in our rivers would probably cease altogether during dry periods. A bed and banks scam is just a cleaver trick whereby a city can claim it is "reusing" its wastewater, when actually the water it draws out contains some of its sewage but usually a whole lot of other, better quality water. If a city wants to reuse its wastewater before discharging it, we applaud and support them. But this "indirect reuse" as it is called, is not reuse at all. At any rate, the city of San Marcos applied for and received a bed and banks permit several years ago. Both TRPA and the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF) fought the permit and won a number of concessions - limits on the quantity of water that could be withdrawn and environmental quality concessions - that is, the river had to be left alone when the flow was low. The city didn't like these restrictions, so they appealed the decision. SMRF appealed the permit as well, trying to get it even more restrictive. The District Court upheld the original permit. The City then appealed to the Third Court of Appeals and so did SMRF. (TRPA helped fund the appeal.) In a major victory, the Third Court threw out the whole permit in late August of The City then took the case to the Texas Supreme Court. In January 2005, the Supreme Court for the final time upheld the decision of the Third Court, ending the possibilities of further appeal. Other cities are planning Bed & Banks applications like this - hopefully this decision will slow them down. Thanks to SMRF and TRPA, and thanks to all the members who have supported this important work. 8/27/2008 TRPA 32

33 8/27/2008 TRPA 33

June 25, Re: Camping Platform Permitting (NSGLC )

June 25, Re: Camping Platform Permitting (NSGLC ) June 25, 2013 Curtis W. Smith Director of Planning Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission P.O. Box 417, 23372 Front Street Accomac, VA 23301 Re: Camping Platform Permitting (NSGLC-12-04-03)