At a specially called meeting Dec. 7, LCRA's Board of Directors is scheduled to consider contracts with landowners to provide surface water to about 780 households in proposed developments along Hamilton Pool Road. As of Dec. 1, these area landowners are negotiating with LCRA for service from the proposed water line: Rebecca Hudson, Bill Formby, John Hatchett and Lee F. and Beth Ann Signor.

Contract provisions
The proposed contracts include measures developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommending limits on impervious cover and promoting low-impact development design. Impervious cover refers to impenetrable surfaces such as rooftops, concrete and asphalt pavement that don't absorb rain. Storm water, in turn, runs off into nearby waterways, carrying pollutants from these impenetrable surfaces with it.

The measures were developed through an agreement between LCRA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce degradation to local waterways and the Edwards Aquifer by limiting pollutant contamination caused by stormwater runoff.

Under the proposed contracts, landowners would abide by the Fish and Wildlife Service measures in exchange for water service from LCRA. The Signors, whose adjacent property already has been partially platted with some lots sold, have also agreed to abide by the measures for development on the rest of his property. If LCRA doesn't build the pipeline, all the landowners could get water elsewhere and not need to abide by the measures.

If the Board approves the contracts, engineering and design of a surface water line from LCRA's West Travis County Regional Water System could begin immediately. The Board mus approve funding before construction can begin. Construction of the water line could be complete in 18 months to two years.

LCRA considers its efforts to include Fish and Wildlife Service measures in these Hamilton Pool Road area water utility contracts consistent with its mission of providing reliable, low-cost utility services, said Tom Hegemier of LCRA's Water Resources Protection department.

"Part of our job is to balance the public's need for water utilities service while also protecting the needs of the environment, even in a portion fo the county where LCRA's nonpoint-source pollution ordinance has not been applied," Hegemier said.

Measures fill a governmental vacuum
Aside from the Fish and Wildlife Service measures, few local jurisdictions have a meaningful ability to enforce water quality controls in the region, said Madison Jechow, LCRA attorney. The City of Austin has no authority to enforce controls in the area. The Texas Legislature recently gave Travis and other fast-growing counties some authority to regulate subdivision development, but questions remain about the extent of this new authority. LCRA's nonpoint-source pollution ordinance does not apply to the area because the area is outside the Lake Travis watershed — the ordinance's current boundry.

"The Fish and Wildlife measures fill a government vacuum," Jechow said. "They're the best option available to us." LCRA is working with Travis County officials on how best to enforce the terms of the contractual agreements, such as through the county's platting approval process.

The Fish and Wildlife Service measures call for buffer zones to protect stream drainage and sensitive environmental features. The buffers must be free of construction activity, golf courses and irrigation with wastewater effluent. Impervious cover is limited to 20 percent through low-impact subdivision design, which reduces roadway length and width and includes use of vegetative channels rather than curbs and gutters. Additional recommended measures include the use of non-toxic building materials, water conservation, rainwater harvesting, wastewater recycling and use of native, drought-resistant plants. The proposed contracts also incorporate the various elements of the Fish and Wildlife Service measures into the final plats and deed restrictions for planned developments.

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