AUSTIN — LCRA is asking for the public to review and comment on a proposed revised ordinance to protect water quality in the Highland Lakes.
The draft ordinance would replace two existing ordinances that are 15 years old.
LCRA recently held two open houses — on Oct. 4 in Lakeway and Oct. 6 in Marble Falls. The open houses were lightly attended, and LCRA is considering comments received from attendees. If you missed one of the open houses, you still have time to comment on the proposed revisions by submitting written responses by the Oct. 14 deadline.
The existing ordinances are aimed at protecting water quality by limiting pollutants from new and existing developments. One ordinance applies to development in the Lake Travis watershed in Travis and Burnet counties and the other applies to the upper Highland Lakes (Marble Falls, LBJ, Inks and Buchanan).
The proposed revised ordinance is the result of a year-long analysis by 42 stakeholders who have experience working with the current Lake Travis and Upper Highland Lakes Nonpoint Source Pollution ordinances. If approved by the LCRA Board of Directors, the new Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance would provide a single set of regulations for development in both the Lake Travis watershed and upper Highland Lakes. The goal is to manage stormwater runoff, believed to be the largest source of pollution in the lakes.
“Our objective has been to produce an ordinance that regulates development in a fair, effective and consistent way, while protecting water quality,” said Lisa Hatzenbuehler, manager of LCRA Water Resource Protection. “The proposed new ordinance was developed primarily by two stakeholder groups, taking into account current science and technology and 15 years of experience with how the existing ordinances have been working. Now, we want to hear from the public before moving forward.”
Summary of recommendations
A summary of the stakeholder recommendations and the draft ordinance are available now. (See Quick Links at the top of this page.) These documents also are available at LCRA's Marble Falls office, 500 U.S. Highway 281 North; and LCRA’s General Office Complex, 3700 Lake Austin Blvd. in Austin; or by calling Stephanie Glenn at (512) 473-3200, Ext. 2324, or 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 2324.
Written comments must be submitted by Oct. 14
LCRA will take written public comments through Oct. 14. Written comments will be taken at the open houses or they can be mailed to Stephanie Glenn, LCRA – L421, P.O. Box 220, Austin, TX 78767-0220 or e-mailed to
stephanie.glenn@lcra.org.
The written comments will be considered before the final draft ordinance is presented to the LCRA Board. The Board is currently scheduled to consider adoption of the new ordinance at its November meeting. If approved, the new ordinance would be effective starting in February 2006.
