Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP) Wednesday, November 18, 2009 By Editor The EARIP stakeholders met Thursday and took the first of many steps in the process of establishing a plan to protect federally-listed endangered species while balancing the region’s need for water. The chair and members of the EARIP Science Subcommittee presented preliminary findings from their report that analyzes endangered species’ needs in relation to spring flow rates and aquifer levels, and they answered many questions from the stakeholders. The full report will be completed at the end of December 2009. Robert Gulley, EARIP Program Manager, said “The Science Subcommittee’s work is an initial step in a lengthy process established over the past 2 years by EARIP stakeholders. The flows are a starting point, but they do not dictate any particular action. The numbers do point out the complexity of discussions coming in the next few months and do highlight the need to work together to come up with creative solutions.” The second step of the process was also accomplished at this meeting when the stakeholders approved seeking a peer review of the Science Subcommittee report by independent scientists. A Request for Proposals will be sent out in December. The group also began the third step in the process by discussing possible alternatives for protecting species. Discussion of these alternatives will continue and intensify on December 1 when the EARIP holds a 2-day retreat in Kerrville. The Science Subcommittee will be one of many technical resources that will inform these discussions. Other actions taken Thursday include unanimous approval of funding for an aquifer study to evaluate recharge alternatives for spring flow supplementation, which allows exploration of non-pumping actions as part of the solution. The group also learned that a Guadalupe River gains and losses study will be funded by the Corps of Engineers. The stakeholders declined to fund a third proposed study about whooping crane foods and marsh connectivity. The 2010 EARIP operating budget of $239,848 was approved with stakeholders contributing these funds for the EARIP’s third year, including Edwards Aquifer Authority, Guadalupe Blanco River Authority, San Antonio River Authority, San Antonio Water System, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and Texas Parks and Wildlife plus many others. EARIP stakeholders include water utilities, cities, groundwater conservation districts, agricultural users, industrial users, environmental organizations, individuals, river authorities, downstream and coastal communities, and state and federal agencies. _http://helotesherald.com/?p=979_ (http://helotesherald.com/?p=979)
