BREAKING: Cape’s Dam Removal Opponents Demand Federal Review Of Environmental Impact

San Marcos, TX – The controversy surrounding a proposal by the City of San Marcos to destroy Capes Dam on the river here has reached a new level, as local grassroots activists demand that rules set by the National Environmental Protection Act be fully observed before any action is taken.

In a letter to federal, state and local officials released today, a group of local citizens sharply question efforts by the city and local employees of the US Fish and Wildlife Service to remove the dam without the first completing the thorough and impartial review process required by federal law.

In their letter, leaders with the “Save The SMTX River” campaign state, “We believe the consequences of the removal of Capes Dam as proposed are inappropriately characterized in a way that may allow an Environmental Assessment (EA) yielding a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

This would allow USFWS to avoid the full analysis of this action required for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to authorize such a major alteration in the river here.”

The group’s concerns and demand are summarized in their statement that, “We believe the removal of Capes Dam has been insufficiently scrutinized, omitting the detrimental effects on aquatic ecology, the integrity of historical river features, and recreational usability that could be lost if Capes Dam is removed.

Thus we seek affirmation from responsible federal and state officials that the full National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process for issuing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be conducted before any action is authorized.”

According to group leader Brian Olson, “One-sided and inconsistent scientific predictions of impacts on ecology need to be subjected to peer review and analysis by unbiased experts.

The historical significance of the 150-year-old site of the first industrial activity in our area needs to be adequately recognized. The city wants to block and drain the quarter mile north channel of the river here known as Mill Race.

This will destroy a prime fishing spot and the river will no longer be safely navigable for youth groups or suitable for safe recreational therapy for handicapped veterans. These impacts deserve more scrutiny before irreversible actions are taken.” 

Save the SMTX River, at SaveTheSMTXRiver.org, and its partner Facebook group Save The SMTX River have more than 4,400 members.

Leaders signing their letter to federal and state officials are Brian Olson, President of Save the SMTX River; James Clements, President of Central Texas Returning Heroes; Ben Kvanli of Olympic Outdoor Center and Veterans Adventures; and Kelley Smoot Garrett, geologist; Tom Goynes, San Marcos River Retreat and Boy Scout & Church Camp as well as past President, San Marcos River Foundation; and Duane Grotenhuis, Owner of TG Canoe & Kayak.