Letter to the Editor: Edwards water right lease to Martin Marietta Cement Plant

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@CorridorNews

SM Corridor News

Letter to the editior

October 12, 2014

Hon. Mayor Daniel Guerrero

Council Member  Lisa Prewitt

Council Member Jude Prather

Council Member John Thomaides

Council Member Wayne Becak

Council Member Ryan Thomason

Council Member Shane Scott

City of San Marcos Texas

630 E Hopkins St.

San Marcos, Texas.  78666

Subject: Edwards water right lease to Martin Marietta Cement Plant and

              Mandatory Stage four water rationing

Greetings;

The purpose of this letter is twofold. I am requesting that you neither renew nor enter into a lease, of our city’s Edwards water rights, to Martin Marietta or any other entities.  Additionally I am asking that you rescind Stage four water rationing and immediately amend the ordinance to reflect more realistic, year around, standards for water conservation.

The citizens of San Marcos have been paying dearly for surface water rights, and the treatment and transmission of same, for two decades. The purpose for integrating surface water into our Edwards ground water distribution system was to insure a more than adequate future water supply for our City. Our current water delivery system is utilizing some 95-97% surface water, which I believe is too much and was not the original intention of surface water rights purchases.  This reduced use of our Edwards water rights is endangering the very future and long term holding of those rights. Please vote against any lease of our Edwards water rights- even though it appears to be easy money to the City coffers – it is bad for our future water supply and Edwards availability. 

Additionally, I am asking you to immediately rescind Stage four and utilize stage two while the water conservation ordinance is being promptly revamped. The water conservation ordinance must employ a realistic means for usage based on seasonal needs.  I do agree that we must be constantly, year around, conserving and limiting usage.  I do not agree that conservation efforts should be so dire that they cannot meet the needs of our citizens work schedules, hand and sprinkler system usage, basic household hygiene, the maintenance of drying concrete slabs and piers and minimal landscape and tree watering, Stages three and four must reflect a more realistic approach to address and achieve water use reduction.

I thank you for your immediate attention to these very important issues and appreciate your service on behalf of our citizens. 

I am willing to answer any questions you may have.

Sincerely, 

Kathy M Morris