LCRA could take action on Matagorda Bay inflows. . .The board of directors for the Lower Colorado River Authority Tuesday voted in a special called meeting to continue allowing water from the Highland Lakes to flow down the Lower Colorado River and into Matagorda Bay to help support the Bay’s environmental health. However, Board members could move to begin the process of curtailing that rule at their regular September meeting, set for next week. LCRA Communications Manager Jerry White told In Fact Daily that “there was obvious concern as we move closer to a point that could allow declaration of a drought worse than drought of record.” Environmental flows are critical to the health of Texas’ estuaries and bays. Under LCRA’s water management plan, the water authority must generally let a bare minimum amount of water flow down the river into the bays each month. Rainfall can count against the 14,000 acre-feet total. If no water flows into the lakes, LCRA doesn’t have to release any water downstream for the environment. “It’s survival mode,” said the Sierra Club’s Jennifer Walker. “Ninety-seven percent of the fish and shellfish species use Matagorda Bay at some point in their life cycle. It’s critical for their survival.” She said that the most recent science suggests that marinating a salinity level of 25 parts per thousand during extreme drought is important for bay health. Levels right now sit at 32, just a couple notches below the salinity of the Gulf. Cutting or curtailing freshwater inflows could be ecologically dangerous. Tuesday’s vote was 13-1, with Director Buddy Schrader against the resolution. Director Mike McHenry was absent . . . InFactDaily
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:29:13 +0000
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