Where do our State Legislative Candidates Stand on Water?

“Elect A Candidate that WILL Protect Our Water!”

The DRC surveyed candidates running for the state legislature on their position toward water conservation efforts. Both Republicans and Democrats agreed that Texans have a vested interest in publicly owned lands, and that a science-based approach is needed to protect our natural resources. We encourage you to get engaged and consider which candidate will support a smart water plan. As citizens of Val Verde County, we need to hold our leaders accountable!

Below are some quotes from each representative:

Eddie Morales Jr. (D) - House District 74

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"Our natural resources must be protected and used strategically to support water usage, energy, agriculture and economic development."

Ruben Falcon (R) - House District 74

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“As a conservative republican, I believe in Local Control – the government closest to the people governs best. If the citizens of Val Verde County believe a groundwater conservation district would benefit and protect them and their downstream neighbors, I would support their decision to create one.”


Roland Gutierrez (D) - Senate District 19

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“30% of surface water in Texas comes from groundwater, so we have to have that understanding in place. We need better science when we go about the effort of considering management districts. If elected, I will make sure that we push state-sponsored studies so we can have better hydrology models in place. We all need water, that’s what is important for the future.”


Who will get your vote? Regardless of your choice, we must ensure that we hold our legislators accountable to follow through with their promises to protect our water.

“Water The Consequences” If Our Water Disappeared?

The Future of Val Verde County Relies on Conservation Efforts

This article originally appeared in the Del Rio News-Hearld.

Author: Joe Joplin

Val Verde County does not have a water management plan. Without one, the future of our water is unknown.

My goal is to avoid improper management of our water resources so that our county does not suffer the same fate the City of Fort Stockton endured with Comanche Springs.

By 2070, Texas’ population is expected to increase by more than 70 percent and the demand for water will grow. The county has already drawn attention from large companies interested in selling our groundwater to other communities. Ensuring our area water is conserved in a changing world should be top priority.

Without a governing body, the 'Rule of Capture' reigns. Property owners can pump as much water as they want regardless of the negative impacts it may have on springs, rivers, lakes, creeks, municipal water supplies, or other landowners. The Devils River, Rio Grande, Amistad Reservoir, Pecos River and San Felipe Creek, are all fed by groundwater from the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer. If we pump too much groundwater, these rivers can be impacted.

Tourism in Val Verde County generates over $52M per year. Major draws to the area include Amistad Recreation Area, Lower Pecos River murals and the Devils River. Other economic drivers like Laughlin Air Force Base, also depend on this water. If we misuse our resources, we threaten our economy.

The Devils River Conservancy’s “Water. The Consequences?” initiative highlights the risk of not planning for the future of our county’s water resources. The campaign advocates for a management plan that protects private property rights, stream flows, recreational values and municipal water supplies.

The DRC surveyed candidates running for the state legislature on their position toward water conservation efforts. Both Republicans and Democrats agreed that Texans have a vested interest in publicly owned lands, and that a science-based approach is needed to protect our natural resources. I encourage you to get engaged and consider which candidate will support a smart water plan. As citizens of Val Verde County, we need to ensure our leaders plan for the future.

Find out how you can protect Val Verde County’s natural resources at devilsriverconservancy.org

Read the original article on the Del Rio News-Herald here.

Don’t blow it: Unregulated wind farms encroach on pristine Texas wilderness

The Devils River Conservancy, is spearheading the “Don’t Blow It” campaign to advocate for thoughtful regulation of wind energy development — an industry quickly expanding in rural Texas, largely without rules and with serious negative implications for Texans. While the campaign is in full support of renewable energy solutions, “Don’t Blow It” by placing renewable energy in locations that negatively impact ecologically and culturally sensitive and pristine areas, military operations and border security, as well as the communities that depend on these assets.

The statewide initiative illustrates the environmental, economic and cultural implications wind farms pose in Val Verde County and demonstrates the need for development by design to protect what is left of “Wild Texas”.
Val Verde County lies at the crossroads of three distinct ecological regions: the Chihuahuan Desert, the Tamaulipan Brushlands and the Edwards Plateau. It is home to many historical and natural treasures including its clear springs, vast unadulterated vistas and the last wild and pristine river in Texas, the Devils River. More than 1 million tourists visit Val Verde County state and federal parks each year, seeking a retreat from the urban jungle. Recently, Val Verde County has come under threat, attracting the attention of foreign industrialists who have acquired over 140,000 acres of undeveloped ranch land with the intention of expanding wind farms. Such development in this region will forever scar the iconic terrains, threaten the value of ecotourism, encroach upon military training grounds, degrade private property values and decimate one of the last vestiges of our “Wild Texas” heritage. “Don’t Blow It” by industrializing Wild Texas with wind farm developments Energy purchased from wildscapes is not as “green” as that procured from less sensitive areas. Wind farms are substantial industrial developments, generating relatively small amounts of energy compared to the “sprawl” they require. They negatively impact the environment by disrupting groundwater flows, obstructing migratory flight paths, causing erosion and degrading water quality. Additional negative effects include noise pollution and visual pollution (including red lights that pierce the area’s famous night skies) — all standard byproducts of industrialization.
“Protecting the biological health and integrity of the lower Pecos and Devils River watersheds, as well as conserving the area’s wide-open spaces and dark skies, are fundamental to our work there, now and to come,” said Carter Smith, executive director of the Texas Park and Wildlife Department. “Proposals to further intensively develop the area surrounding the Devils River run counter to many of the values that ranchers and conservationists, biologists and outdoor enthusiasts alike have labored long and hard to protect.”

“Don’t Blow It” by threatening military operations and border security.

Wind farm encroachment in Val Verde County compromises Air Force pilot training and US border operations. In addition to environmental impacts, wind turbines in Val Verde County can affect our state’s economy by compromising homeland security operations and interfering with military aviation radar and flight training routes. Located in Del Rio, Texas, Laughlin Air Force Base has the largest pilot training program in the U.S. and is critical to Val Verde County’s economic structure and success. Laughlin employs 24 percent of the county’s population, jobs that would be adversely affected if the base and its training program are compromised by airspace obstructions. According to the Texas Military Value Task Force 2018 Strategic Report, Laughlin is a vital part of the U.S. military, contributing $1.5 billion to the Texas economy. The state’s report also discourages development such as wind farms in close proximity to military operations.

“Wind farms in Val Verde County pose an attendant threat to military training airspace, border security operations and public parklands,” said Skip Baker, president of the Military Affairs Association. “Responsible consideration of location must be considered in renewable energy development. Wind turbines create airspace hazards and compromise air traffic safety for Laughlin Air Force pilots at the largest training program in the U.S. by interfering with radio signals, potentially reducing their number of effective training days.”

“Don’t Blow It” by sprawling into our last few iconic horizons.

Val Verde County is a culturally rich region and home to over 2,000 archaeological sites. Shumla Archeological Research & Education Center, a global leader in rock art research and education, has joined the DRC in opposing and objecting to wind farm industrialization in and around Val Verde County. Hundreds of complex multi-colored art murals are located in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands and Devils River Basin. These ancient spiritual expressions date as far back as 4,000 BP and are already threatened by vandalism, flooding and weathering; wind farms will cause further harm to these historical deposits.

“Wind farms are substantial industrial developments that require significant clearing, blasting and leveling to create turbine pads, access roads and powerlines,” said Emil Zuberbueler, president of the board of directors of Shumla Archaeological Research and Education Center. “Wind farm industrialization in Val Verde County contributes to the degradation and destruction of the region’s unique and priceless archaeological and rock art sites.”

The DRC believes wind farms should be located in industrialized areas which have already been altered to such an extent that they have limited wilderness value remaining. Ultimately, destroying one environment for the sake of saving another makes no sense at all.

To find out how you can help protect the unique natural and scenic treasures in Val Verde County from wind farm encroachment visit, www.dontblowittexas.org. To learn more about the Devils River Conservancy visit, www.devilsriverconservancy.org.

National Geographic Highlights Texas' Rivers

What would happen if our rivers stopped flowing? Conservation groups in Texas are rallying together to ensure the future of fresh water for the economy, wildlife, and human enjoyment. National Wildlife Federation’s Myron Hess lays out the need for this type of coalition as he canoes down one of the state’s scenic rivers. With each oar stroke, Hess makes the case for the importance of preserving healthy ecosystems through clean water and the support of the Texas Living Waters Project.
 

Road Building Workshop a Success

The Devils River Conservancy Road Building & Drainage Workshop was a huge success! Thank you to all who joined us in learning about the benefits of road drainage features and how to implement them on various road types.#agoodroadlieseasyontheland 
Thanks to Steve Carson of Rangeland Hands Inc. for coming down from Santa Fen NM to lead the conversation.

BIG Thanks also to #DevilsAdvocates Sky Jones LeweyJoe Joplin,Minda Pfeil and Sarah Robertson for aiding the behind the scenes logistics of the workshop and ensuring a successful event!

Looking to take part in our upcoming events and education? Become a Devils Advocate today! 

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