Both the Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District (GCUWCD) and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) are moving forward out of the preliminary stages into the administrative stage before the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) for five contested case hearings.
This comes after a preliminary contested case hearing was held before hearing examiner Judge Stephen B. Ables on Thursday, Feb. 16, about GBRA’s request to drill three additional water wells in the Carrizo Aquifer was set for Thursday, Feb. 16.
“GBRA agrees to pay all costs associated with the contract the district (GCUWCD) will execute with SOAH and will deposit with the district (GCUWCD) an amount sufficient to pay the contract amount,” Emily Rogers, attorney for GBRA, said in an email to GUWCD. “Additionally, GBRA does not intend to further contest the admission as parties those entities and people listed in Judge Stephen Ables’ Revised Order No. 2 and requests that this matter be referred to SOAH promptly.”
The five listed parties moving forward with the contested case include Gonzales County Water Supply Corporation, Mark Ploager and Sally Ploeger with the Water Production Association, and three sets of landowners: Mary Ann Menning, Ted Boriack, and Phil and Jason Breitschopf.
Readers affected by Western mitigation funding can email the Gonzales Inquirer at publisher@gonzalesinquirer.com to share their comments.