As the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality considers changes to water quality standards statewide, the village of Volente continues its battle to have its voice heard. The village is submitting a letter, signed by Mayor Jan Yenawine, protesting the proposed changes.
The letter, which was composed with the help of lobbyist Sandra Haverlah and various environmental experts, says the proposed standards would lower the water quality in the Highland Lakes and hurt commercial and other interests in the area.
“The village of Volente is active in the Lake Travis community and interested in preserving the quality and economic vitality of the area,” the letter says. “We would like to participate in further actions that may involve Lake Travis or affect our citizens. Please notify us of any future actions that may be of interest to our residents and others in the area.”
Specifically, the letter addresses concerns about how the TCEQ plans to measure levels of various chemicals like chlorophyll and phosphorus. The TCEQ calls for amounts to be measured only in the main pool of a reservoir. The village argues in the letter that once amounts are high in the main pool, the problem is already widespread upstream and may be difficult to address.
The TCEQ also proposes a set level for such chemicals that would apply to lakes across the state. In the letter, the village said the limits should be adjusted according to historic recorded levels at individual lakes.
Finally, the village raised concerns about a proposed increase in the level for indicator bacteria, a species of bacteria used to determine water contamination levels. According to the letter, the TCEQ proposes to almost double the amount of allowable indicator bacteria in the lake. For tributaries, the proposed new level would be six times what is currently allowed.
“The inevitable impact of such an enormous increase of indicator bacteria in a tributary would be an increase in the bacterial loadings to the Highland Lakes,” the letter says. “Again, the result would be lessened protection for economically important recreational activities.”
The letter addresses the concerns using specific numbers and technical language, something that made some Village Council members uncomfortable. Councilman Chris Wilder said he would prefer the letter say the conclusions were reached with the assistance of experts, rather than implying village residents or the Council had analyzed the data. Mayor pro tem Justine Blackmore-Hilista said such a clarification was unnecessary and would only muddy the point the village was trying to make.
“I don’t think we have to justify these arguments,” she said. “I do think it lessens the impact at some level to say ‘according to consultants.’”
Another concern was the technical arguments would go over the heads of TCEQ officials who would read it. Yenawine said the letter needed to be technical.
“You’ve got to hit all of these levels so they can’t come back and say ‘we didn’t know,’” he said.
In addition, Blackmore-Hilista said the technical argument proves the village understands the issue on a scientific level and isn’t reacting emotionally to the possibility of the lake becoming contaminated.
“I think we are representing our constituents when we make a technical argument as opposed to an emotional reaction,” she said.
The TCEQ is accepting public comment on the proposed changes until 5 p.m. March 17 and has a target adoption date of July 14. For more information, visit www.tceq.state.tx.us/permitting/water_quality/stakeholders/2010standards.html.