|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 2003
FOCL MEETING A BIG SUCCESS.
Canyon Lake—The much-publicized Town Hall Meeting hosted by Friends of Canyon Lake on Saturday was a big success, according to both organizers and attendees. More than 250 people turned out to hear an update on the progress of a federal lawsuit to force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform an Environmental Impact
Statement.
 FOCL members contend the routine
assessment is necessary to investigate potential damage to the Guadalupe River
and Canyon Lake which is likely to occur from plans by the Guadalupe-Blanco
River Authority to greatly increase the amount of water it plans to divert
from the lake and the river.
Bob Wickman, a Canyon Lake resident and FOCL leader, opened the meeting with a
review of the history and main issues, and outlined why the massive new GBRA
pumping facility planned for Canyon Lake will likely draw off the best water
from the lake and leave lower quality water for local drinking, and for
recreational use on the river.
His briefing also detailed residents’ concerns about decreasing water quality,
noting GBRA plans for increasing wastewater disposal into the river and the
lake.
Jim
Blackburn, featured speaker and a registered environmental engineer and also
FOCL’s attorney, then outlined nature of the federal lawsuit, and explained
why he is optimistic about the group’s chances for success in court.
“I have a very good feeling about our chances for a permanent injunction,” he
told the audience, which cheered this news.
Don Johnson, another FOCL leader, provided a spirited summation and encouraged
the audience to continue donating to the legal fund to sustain the court
challenges. Johnson asked for large donations…as much as $5,000 each.
Several attendees wrote checks and turned them in at the meeting. A number of
others made pledges of support. Dozens offered to serve on committees.
Comments from the audience during a lengthy question-and-answer session showed
that support for FOCL’s efforts to save Canyon Lake and the Guadalupe remains
high, despite numerous GBRA and state attempts to turn aside the group’s
efforts.
 State Senator Jeff Wentworth sent his chief of staff, Joe Morris, to the
meeting. Mr. Morris answered questions and told the group he would convey
their concerns to Senator Wentworth. The large and vocal audience
publicly questioned the absence of most county or other state elected
officers. Commissioner Jan Kennady planned to attend, but was called away by a
family emergency. No other county official elected to attend the
well-publicized meeting.
State and county elected officials have been reluctant to confront GBRA over
the issue, despite mounting evidence of potential harm to the county's economy
and its environment.
Blackburn stated in his presentation that he expects an initial ruling from
the court in mid-December.
More information about the issues and the lawsuit can be obtained from the
FOCL website at www.friendsofcanyonlake.com, or by email to foclake@yahoo.com.
The group’s address is P.O. Box 1392, Canyon Lake, TX 78133.
For more information,
(210) 364-3081
nkeeton@gvtc.com
Back
| Top |
