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<br />110
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<br />
<br />RESOLUTION 1993-~R
<br />
<br />A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
<br />OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS, EXPRESSING THE CITY'S
<br />POSITION ON MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS FOR STATE
<br />LEGISLATION PERTAINING TO THE EDWARDS AQUIFER;
<br />AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, the Edwards Aquifer is a unique natural resource in
<br />Texas, because it provides water for approximately 1. 3 million
<br />persons, it is interconnected with the surface basins of the
<br />Nueces, San Antonio, and Guadalupe Rivers, it has high recharge
<br />capacity, rapid internal water movement, high well discharge rates,
<br />and large spring discharges, it functions as a single water-bearing
<br />unit with recharge and pumping affecting water levels across the
<br />entire region, and it supports rare endemic animals and plants at
<br />the two largest natural springs remaining in Texas, the San Marcos
<br />and Comal Springs; and,
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, the city of San Marcos has long held as a goal the
<br />development of a regional management plan for the Edwards Aquifer
<br />in order to equitably meet the needs of Aquifer users while
<br />preserving the natural flow of the springs and river which share
<br />their name with the City; and, ~
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, the recent ruling in Sierra Club v. Luian has served
<br />to demonstrate the significant role that the federal courts will
<br />play in the absence of an effective 'management plan for the
<br />Aquifer; and,
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature must develop a management plan
<br />for the Edwards Aquifer within the parameters of preserving natural
<br />springflow at Comal and San Marcos Springs in order to avoid the
<br />risk of further federal intervention; and,
<br />
<br />, " ,
<br />WHEREAS, City officials and staff members have been actively
<br />involved in the development of State' legislation for such a
<br />management plan with, staff represeritatives' of Senator Ken
<br />Armbrister and Representative Libby' Linebarger, and with
<br />representatives of downstream interests along the San Marcos and
<br />Guadalupe Rivers, Comal County, Bexar County, Medina County and
<br />Uvalde County; and,
<br />
<br />WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to express its position on
<br />certain fundamental management. concepts for the Edwards Aquifer as
<br />a basis for further negotiations a~d development of'a legislative
<br />management plan for the Aquifer; now, therefore,
<br />
<br />,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE 'CITY COUNCIL OF. THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS,
<br />TEXAS: '
<br />
<br />PART 1. That the City of San Marcos supports the following
<br />management concepts for State legislatiQn pertaining to the Edwards
<br />Aquifer: " .,.'
<br />
<br />(a) . The Edwards' Aquifer must', be managed às a unique
<br />natural resource, ,separated from e:tisting state-
<br />wide groundwater law.:. '
<br />
<br />(b) The critical need òf, agricultural, interests and
<br />communi tief;J 'downstream from San Marcos and Comal
<br />springs, regarding' the Edwar4s. Aquifer is
<br />maintenanc,e o'f ,na:turai springfiow .at' these, two
<br />springs, especially in'drought condit.ions, when the
<br />springs provide 70-80% of flow in, the Guadalupe
<br />River.
<br />
<br />(c) "until water conser,vation. and reuse measures,
<br />alternative 'water ,supplies, recharge enhancement
<br />measures and other realistic means of re~ucing the
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