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<br />25. <br /> <br />RESOLUTION NO. 2002 - 164 R <br /> <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN <br />MARCOS, TEXAS EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR A <br />COOPERATIVE REGIONAL EFFORT REGARDING CHANGES <br />TO THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY ACT; AND <br />DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature, in enacting the Edwards Aquifer Authority Act (SB 1477) in <br />1993, recognized the fact that increasing withdrawals from the Edwards Aquifer had the direct effect of <br />decreasing flows in the Guadalupe River basin; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, SB 1477 set limits on pumping from the aquifer (450,000 acre-feet/year, decreasing to <br />400,000 in 2008), but the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) is in the process of issuing permits that may total <br />550,000 acre-feet/year; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, SB 1477 requires the cost of permit reductions to achieve the 450,000 limit to be paid <br />by existing aquifer users, and the EAA is faced with allocating this cost in a lump sum in a brief period of time <br />since it was not given authority in SB 1477 to issue long-term debt; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the EAA Board of Directors recently discussed solving the buydown problem by having <br />the State Legislature amend SB 1477 to increase the limit on withdrawals from 450,000 to 500,000 or 550,000 <br />acre-feet/year, on the rationale that the money that would be used to pay for the buydowns would be better used <br />developing alternative water supplies or enhancing the available aquifer supply; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, an increase in the permit limits in SB 1477 would likely mean a decrease in flows in the <br />Guadalupe River, especially in dry periods when it is most needed, and it would encourage delay for the many <br />projects already under way to develop alternative water supplies that supplant or reduce dependence on the <br />Edwards Aquifer; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, a cooperative effort among stakeholders in the Guadalupe Basin region regarding <br />possible changes to SB 1477 is the best way to protect the interests of the region in the 2003 Texas Legislature; <br />now therefore <br /> <br />BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, TEXAS: <br /> <br />PART 1. The City of San Marcos expresses its support for a cooperative effort among stakeholders <br />in the Guadalupe Basin region regarding possible changes to SB 1477. <br /> <br />PART 2. This Resolution is in full force and effect immediately upon its passage. <br /> <br />ADOPTED on August 26, 2002. <br /> <br />WR,~. <br /> <br />Robert B. Habingreither <br />Mayor <br /> <br />