AGUA accomplishments

AGUA has a track record of accomplishments that resulted in significant measures to protect water quality in the Edwards Aquifer. Because of our efforts, support for aquifer protection, among both citizens and elected officials, has increased substantially.

Here are some of our many successes:

• An AGUA lawsuit compelled the US Fish & Wildlife service to greatly expand critical habitat areas for endangered species found only in the Edwards Aquifer and its recharge zone.
• AGUA co-hosted a 3-day aquifer summit titled Save the Heart of Texas: A Regional Summit on the Edwards Aquifer and the Hill Country which featured numerous panel discussions and workshops by conservation and business leaders, government officials, and public agency staff members.
• AGUA organized the San Antonio premiere of the film “The Unforeseen” at Trinity University.
• An AGUA lawsuit forced TxDoT to perform a full Environmental Impact Study for the US 281 expansion over the aquifer recharge zone
• Thanks to AGUA's diligence, a large main leaking raw sewage into the aquifer was repaired
• AGUA board members are members or active participants in:
  • the Recovery Implementation Program (RIP) for the long-term consideration and protection of federally listed species associated with the Edwards Aquifer
  • the Edwards Aquifer Authority Board of Directors
  • the Southern Edwards Aquifer Regional Habitat Conservation Plan
  • the scoping process for the US 281 and Loop 1604 Environmental Impact Studies
• We successfully sued to protect Camp Bullis from encroaching development. As a result, a far-reaching regional effort is underway to find ways to protect the mission at Camp Bullis as well as the endangered species who inhabit the area.
• Due in large part to AGUA's participation, the City of San Antonio significantly tightened its rules pertaining to grandfathering of development projects over the aquifer.
• AGUA was instrumental in defeating state legislation that would have made enforcement of water quality rules difficult or impossible.
• AGUA opposition defeated a regulation that would have allowed auto body and repair shops to be constructed over the aquifer recharge zone.
• Through our efforts, numerous development projects have been required to limit impervious cover or relocate off of the aquifer:
  • Hausman Road rezoning – obtained a reduction in impervious cover from 65% to 45% for this tract
  • Bulverde Road rezoning - obtained a 37% impervious cover limit.
  • Redland Road rezonings - obtained a 30% impervious cover limit in two separate cases
  • reduction of impervious cover to 50% from 70% for a Veterinary clinic
  • withdrawal of the Brenner Printing Plant rezoning case
  • Fossil Creek Voluntary Annexation - AGUA opposition caused withdrawal of petition
  • caused Gunn Honda to withdraw its request to build a dealership, with a paint and body shop, over the aquifer.
• AGUA sponsored a Public Forum on Vested Rights at the University of the Incarnate Word in November, 2004. Titled "Grandfathering": Interpreting Claims of "Vested Rights" in the Land Development Process, the forum featured four prominent attorneys representing both environmental and land development interests. Its success spawned a special one-hour program broadcast on Texas Public Radio.