Proposed RV Park would use 4.5 million gallons of water per year

I read, with great interest, your article about the Groundwater District declaring drought conditions in the May 12 issue of The View. In light of this, there is a New Operating Permit Application being considered by the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District at this time requesting approval to pump 14 acre feet, or 4,561,914 from the Lower Trinity aquifer/year.

A gentleman from Dripping Springs purchased a 30 acre tract that abuts Golf Rd where the pipeline crosses, about 4 miles from Wimberley toward Dripping Springs. I just do no believe he understands the environmental sensitivity of the Wimberley community. His intent is to build a RV Park on the available 25 acres (the pipeline is on the other 5) with 201 RV Pad Sites and and 30 Cabin Sites. The calculation in the request states that “There will be 231 units upon build out. Assuming 51.11 gallons per unit per day, and multiplying that by 365 days/year, that results in 4,561,914 gallons or 14 acre feet/ year.” The request states that to be 65 Gallons per minute.

Also stated, there will be 2 ponds. The East Pond L=-137’, W=177’, V=53,605 FT^3. The West Pond L = 180’, W - 111’, V=36,700FT^3 and a Swimming Pool with 2,875 sq feet of water surface area with a beach entry 5’ deep. Pool is proposed to be 70’x56’. If the 65 Gallons per Minute is requested for 231 units, I’m wondering where the water is coming from to fill these amenities. I live less than 2 miles from the proposed park and have 4 detaining ponds. In extremely wet weather, the ponds will fill with the intent of slowing down the water flow, and cut down on erosion on its way to Jacobs Well. when we bought our property, the last pond retained water for about 6 months of the year. That was 22 years ago and the ponds have not been full in years.

I attended the Groundwater Conservation District meeting on April 7 and was surprised to learn about the lack of data to support long term pumping of the Lower Trinity aquifer. Also, assumed, no co-mingling of the Middle Trinity (where most of our water comes from) and the Lower Trinity water pool and production rates during drought.

Seeing the Project Map last week was simply shocking! I am very concerned that because of lack of data, we will be rolling the dice and hoping we will still have any water at all. What on earth happened to 1 well per every 6 acres in hays County. The View article stated that because of the drought, we need to conserve water?

Deborah Elliott