by Louie Neira

With the start of another hot summer, Uvalde water is once again being eyed by San Antonio water resource groups with the intent of securing water and possibly leaving Uvalde high and dry – literally.

La Voz spoke with Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA Dist. 14) board member Mario Cruz concerning his recent visit with representatives from the Southwest Texas Water Resources (STWR), LP group of San Antonio. In what Cruz describes as “dangling a carrot” in front of Uvaldeans to entice them to sell their water rights, STWR’s main goal is to secure a long term water supply for a water pipeline from Uvalde County to the San Antonio metropolitan area.

However, what’s a good idea for San Antonio citizens isn’t necessarily a good thing for Uvalde and their share of the Uvalde Pool in Edwards Aquifer region. SWTR president Rodney Smith and Governmental Relations Consultant Marc Rodriguez met with Mayor Cody Smith and other Uvalde representatives to discuss their intent to revive the pipeline issue, stating they would be aggressively pursuing the end to the prohibition of a water pipeline in Uvalde.

At this time, according to Cruz, the EAA stated they fully acknowledged they have not taken a positive stand in support of the pipeline. However, several members of the EAA board of directors see the construction of a pipeline as a way of dealing with the water issue in a more efficient manner.

Cruz feels it is his duty to inform the citizens of Uvalde and the surrounding area that the construction of a proposed pipeline will resurface in the State legislature on Jan. 13, 2009. SWTR is seeking means to overturn the wording that prohibits the construction of a pipeline. While SWTR does appear to be sincere in their efforts to address the needs of local citizens, there is no guarantee they will continue to do so once legislation favorable to San Antonio water usage is set in place.

“SWTR did want to be upfront with their plans,” said Cruz. “They wished to actively pursue the construction of a pipeline but had not spoken to elected officials. They thought it was appropriate to at least start on the local level. What will be interesting if the pipeline ever becomes a reality is the economic impact that it will have on Uvalde and its economy.”

Cruz emphasized that while San Antonio needs Uvalde water for economic growth, Uvalde and the local area need it as a means of economic survival and anything to detract from Uvalde’s water resources would be simply asking for trouble.

“Water is the basis for our economy,” said Cruz. “We need it for the creation of jobs and as a ways of supporting farmers and ranchers. As a [EAA] director, I am always reminded by my peers on the board that the water in the Edwards Aquifer is a regional use of approach. Basically, what this means is that the water belongs to all of us.”

Cruz’s main concern is the lack of SWTR’s ability to show how Uvalde will benefit from selling its water to San Antonio.

Cruz asked SWTR to, “Show me how construction of a pipeline is going to be equitable to the city of Uvalde and the surrounded area that so desperately depend on water for its survival. You can’t.”