So it took a monumental "Texas sized" drought to bring to the attention of the L.C.R.A (Lower Colorado River Authority) the THOUSANDS of dollars (and the billions, yes billions) of gallons of water being siphoned out of Highland Lakes, by their lakeside residents...for free. According to this 'Letter To The Editor' writer, in the Austin American Statesman, residents of this affluent community are supposed to be signing contracts with the L.C.R.A, to pay for the lake water they have been using, for what in this drought is considered 'luxurious', ie; watering lawns and washing cars.  Is this fair? Not according to the author.

Not only is it unfair, it is illegal.  This has been going on for years, and the L.C.R.A has been turning a soft eye to it.  3,000 of Highland Lakes' residents are actually paying for their water on a contract.  A few bad apples in the group?  Well, the author states that 1.6 billion gallons, or most of it, is been taken illegally by the town's residents.  With nothing more than a slap on the wrist for it.  After reading the author's arguments, I toyed between the idea that he was one of the angry "water paying, contract signing, neighbors", justifibly annoyed by the bad behavior of his fellow townsmen, or perhaps  he was the employee of L.C.R.A who had to deliver the "bad news" to the water thieves. Either way, I cannot say I agree with him.  With lakeside residents' property taxes going through the roof, (typically much higher than other areas of the State), why isn't their water consumption taken out of those taxes?  Why should they pay for water, when they spent so much on their land, and yearly taxes, to live on the water's edge. If they are allowed to consume a fish taken out of that same water, it should be allowed, in my opinion, to take use water as well.  The water has to understandably be paid for, I believe it should be incorporated into the homeowner's property taxes.

I am sure there are plenty of people who agree with the author's point of view, though I think that his opinions would mostly be shared by contract owning homeowners in the area.  I do however, understand their frustration at their "doing the LEGAL thing" by paying for their water, when they have neighbors who don't.  I say, "Give the lakeside residents their water!"

Desperate Times in Texas

      In Blanco County, a rancher "Don Casey" has had this land in his family since the 1900's. It dates back to Casey's great-great-great Grandfather, but this drought in Texas may end that legacy for him and his family. In the past 12 months, Mr. Casey has measured a total of 1.6" of rain.

      Since the drought started in 2009, he has seen the price of feeder corn triple to about $400 a ton, the price of hay that used to be $30 a bale skyrocket to $170 a bale. So he has decided to extend the diet of his cows to cotton by-products, which is also known as "gin-trash, the bit of leaf, burr, and seed left after the plants have been through the cotton gin."

      In the article by the Austin American Statesman www.statesman.com/news/local/texas-ranchers-farmers-seeing-record-losses-in-grip-1917547.html Patrick Beach writes,"agricultural losses attributed to the drought have reached a record of $5.2 billion and processing plants and other businesses that serve the farmers and ranchers, the total economic impact hits $8.7 billion."


      I think that this article is worth reading because this situation is going to affect us in the long run. The price of beef, the price of gas, and the price it takes for these farmers to keep their herds alive will increase as the drought continues. The drought could and most likely will affect our lives in one or another. I think it is one of duties as Texans to really think about who we are putting in the offices of State and local Government.