All of the advocacy outreach opposing the Crescent Hills project adjacent to Bracken Bat Cave has paid off, Stratford Land officially declined to purchase the property. “Meanwhile, a coalition of conservation groups and local officials worried about the impact of development on the bats and the land remains interested in buying the 1,545-acre parcel and still is trying to raise money.” Read more from the San Antonio Express here. GEAA is helping rally support for this conservation opportunity, read GEAA’s recent outreach communication here and find out how you can help.


 
From the Greater Edwards Aquifer Authority:
Dear GEAA members and friends,

Our sincere gratitude goes out to all of you who communicated your opposition to development of the Crescent Hills parcel to Mr. Wiggins . Thanks to you,Stratford Land has officially declined to purchase the property from current owner, Brad Galo.

Our task now is to enlarge the number of those committed to purchasing this property in order to permanently protect this site. Likely contributors include the Edwards Aquifer Authority, San Antonio Water System (SAWS), and the City of San Antonio. A note to the trustees and City Council representatives would not be amiss.

Most importantly, if you live in Comal County, please contact your Comal County Commissioners to urge them to contribute to the purchase. Comal County and the City of New Braunfels have a lot at stake here. High density development in this area has great potential to impact water quality at Comal and Hueco springs. Water quality testing at these springs regularly reports findings of anthropogenic contaminants such as unmetabolized drugs and personal care products – constituents that can only come from the waste water stream. We believe that this contamination is coming from sewage leaks on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.

Our ultimate goal is to stop SAWS and other agencies from installing centralized sewage infrastructure within the Recharge Zone that would result in further contamination of the springs. A SAWS service contract with Crescent Hills to provide water and sewer service currently prevents SAWS from requesting decertification as the sole service provider for the area encompassing the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone in eastern Bexar County and Comal County. This means that SAWS is required to provide sewer service to any developer who asks. But, if Crescent Hills goes away, and if SAWS does not issue additional service contracts in this area, we can work on SAWS to stop expanding sewer service all the way into Comal County.

Purchasing property to permanently protect the Bracken Bat Preserve and effecting policy changes that will stop high density development in the area that recharges Comal Springs will take some work. Your help in the next few weeks and months can make this happen. You have proven that engaged citizens can make a big difference.

Again, thank you!
Annalisa Peace
Executive Director
Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance