The Lower Colorado River Authority Board of Directors on Wednesday adopted a one-year moratorium prohibiting commercial dredging on the Highland Lakes.

LCRA’s Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance, which is designed to protect water quality, addresses non-commercial dredging related to projects such as retaining walls, shore stabilization and boat docks and marinas, but does not address large-scale commercial dredging activities that take sand and gravel from a lake for processing and sale. The Board determined that new rules are necessary to address commercial dredging projects and their potential impact on water quality, aquatic life and public safety on the lakes.

Read more from the Lower Colorado River Authority here.