Patrick Rose

 Hon. Bob Armstrong and Linda Aaker; J. David Bamberger; Shirley Beck; David Braun; George Bristol; Steve and Kathy Carriker; Patrick and Brenda Cox, Co-Chair; Colleen Gardner; Steve and Debbie Harvey; Jim and Jerry Kimmel; Ken Kramer; Jim Marston; Charles Porter; Mike and Pam Reese; Mary Sanger; Pete Schenkkan; Mary Stone; Scott Storm; Hon. John Thomaides; Tom and Dianne Wassenich, Co-Chair; John Watson; Tom Weber; Betty Wright and Elizabeth Stillman

 "In a society where political popularity is gained by maintaining the status quo,many elected officials avoid proposing bold new measures that will protect our disappearing natural resources. Patrick Rose provides an honest, straightforward approach that provides opportunities to shape a sustainable future and viable communities in Central Texas. If we are to achieve this worthy goal, we need leaders like Patrick Rose who provide a constructive process that brings individuals and organizations together to find solutions that will conserve our threatened land and water resources." 
Patrick Cox, Ph.D, Co-Chair

 

The Texas Hill Country: Patrick Rose’s Conservation Priorities

Rep. Patrick Rose is a leader in the most critical issues facing the Texas Hill Country.  In 2003, he actively supported Proposition 2, a successful $30 million bond package for the purchase of open space and parks in Hays County. In 2005, Rep. Rose actively supported the purchase of the 55-acre Jacob’s Well Natural Area.

County Authority for Hill Country Counties

Texas Hill Country communities and their local governments lack the tools they need to be able to plan and manage growth in order to sustainfuture economic vitality, protect property values and preserve the Hill Country for generations.

Rep. Patrick Rose has been a leader on this important issue for the last two Legislative Sessions in the face of strong opposition.  After the 2009 Legislative Session, Rep. Rose achieved an important breakthrough; he requested and secured an interim charge by the House Committee on County Affairs to study this issue during the interim.  The committee will hold hearings to:  Study the current practices and tools available to counties to manage growth and development. Consider incompatible land uses and county rulemaking authority, including rulemaking authority bracketed to counties of a certain population.

Pictured from Left to Right:  Rep. Patrick M. Rose, Denise Trauth, President of Texas State University, Dr. Thomas Hardy, Research Professor of Biology and Chief Science Officer of the River Systems Institute and Andrew Sansom, Executive Director of the River Systems Institute announce a one million dollar appropriation for expert scientists to study and develop techniques to protect our groundwater.

 
The committee’s work over the coming months is critical as it will be the foundation for recommendations reported to the Legislature in December 2010, just in time for the next session.  Rep. Rose, in partnership with the Hill Country Alliance and local elected officials, has already submitted important background information for this charge and organized testimony by Hill Country conservation leaders and local governments.

Rep. Rose is also working with Hill Country legislators to build consensus in the region for county authority legislation that is focused on meeting our communities’ needs.  This process will work in tandem with the Committee’s efforts and will build the legislative coalition needed to pass legislation in the spring of 2011.

Rainwater Harvesting

Rep. Patrick Rose is leading a broad coalition of rainwater harvesting professionals to push for legislation that provides various building standards, incentives, and conservation initiatives by which rainwater harvesting technology could be encouraged, promoted, and implemented in both public and private facilities in Texas.

This omnibus rainwater harvesting legislation is the most aggressive legislative initiative to help rainwater harvesting thrive in Texas.  The bill statutorily authorizes banks to issue loans for developments that use rainwater as the sole source of water supply, an important assurance for lenders as the market for rainwater harvesting systems grows. 

It requires that new state buildings with at least 10,000 square feet install rainwater-harvesting technology, provided that they are located in an area with an average annual rainfall of at least 20 inches. 

It also authorizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to adopt rules that will finally permit the use of a rainwater harvesting system cross-connected to a public water supply system.

Central Texas leaders gathered in San Marcos to honor Rep. Rose and to support the Rose Conservation Agenda.
Pictured from Left to Right:  Dianne Wassenich, Co-Chair, Conservationists for Rose, Rep. Patrick Rose, Rep. Lon Burnam, and Patrick Cox, Co-Chair, Conservationists for Rose

 Municipalities and counties that have adopted impervious cover or density restrictions would be required to consider the use of harvested rainwater in determining whether to grant a development a credit against, or an exemption from, the restrictions. It also encourages public school districts to consider the use of harvested rainwater, while prohibiting municipalities and counties from denying building permits solely because the proposed facility would incorporate rainwater-harvesting technology.

In addition, Rep. Rose’s proposed legislation requires enhanced and more frequent training by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for permitting staff at the municipal and county level.  Lastly, the bill greatly restricts homeowners’ associations’ ability to regulate the size, type, or location of a rainwater harvesting system on an individual homeowner’s property.

Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District:  A stakeholder process to build consensus on local groundwater policy

Rep. Patrick Rose has initiated a stakeholder process led by one of Texas’ leading conservationists, Andrew Sansom, to help the Western Hays County community reach a consensus on how to best plan for the future of its finite groundwater resources.  Any effort to give the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District the tools it needs to fulfill its mission must have at its root broad community support in order to be successful.

Working with the District’s leadership, this collaboration has already resulted in one exciting and historic breakthrough.  For the first time since its creation, the District’s leadership has pledged to open a dialogue with Chambers of Commerce, Lions Clubs, Rotary Clubs and other civic and business groups across the District in order to raise awareness and build consensus on this important issue.  Andrew Sansom will facilitate a discussion among these stakeholders to reach a consensus position that will shape any legislation required to support the District’s and the community’s long-term groundwater needs prior to the 2011 session of the Texas Legislature.

Of note, during the 2009 session, Rep. Rose filed legislation that would have authorized a groundwater conservation and management fee that would have generated $100,000 per year for the district.   Rep. Rose secured a hearing in the Natural Resources Committee, but the district ultimately decided not to support this effort and therefore the legislation did not proceed. 

 
"Patrick listens, and understands the water issues in his district, and beyond those boundaries as well.  I especially appreciate his efforts to involve a lot of stakeholders in critical water issue discusssions.  It is the right thing to do, and it will help educate more people on the serious problems facing this region in our immediate future. Counties need the ability to help solve water and other environmental challenges. I think  Patrick understands that very well, and will continue to act on that knowledge."
Dianne Wassenich, Co-Chair

Protecting the San Marcos Springs

At the headwaters of the San Marcos and Guadalupe Rivers lies a great treasure for Central Texas — the San Marcos Springs.  The San Marcos Springs are the second largest outflow from the Edwards Aquifer and are the primary source for the San Marcos River and ultimately the Guadalupe River, upon which many communities downstream rely for surface water.

In 2007, Senate Bill 3 — legislation that raised the pumping cap for the Edwards Aquifer from 450,000 acre-feet to 572,000 acre-feet — was passed, putting spring flow in the San Marcos and Comal Springs at risk.  Seeking to protect the Springs, Rep. Rose offered amendments to this legislation that would have made numerous, important changes including: raising the trigger point for pumping reductions during times of drought; requiring a surface water plan to reduce San Antonio’s dependence on the Edwards Aquifer; and preventing the recirculation of water in the San Marcos and Comal Springs to satisfy spring flow requirements. 

Despite his best efforts, these amendments were not accepted and SB 3 passed by a vote of 133 to 8.  Rep. Rose believes that protecting spring flow is of the utmost importance, and is committed to continuing to work to protect the Springs.

During the most recent session, facing difficult budgetary constraints, Rep. Rose secured $1 million appropriation for a special water-monitoring project at the River Systems Institute (RSI) at Texas State.   Internationally renowned scientists will develop an observing system for Spring Lake and the San Marcos River Basin, that will collect, compile and maintain data regarding the hydrological and ecological characteristics of the rivers system to support research and policy decisions.