EARIP | EARIP Press Release

EARIP Press Release

4/21/2009

April 21, 2009. Yesterday the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced the award of a cost-sharing Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grant for $1,063,125 to the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP). The stakeholders in the EARIP are currently working with the Texas Legislature to obtain the rest of the funding.

In 2007, the Texas Legislature mandated the creation of the EARIP and directed the stakeholders to come to consensus regarding a plan for protecting federally listed endangered or threatened species while managing the use of the Edwards Aquifer. This plan must be completed by September 1, 2012. To date, the stakeholders in the Program have provided over $775,000 towards developing the plan and studying the impacts of aquifer management, flooding, recreation, and other activities on the listed species.

Robert Gulley, Program Manager for the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program, said: "The stakeholders have been working extraordinarily hard to meet goals set by the Legislature. Thus far, they have met and exceeded all the goals set for them. All parties understand that the work ahead will be difficult. This is a truly significant grant that will not only assist the stakeholders in continuing to meet their goals but also reinforces the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's commitment to our program. "

The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance sponsored the grant application. The application received letters of support from U.S. Senator John Cornyn and U.S. Representatives Doggett, Gonzalez, Rodriguez, and Smith.

State Senator Glenn Hegar, one of the sponsors of the Texas legislation creating the EARIP, said: "This is great news. We gave the stakeholders a difficult task. This award is further evidence that they are up to that task. Most clearly, it demonstrates that the United States Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes the importance of a positive outcome from this process and shows its confidence that the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program will get the job done."

EARIP stakeholders include water utilities, cities, groundwater conservation districts, agricultural users, industrial users, environmental organizations, individuals, river authorities, downstream and coastal communities, and state and federal agencies.

For additional information, the website is http://earip.tamu.edu