FAQ Page
Highland Lakes Group
Highland Lakes Group is a non-profit, all-volunteer coalition of organizations in Burnet, Llano and Travis Counties. HLG publishes the newsletter Water Matters.
Directors: Rusty Allen, Harold Butler, David Deeds, John Graham, Jay Harris, Dewey Hollingsworth, Barker Keith, Will Mitchell, Cole Rowland, Leon Seidl; David Steed, Bob Vann & Pat Wendland
President - Cole Rowland
Treasurer - Barker Keith
Editor - Sue Wright
Secretary - open
HLG directors serve three year staggered terms. Three or four directors are elected each year. Nominations are open to any person who is part of a member organization. Nominations are solicited through the newsletter once each year prior to the election. Voting member organizations (see membership) are polled by mail ballot to decide the election.
HLG was formed in 1993 in order to publish a newsletter in order to keep member organizations informed about water issues affecting the Highland Lakes.
No. HLG is interested in future water transfers to Williamson County being a win-win proposition for the cities and the lakes. HB1437, the bill that first allowed LCRA to sell water to the cities of Williamson County, says that the Colorado River basin shall suffer "no net loss" as a result of these out-of basin water sales. Under HB 1437, LCRA was authorized to sell as much as 25,000 acre-feet to the Brazos River Authority for use by the cities of Williamson County. No water has yet been transferred under that contract, but LCRA is well along with a program of replacing future water transfers by improving the water conservation conditions n the rice fields.
Highland Lakes Group has no regular meetings. If some issue calls for a membership meeting, it will be announced in advance to member organizations through the newsletter.
Yes. HLG publishes a newsletter called Water Matters several times each year on an irregular schedule. Water Matters contains articles about water issues affecting the Highland Lakes. When the legislature is in session, bills of interest to the lakes are followed in the newsletter. The activities of the Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Group are described.
You may subscribe to Water Matters by clicking on the sign-up button on the first page of this web site.
If you would like to read an article from the current issue of Water Matters click on this link.
Membership in Highland Lakes Group is open to any business or organization which has an interest in the welfare of the Highland Lakes.
Voting member organizations help elect the directors each year and receive the newsletter. This category of membership has been temporarily closed. Voting member dues are normally $50 per year, but collection of dues has been temporarily suspended.
Associate member organizations do not vote, pay no dues, but do receive the newsletter.
For an application blank, click here.
HLG volunteers:
Research, write and edit articles for the newsletter. Take a shift manning the HLG booth at the Austin Boat Show or other trade shows where HLG may exhibit. Attend hearings of state agencies or legislative committees at which water issues will be discussed. Write letters to elected officials. Recruit new member organizations for HLG (is your property owners association a member?).