Parched Businesses on Lake Travis; LCRA's involvement

1. http://www. profitability.com/2013/09/22/us/with-lakes-drying-up-central-texas-businesses-are-parched.html?ref=texas

2. Category of Problem: Water/Growth/Business

3. Level of Problem: State/Local

4.This article concerns: This article concerns local businesses struggle to keep their doors open due to the 3rd dry season in area of Austin/Central Texas. LCRA is exposed as having involvement in  releasing 120 billion gallons of water to rice farmers in order sustain the local economy (in Matagorda, Wharton, and Colorado Counties). Wouldn't you be mad if you were closing your business on Lake Travis due to the lack of water bringing in tourists and your clientele?!

5. Importance/affect  on families/individuals: The persistent low lake levels have already taken an affect on families and individuals who are owners of small businesses on Lake Travis; many people are closing down until more rain comes in the future, others have closed for good. This dry spell not only was the result of the onset of a dry hot summer (3 year in a row), but the outcome of a man made issue. The affect it has on individuals and families is basically the LCRA is in control of your business' profitability. I understand that other communities depend on the same source of water but who is to decide who gets number one priority with the allocation of the water? Is that something we leave to the experts? Look at what the experts have done!

6. My Input: I am excited that voters have the opportunity this November to vote on the $2 billion dollar use of Texas' Rainy-Day Fund to invest in improved water infrastructure. The Texas Legislature has already approved this constitutional amendment, so hopefully voters will turn out for this one. Personally, I know my cousins and my grandparents have always lived with very strict water rations in San Antonio and I would hate for Austin to gain a slew of water police (nazis ). It is a relief that we are already getting representation from the government at the State level. I love how people in Austin for the most part are pretty passionate about human rights and exercising their opinions through protest, voting, and spending to support what their values align with. It seems that we have had some real whistle-blowers looking out for the best interests of the individuals and families in Central Texas who have some affiliation with the suffering restaurants or businesses due to the drought; or else, this legislation simply wouldn't have been pushed through so quick! I feel the LCRA is definitely to blame after looking at the numbers in the news article, not only should there be some compensation coming to the area from the State, there should also be compensation coming to small businesses who have had to shut down (solely because of the low lake levels) from the LCRA! What do you think?