LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Writer misunderstood meeting's purpose Editor, the Leader-News:

It appears from a recent letter to the editor that some may have had a misunderstanding regarding a recent meeting that our local groundwater conservation districts (GCDs) held which was characterized in the letter to the editor as an LCRA update on the LCRA/SAWS Water Project (LSWP).

The meeting was initiated and requested by the governing Boards of Coastal Bend GCD of Wharton County and Coastal Plains GCD of Matagorda County to hear from LCRA and its groundwater study consultants specifically regarding the groundwater modeling efforts of the LSWP.

The meeting was held as a public meeting as are all of our GCD meetings and was publicized accordingly. The meeting was not a general, all-inclusive LSWP update as supposed in the letter. As it turns out there was very little if any new information reported, though the meeting was useful for reminding those present of project details that can be easily forgotten if not frequently refreshed.

Our Districts will continue to seek regular updates from the LSWP study team in order to be properly postured to respond appropriately to study findings and project developments. LCRA staff has been fully cooperative with the Districts in responding to questions and providing updates upon request.

These meetings provide a vehicle for our GCD Boards to receive and qualitycheck technical information such as data and processes used in the various groundwater studies relevant to the LSWP. They also afford an opportunity for the GCDs to remind and refresh LCRA staff of GCD policies.

Additionally the groundwater districts have had ongoing dialogue with the consultants performing the LSWP groundwater studies. The Districts have hired a third party consulting firm as well as enlisting the assistance of the Texas Water Development Board to further review the very complex LSWP groundwater model as well as the massive data inputs and outputs of the model.

The Districts are actively seeking to prudently and legally perform their duties of conserving, preserving and protecting the groundwater within their jurisdictions. Members of the public are always welcome at GCD meetings.

Ronald Gertson

President, Coastal Bend Groundwater Conservation District

Haskell L. Simon

President, Coastal Plains Groundwater Conservation District

Dinner's success big help for D.C. trip Editor, the Leader-News:

The 8th grade Class of 2008 would like to thank the community for making our Chicken Fried Steak Dinner fund-raiser a huge success. We would like to thank the El Campo Knights of Columbus for allowing us to use the KC Hall Pavilion, HEB for the donation of the bread and plastic grocery sacks, and Mike and Leigh Ann Johnson of the Screen Stop for donating the T-shirts to the kids; they will be thoroughly worn with the many fund-raisers in the near future.

Also, we want to thank Bob and Mary Ann Staff and their crew for the exceptional food. We have heard various comments about the dinner and they all could not stop raving about how great the food was ... words can not express how grateful we are for you!

Without the help of our awesome community, we would not be able to take our class trip to Washington, D.C. and New York next year. Thank each and everyone of you for the contributions to our class.

Sincerely,

Yvonne Sparks, chairman

St. Philip 8th Grade Class of 2008 Disclaimer: The 8th grade Washington Trip and/or fund-raisers are not sponsored by St. Philip Catholic School.