Watson Wire

Go Vote!

Monday, March 01, 2010 |

I’m sure this is a completely superfluous reminder, given that you’d never miss an opportunity to be a good citizen – and you’d really never just disregard my suggestion two weeks ago to get yourself to a ballot box.

But just in case you happen to know someone who’s not quite as conscientious as you are, here’s one more reminder that tomorrow is Election Day for the Texas primaries.  It’s your last chance to pick the Democratic or Republican nominees for the November election – barring a runoff next month, anyway.

So go vote— I mean, go have that person you’re acquainted with vote.  It’s the best way to spend a tiny part of your Tuesday.

(And so I don't get anyone in trouble, if you voted early as I asked you to do two weeks ago, don't go vote a second time. That would be wrong. This message doesn't really apply to you since you complied initially.)

Water (planning) everywhere

I wrote a couple of months back about water planning and how important it is for the state’s future.  As I said then, I’m still really proud of the work we did when I was Austin’s Mayor to prepare for the city’s needs over the next 100 years.

But like I said, and we have a whole lot more work to do before our region – and our state, for that matter – should feel as confident.

That’s one reason I’m so encouraged by the process that the Lower Colorado River Authority is going through to map out the region’s water needs – and strategies for meeting those needs – over the next 90 years.

The LCRA started working on its Water Supply Resource Plan more than a year ago and now has a draft plan.  They’ll hold an open house next Monday, the eighth, to get feedback on the draft before it goes to the full LCRA board.  The open house will be at the LCRA Service Center, 3505 Montopolis Drive, Building A, in Austin.

They’re also inviting folks to fill out an online survey about various water management strategies.  You can take the survey through March 19 here.

Options range from the easy, cheap and obvious (i.e. lots and lots of conservation) to the ... well, less easy, considerably less cheap, and quite controversial (new reservoirs, desalination, importation of groundwater, and other ideas that start fist fights among otherwise mild-mannered people who follow these things).

This is one of those issues that can seem really tough to understand.  But it’s also critically important to our kids, grandkids, and pretty much anyone who wants clean water coming out of faucets around here in 20 years.  I’ll definitely keep you posted as the process moves forward.