April 2, 2002, 6:00 a.m. Eastern

Serena McClain, Eric Eckl  (202) 347-7550

Texas' Guadalupe River is One of America's Most Endangered Rivers

(Washington, DC) - Today, American Rivers named Texas' Guadalupe River as one of the nation's Most Endangered Rivers for 2002, citing the risk of increased state-authorized water diversions that would reduce river flows to two Texas bays, seriously threatening fish and wildlife. At a series of press conferences and other events today, American Rivers and dozens of local and national partner organizations announced the annual list of the nation's most endangered rivers, placing the Guadalupe at the #10 spot on the list of 11.

"If the state of Texas doesn't take action to ensure that water keeps flowing in the river, existing and proposed diversions could dewater the river and deprive San Antonio Bay and Aransas Bay of needed fresh water. These flows are critical both to the health of the environment and to the continuation of economically significant activities, such as recreational and commercial fishing, birdwatching, and related tourism," said American Rivers President Rebecca R. Wodder.

A new state water plan adopted in January proposes numerous dams, pipelines, and other diversion projects with little consideration for the amount of water needed for healthy rivers and coastal bays. The threat facing the Guadalupe River is particularly imminent. Plans are in place to pump more water from Canyon Lake, build a reservoir that captures the flows of the Guadalupe near the coast, and to convert unused irrigation rights to municipal use, which would take water just above Guadalupe Bay and pump it 170 miles to San Antonio.

Responding to that threat, a Texas conservation organization, the San Marcos River Foundation, has filed an application for a water right guaranteeing that a reasonable amount of water will be left in the river. Should the Foundation secure the permit, it will donate the rights to a state water trust to ensure that the water stays in the river to reach the estuaries. Unfortunately, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, which has applied for new rights to divert water from the River to sell to other users, has filed a motion with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to dismiss the Foundation's application.

"Texas water regulations provide for the protection of instream water rights," said the Foundation's Dianne Wassenich. "We are hoping to protect this beautiful river and San Antonio and Aransas Bays, which mean so much to Texans. We also want to set a precedent for river protection in the state."

As the Guadalupe flows into the Gulf of Mexico, its fresh water nourishes San Antonio and Aransas Bays, which support commercial and recreational fisheries worth an estimated $575 million each year and are home to the endangered whooping crane. If current water rights holders exercised their full allocations, freshwater flows from the Guadalupe would only be sufficient to support healthy estuaries less than half the time.

"Both people and wildlife can benefit from the protection of river flows," said Dr. Norman Johns, a water resources scientist with the National Wildlife Federation. "The future of commercial and recreational fishing and tourism, and the people those industries support, are intertwined with the whooping crane because they all depend on fresh water reaching the estuaries."

The requested conservation water right would be junior to all of the other water rights that have been granted in the basin and will not hinder the region's economic growth. San Antonio and the surrounding areas have a range of options to meet their water needs, including purchasing rights from existing permit holders, funding irrigation efficiency measures, and undertaking additional conservation. Most of these options would be less expensive than piping Guadalupe River water uphill from the mouth of the river to the city.

"The instream water right will not stop or inhibit growth in the region. In fact, by keeping a small amount of flow in the river during a drought, it will help maintain the river’s role in the long-term growth and quality of life in this region," said Kathy Viatella, an economist with Environmental Defense.

Because the state has only recently had to consider the impacts of new water rights permits on rivers and bay systems, many streams and rivers across the state of Texas have been fully parceled out to users. If all users took the water they’re entitled to, these streams would cease to flow, especially during dry periods. The Foundation and its supporters hope the Guadalupe and others Texas rivers can avoid that fate.

"Watersheds throughout Texas, such as the Lower Colorado River, face threats similar to those facing the Guadalupe River," noted Ken Kramer of the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter. "Through the Foundation’s application for this conservation right and the listing of the Guadalupe as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers, our groups hope to bring attention to the plight of all rivers in the state and encourage decisions that will keep them alive and flowing for future generations."

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In a special chapter of this year's Most Endangered Rivers report, American Rivers revealed a startling statistic: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has played a role in 60% of the river listings during the last 15 years. The report documents the damage done to America's rivers in the name of flood control and navigation, the failure of many Corps projects to deliver promised economic benefits, and the agency's tremendous waste of tax dollars.

American Rivers called for sweeping legislative reforms to the agency, including independent review of the economic and environmental analyses the Corps submits to Congress to justify its projects. The group expressed optimism that a growing bipartisan consensus among lawmakers could give impetus to efforts to address the Corps' longstanding problems.

"With our rivers and their wildlife in continued decline and many worthwhile federal programs tightening their belts, the Corps cannot be allowed to continue with business as usual," Wodder said.

Each year, American Rivers solicits nominations from thousands of river groups, environmental organizations, outdoor clubs, and taxpayer watchdogs for the America's Most Endangered Rivers report. Inspired by the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted" list, the report highlights the rivers facing the most urgent and imminent threats. It is not a list of the nation's most chronically polluted rivers. The report highlights alternatives and solutions, identifies those who will make the crucial decisions, and points out opportunities for the public to take action on behalf of each listed river.

Additional Contacts:

Dianne Wassenich, San Marcos River Foundation, (512) 393-3787, wassenich@sanmarcos.net

Norman D. Johns, National Wildlife Federation, (512) 476-9805, johns@nwf.org

Kathy Viatella, Environmental Defense, (512) 478-5161, kviatella@environmentaldefense.org