Save the Lampasas River Inc

“Save the lampasas river, inc. ("stlr") was formed in june 2009 to promote the conservation of environmental, wildlife, riparian, water, water quality, aesthetic and recreational aspects of the lampasas river and the lampasas river valley. The area of particular focus is an approximately 50 mile long swath in various parts of lampasas, burnet and bell counties, texas from the lampasas, texas area to the stillhouse hollow reservoir area southeast of killeen, texas. This area is surrounded by a particularly high population growth area, with the principal cities being lampasas, copperas cove, harker heights and killeen, with a population exceeding 200,000. The lampasas river runs to the north of lampasas and to the south of these other population areas. This portion of the lampasas river valley has been able to retain its undeveloped, rural beauty in the midst of surrounding growth and is recognized for its wildlife, aesthetic and recreational attributes. The lampasas river valley in this area has multiple bald eagle nests, including year round nesting pairs, and is located in the whooping crane migration zone - both of these types of birds forage in the river and up and down the river valley. The river valley in this area has numerous streams, including spring-fed streams, as well as native american sites. The river valley includes a number of historical sites and narrow, winding scenic roads (including one so designated by burnet county). The river valley includes rocky creek, which is a texas state designated "ecologically sensitive stream segment." water quality has been an issue in rocky creek and the lampasas river from time to time. Stlr's objective is to promote a better understanding among the citizens of the region of the precious nature of the environmental, wildlife, riparian, water, water quality, aesthetic and recreational aspects of the lampasas river and the lampasas river valley, with the goal of protecting these resources for the benefit of future generations. Stlr's supporters include citizens from within and outside the region, recreational enthusiasts such as kayakers, members of bicycle clubs and classic car clubs, birders and other wildlife proponents, and others who appreciate the scenic beauty of this portion of the lampasas river valley. Stlr wants to promote recognition and appreciation of the unique nature of the scenic river valley and the corresponding need to protect its attributes. The immediate catalyst to formation of stlr was a proposed high voltage transmission line project that was part of a statewide effort to build transmission infrastructure. A number of the proposed routes were located directly in the lampasas river valley from kempner, texas to killeen, texas. As originally proposed, some of the routes would have crossed the lampasas river up to three times and would have been located in very close proximity to the river (sometimes within 50 feet) for long stretches. These transmission lines would have been constructed using lattice work type towers 125 to 150 feet tall (the equivalent of a 12 to 15 story building) placed on clear-cut easements that would typically be 160 feet wide (the equivalent of the length of half a football field). Stlr's efforts to protect the lampasas river valley were originally focused on a number of challenges to the river valley: degradation of the river environment, water quality and silting adverse impacts to the numerous spring-fed streams in the area destruction and fragmentation of irreplaceable wildlife habitat including the identified "endangered", "threatened- and "monitored" species - bald eagles (a state "threatened" species - there are year round nesting eagles in close proximity to the river) golden cheeked warblers (a federal "endangered" species in the area) black-capped vireos (a federal "endangered" species in the area) guadalupe bass (a state "monitored" species that is the state fish of texas and relatively rare) erosion of fragile caliche soi”

“Stlr's efforts to protect the lampasas river valley were originally focused on a number of challenges to the river valley: degradation of the river environment, water quality and silting adverse impacts to the numerous spring-fed streams in the area destruction and fragmentation of irreplaceable wildlife habitat including the identified "endangered", "threatened- and "monitored" species”