Bastrop resists Austin aquifer project terms

BASTROP — City leaders pushed back against Austin Water last week over the terms required to access information on a controversial aquifer storage project proposed in Bastrop County.  

Council members July 8 expressed frustration with a draft memorandum of understanding presented by Austin Water. The agreement, required to obtain technical data about the project, would have restricted Bastrop from opposing the plan until after field testing was complete.

“Wouldn’t you want to do this in good faith? We wouldn’t have to sign anything with y’all. You’d give it to us,” Councilwoman Cynthia Meyer said. “This is blackmail — that’s not right — and that’s not how we operate in Bastrop.”