Audubon Texas Letter

Dear Audubon Leaders & Friends:

As you know, one of the top priorities that resonated during the Audubon Texas Assembly meeting in Rockport last fall was “Water” – quality and quantity. One of the key issues being played-out in the halls of the state capitol this session will have a direct, long-term impact on the water quality in some of our state’s most pristine waterways.

The issue involves off-road vehicles (ORVs) abusing our state’s waterways. Over the past two to three years, ORV clubs and other recreational ORV drivers have decided that there is great pleasure in driving up and down streambeds of waterways such as the Nueces, Llano, San Jacinto, Caleto Creek, Frio, Canadian, and others.

The streambeds are property of the state; therefore, to prohibit this abuse of our state’s waterways, the state legislators must enact law. The law is contained in a bill that has been introduced in the State Senate and House--SB 155 and HB 305. We need to rally maximum support for this critical piece of legislation. The bill may be reviewed on the state website at: www.capitol.state.tx.us.

In addition, the coalition that is working on this legislation crafted and sent a joint letter to:

1. The Committee on State Cultural and Recreational Resources; and to

2. The Senate Natural Resources Committee

Copies of these letters are attached.

Your help is needed! Please contact the members of these two committees and contact your local legislators and asked them to support this legislation. You can find your legislators, and their mailing and e-mail addresses on the state website at: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/fyi/fyi.htm. You can find your specific legislators by entering your address, zip code, city, or county.

If you don’t have time to write or call your legislator, please consider printing one of the special prepared notes, sign it, and mail it to the appropriate legislator(s).

Please maximize distribution of this information. We need as many folks as possible to weigh-in -- as soon as possible.

Thanks for your help and support of this critical legislation.

Regards,

Terry

Terry W. Austin
Vice President, National Audubon Society
Executive Director, Audubon Texas
2525 Wallingwood Drive, Suite 301
Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 306-0225
Fax: (512) 306-0235
E-mail: taustin@audubon.org