This week in Just This, Rivard Report Editor-in-Chief Beth Frerking and veteran San Antonio newsman and columnist Rick Casey examine the history of and challenges to the Edwards Aquifer Authority, an entity created by the Texas Legislature more than two decades ago to manage the largest source of drinking water in the San Antonio region.

The Authority’s 17-member board oversees distribution of the water used by the residents of Bexar County and seven other counties. In doing so, it juggles the competing needs of farmers in counties west of San Antonio, such as Uvalde and Medina counties; spring flow interests to the east, especially in San Marcos and New Braunfels, which depend on the water for tourism industries; and a growing and thirsty population in San Antonio.

The Authority faced challenges to its role and responsibilities at its creation. Now it awaits a federal judge’s ruling on a lawsuit filed six years ago by plaintiffs who claim the board representation is unconstitutional.

Join us every Friday for Just This. Listen in, and send us your feedback. Just This will be available here on the Rivard Report and on iTunes and Stitcher at 5 a.m.

Beth Frerking is the former editor-in-chief of the Rivard Report.

Rick Casey's career spans four decades of award-winning reporting on San Antonio. He previously worked as a metro columnist for the former San Antonio Light and, later, the San Antonio Express-News.

2 replies on “<i>Just This</i> #4: The Edwards Aquifer Authority Board, Challenges Past and Present”

  1. I have not listened to the podcast, but I appreciate the information in your introduction. I hear about the aquifer every day during weather broadcasts but had no idea that it was an “entity” managed by people. I assumed someone measured the aquifer and reported on it daily and that was it-like the weather reporters on KSAT for various cities. If the Edwards Aquifer Authority has been having any controversies, they seem to escape the media! Your title says “Episode 4”. I read the Rivard Report Daily and seem to have missed episodes 1-3. Thanks for reporting on issues like the Authority. Every department within the city of San Antonio and Bexar County government has a story that needs to be told-it just takes good reporters to dig them out. Thanks.

  2. Excellent background and history of Edwards Aquifer Authority (that would come from no where else without Rick). I am enjoying the podcasts and listen regularly. After hearing KLRN say that his Texas Week program was terminated in part from low viewership …. I want to make sure that you all do know that there are listeners, even though we don’t always post. Thanks for hosting this. Very informative.

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