Increasingly, the deck seems to be stacked against them, but a group of landowners, residents and business owners along Hamilton Creek in the southern part of Burnet County are making a belated attempt to combat the city of Burnet’s effort to be allowed to dramatically increase the amount of effluent it can discharge into the creek.Members of the group, who have dubbed themselves Concerned Citizens of Hamilton Creek, are fearful of the consequences on their everyday lives, their businesses and the impact on the creek and its environs if the city is allowed to discharge large amounts of treated wastewater, or effluent, into the stream.
“This is my livelihood,” said Dennis Cornelison, pointing to the flowing stream just down the hill from his front porch.
Cornelison and his wife Diane own and operate Creekside Camp and Cabins along Hatchet Hill Rd. near CR 342C a few miles east of Marble Falls.
The Cornelisons rent cabins, cabins and paddle boats to visitors and families who want to swim in and enjoy the creek.
They, along with neighbor Clint Rhodes and Lonnie Moore of the Protect Lake Travis Association, which has been contesting the City of Burnet’s efforts to get an amended wastewater discharge permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, will take their case to the Burnet County Commissioners Court and the Burnet City Council Tuesday.
They will be asking the city council, which meets at 6:30 p.m., to seek other solutions for getting rid of its wastewater, and they will ask the county commissioners, who meet earlier in the day at 9 a.m., to help them in their efforts.
Pct. 3 County Commissioner Ronny Hibler, who represents the residents along Hamilton Creek, said he told Rhodes he and his group are welcome to address the commissioners court during the public comment portion of their meeting, but is doubtful they will be able, or willing, to help.
“I don’t think I want to get into that fight,” Hibler said. “I’m listening to both sides, but you’ve got two different constituents there and they are both very passionate about their issue.”
The City of Burnet has plans to build a new, larger sewage and wastewater treatment facility, and, anticipating future growth, has filed an application with TCEQ to amend its discharge permit, which currently allows it to discharge up to 726,000 gallons of treated effluent, into Hamilton Creek.
The city is asking to be allowed to raise the limit to 1.7 million gallons a day.
The city has historically rarely discharged effluent into the creek and uses much of the wastewater to irrigate city owned Delaware Springs Golf Course, almost 200 acres of city-owned hayfields and city parks and recreation areas.
City officials say they intend to find ways to expand their irrigation practices and don’t anticipate having to discharge significant amounts of effluent into Hamilton Creek.
“We are committed to being good stewards of the environment and want to be a good neighbor,” Assistant City Manager David Vaughn said.
