Texas Environmental Protection of South Bay is Dead on Arrival
Long Live Elon Musk
SpaceX’s proposal to discharge treated wastewater into the South Bay at Boca Chica is currently under review by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The company submitted an application to allow for up to 200,000 gallons of treated water per day to be released in South Bay if it cannot re-use the reclaimed water for other purposes on-site. According to TCEQ, the application has passed an initial administrative review and is now undergoing technical analysis. After the technical review, the TCEQ Executive Director will decide on whether to issue a draft permit for public review and comment.
Public input has been a key part of this process, with local groups like Save RGV encouraging residents to submit comments and attend public hearings. A recent public hearing was held on October 17, 2024, allowing local stakeholders, including environmental and Indigenous groups, to voice concerns about potential environmental impacts, particularly on the sensitive ecosystems in the Lower Rio Grande Valley and Boca Chica areas. – – – **ChatGPT gathered this text**
TPWD Commission Holds Annual Update Meeting
If you missed the long awaited TPWD Annual Meeting this past November 6? You didn’t miss much, and heard nothing relating to the above update. I am chalking this one up as another of my growing number of Texas environmental lost causes, and moving on. If the Valley, the fly fishermen and fishermen that fish South Bay don’t sound off, why then should I. They are there. I am here. It’s all about fear and pocket money these days, isn’t it.
Below Time Stamps
The time stamps for the meeting that I could fast-forward through and find, related to fish, were few and pretty far down the agenda. If you want to watch the whole thing? I would take a sleeping pill first.
Here is your LINK TO THE TPWD MEETING on YOUTUBE
- 03:06:33 – Proposed Rule Changes Rio Grande Cichlid and Freshwater Drum Species
- 03:07:00 – Red River Silver Carp Trinity River Below Texoma Commercial Harvest
- 03:08:15 – Armored Catfish Commercial Harvest Dog Food
- 03:09:30 – Gaspergou Protection
- 06:00:55 – Mustang Island State Park
- 06:29:15 – Energy Sprawl – John Shepherd Devils River Conservancy Renewable Energy
- 06:35:15 – Oyster Grower Estimated 300-million next year
Jeff Hildebrand Chairman TPWD Net Worth Now $10.2 Billion
Jeff Hildebrand, a prominent figure in the Texas energy industry, currently serves as the Chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, a position he assumed on August 31, 2023. Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott, Hildebrand brings a wealth of experience from his successful career as the founder, chairman, and CEO of Hilcorp Energy Company, one of the largest privately-held oil and natural gas exploration firms in the United States. Known for a strategy that involves acquiring and revitalizing underperforming assets, Hildebrand’s business acumen has significantly contributed to his financial success, with a reported net worth of $10.2 billion as of mid-2023.
Beyond his business ventures, Hildebrand is active in various philanthropic and community-focused initiatives. He is involved with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the Houston Police Foundation, and serves as a trustee of the Texas Foundation for Conservation. His charitable contributions also extend to higher education, as demonstrated by his $25 million donation to the University of Texas at Austin’s Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering Department, which now bears his name. His leadership in both business and conservation underscores his influence within Texas and his commitment to the preservation of natural resources for future generations. – Sourced ChatGPT
Dr. David Yoskowitz Executive Director TPWD Brief Bio
The current Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is Dr. David Yoskowitz, an economist and environmental leader with a strong background in coastal and marine conservation. Before joining TPWD in 2022, Yoskowitz was the Senior Executive Director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where he also held various faculty and administrative roles over two decades. His work focused on coastal resilience, ecosystem services, and the interconnection between environmental and human well-being, especially concerning the Gulf of Mexico.
Yoskowitz has also served as Chief Economist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he worked on policies related to coastal green infrastructure and ecosystem services. He has collaborated on environmental projects across North and Central America and served on several scientific committees, including the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Socio-Economic Committee. An avid outdoorsman, Yoskowitz is passionate about conservation, recreational fishing, and fostering sustainable natural resources for future generations.
For more on his work and vision for Texas Parks and Wildlife, you can visit the official TPWD site or additional biographical summaries from conservation and academic organizations. – Sourced ChatGPT
Thanks for reading this Sunday morning’s Chat. I expected something more to come out of that meeting, and watched a large portion in real-time before dozing off to sleep in my chair. We all have so many better things to do now, don’t we? The rigged election is over and done, in the history books, and we can move on to more pleasant things … with effort, great effort.
END NOTE: If you are looking to “share” this thorough in-depth story on X, you are out of luck. I have deleted all my X accounts, and that disconnects this site from X sharing.
Category: Body-Mind-Soul, Causes, Fly Fisher Health and Wellness, Life Observed, Science and Environmental
