Granite Shoals awarded rainwater catchment grant
CONTRIBUTED
The City of Granite Shoals awarded a $23,063 grant to for a new rainwater catchment system by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) and Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) from the Community Development Partnership Program. At the presentation Thursday, April 21, are, from left, Shirley King, Granite Shoals mayor pro tem; Diana Gonzales, PEC representative; Stan Weik, LCRA CDPP committee member; Lori A. Berger, LCRA Board member; George W. Russell, LCRA Board member; Dennis Maier, former Granite Shoals mayor; Donna Maier, master gardener and chairwoman of the Beautification Advisory Group; Peggy Smith, assistant city manager; Mayor Carl Brugger; and Ken Nickel, city manager.
The City of Granite Shoals will be able to capture rainwater and use it for landscape irrigation thanks to a $23,063 community development grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Pedernales Electric Cooperative.
Granite Shoals will use the grant to build a system of pipes, downspouts and gutters to capture and reuse rainwater runoff from City Hall and a repurposed building that now houses two covered tennis courts.
“We are excited about the grant from LCRA,” said Ken Nickel, Granite Shoals city manager. “During our hot summers and droughts, we look forward to the positive economic impact of saving water by using this water conservation technique.”
The city will use the rainwater for landscape irrigation at City Hall and Quarry Park, which were originally part of a granite quarrying and processing operation. Granite Shoals purchased the more-than-130 acres of land in 2008 and modified the former headquarters building into City Hall. The new rainwater catchment system will benefit the park, including the Native Wildflower Garden and Monarch Butterfly Way Station, and give residents, visitors and civic organizations an opportunity to learn more about water conservation efforts and native plants for their community and the Texas Hill Country.
“The beautification and educational elements of this project will increase visitors to Quarry Park and hopefully have a positive impact on the community’s reputation and appeal,” Nickel said.
Granite Shoals is a growing community in Burnet County with more than 5,000 residents. The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program. The program provides economic development and community assistance grants to cities, counties, volunteer fire departments, regional development councils and other nonprofit organizations in LCRA’s electric and water service areas. The program is part of LCRA’s effort to give back to the communities it serves. Pedernales Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and a partner in the grant program.
Applications for the next round of grants are due July 31. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.
