Groundwater district addresses concerns over Hoover Valley Road quarry
The anti-rock crusher activist group Save Burnet recently took out a billboard between Burnet and Bertram on Texas 29 to raise awareness of a proposed 715-acre quarry planned for Hoover Valley Road. Save Burnet photo
Public concern for a proposed massive rock-crushing facility in Burnet County is growing, especially regarding its potential impact on local aquifers.
The Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District said proper measures will be taken to regulate the aggregate operation but that the developer has yet to file a permit application for the project.
That permit is one of the final hurdles for Asphalt Inc. before it can bring to life a 715-acre rock crusher on Hoover Valley Road.
The Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District is responsible for managing and regulating groundwater use in Burnet County. Its governing board is made up of five elected directors and a general manager.
The Asphalt Inc. project has been on the public radar since September 2024 and drawn considerable backlash due to its close proximity to Inks Lake State Park, Longhorn Cavern State Park, Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery, and Camp Longhorn.
“The Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District has received numerous concerns, comments, and questions regarding a proposed aggregate quarry within the district,” reads an Oct. 29 statement issued by GCD General Manager Mitchell Sodek.
Sodek was addressing the dozens of emails and phone calls from concerned Burnet County residents spurred on by local activist group Save Burnet, which formed in 2024 to oppose the rock crusher.
“Now is the time for every Burnet County resident to speak up,” reads an Oct. 24 post from Save Burnet’s 1,600-member Facebook page. “We ask that you write or email the CTGCD Board to express your concern about granting a groundwater permit to Burnet Ranch Investments (Asphalt Inc.).”
While the concerns are being taken into consideration, they might be a bit premature.
“The public comment period for this specific proposed permit is not open yet because no permit application has been submitted,” Sodek’s statement continued.
According to Sodek, the GCD does not know how much groundwater Asphalt Inc. will request to use but that the company is conducting hydrogeologic studies in preparation for its permit application.
Once an application is filed, Sodek explained that ample public notice would be given and a public hearing would be held. The district will collect public comments on the matter at the hearing and via a dedicated portal on its website.
“When evaluating a permit, such as one associated with an aggregate quarry, the district must consider several factors, including the potential impacts of the proposed production on the aquifer, existing wells, and surrounding landowners,” Sodek explained. “No permit may be approved that would unreasonably affect surrounding landowners or cause a substantial adverse impact on the aquifer.”
Save Burnet jumping the gun could be justified, as the group has seen two state agencies issue permits to the aggregate company despite thousands of public comments in opposition.
Asphalt Inc. was granted an air-quality permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in February and a Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance permit from the Lower Colorado River Authority in June. An effort to stop the rock crusher was also smashed at the Texas Legislature in May when a bill specifically designed to protect the pristine natural areas of western Burnet County was killed.