Action Page - Guardians of Lick Creek

We are engaged in a legal battle over this creek, a battle that is going to take money, lots of money. So the first action we ask you to take is to take out your checkbook and write us a check. To find out where to send that check, please go to the Donation page.

If letter writing is your thing, why not fire off a few? For addresses of those to whom a letter might be sent, please go to the Letters page.

Here's a letter that would be very helpful if you would send it right now:

According to today's Austin American-Statesman, Tom Hegemier of LCRA is not convinced that the horrible algae problem at Lick Creek is due to mismanagement at West Cypress Hills. He claims that comparable infestations are occurring at other comparable creeks throughout the Hill Country. He cites Hamilton Creek as an example.

As many of you already know, we have received reports from folks living along neighboring creeks (including Rocky, Little Barton and Bee creeks) who say that there's nothing going on in their creeks even remotely similar to what we're seeing in Lick Creek.

HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO: If you live along any Hill Country creek or have visited any recently, please send a letter to the Statesman now about what you have observed. If you know of anyone else with first-hand knowledge, please ask them to write, as well. (Since Hegemier specifically pointed to Hamilton Creek as having comparable problems, it would be especially valuable to get reports from those who know that creek.) The more letters the Statesman receives disputing Hegemier's claims, the more likely the Statesman is to pursue this story.

Sadly, unless we act soon to stop the shameful disregard for our creeks, what's happening to Lick Creek is going to happen to other creeks. It's just a matter of time. Please help bring an end to this insanity now, before it's
too late to do anything about it.

YOU DON'T NEED TO WRITE A LONG, DETAILED LETTER. A short note will suffice. Just be honest and accurate about what you've seen. All we really need are as many as possible simple eyewitness accounts from those who have seen area creeks recently. If possible, tell the editor the date you made your observations and how there's nothing even close to what's going on in Lick Creek, as seen in today's story--20-foot-long algae webs and huge tire-truck size blooms covering the bottom of the creek. Be sure to include your full name and contact information.

It's time to put LCRA on the hot spot. Please, if you can, help us force LCRA to admit the truth. Thank you.

And if you really want to get into the activist spirit (like the old protest days) come on out and picket with us. Every Sunday, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, we are out in front of West Cypress Hills' entrance walking the line. People need to know that greedy, irresponsible developers cannot get away with raping and pillaging the land just to turn a profit. They need to know that polluting our environment comes with a price and we'll be out there marching until the price is paid, the creek is restored to its former natural condition and the causes for the creek's pollution have been totally eliminated.

The picketing picture above, by Cindy Phillips and the one on the left, by Nick Lasorsa, were both taken on July 17, 2004, the first day of picketing. To view more pix of picketing on this and other days, visit the Picketing Pix page.