State House Republican Reps. Mark Dorazio (left) and John Lujan (in jacket) visit the site of what would be the entrance to Guajolote Ranch off of Scenic Loop Road during a tour earlier this year. (Photo: Steve Lee).
July 22, 2025 – The entire bipartisan Bexar County state House delegation signed a letter to the three commissioners of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, urging them to reject a “dangerous and potentially disastrous” wastewater permit for the proposed controversial Guajolote Ranch development.
Meanwhile, more than 1,200 of their constituents have sent letters or emails to the commissioners urging the same, including more than 400 just since May 19 when administrative law judges recommended approval of the permit. And messages on Instagram and Nextdoor opposing the permit have garnered more than 500,000 views since then.
The letter from legislators notes that the proposed development of Florida-based Lennar Corp. would include 2,900 homes on about 1,100 acres in northwest Bexar County, and release 1 million gallons a day of treated sewage into the Helotes Creek watershed. That watershed directly replenishes the Trinity Aquifer and accounts for 15% of the total recharge of the Edwards Aquifer – an essential water source for 1.7 million residents across 13 South and Central Texas counties, the letter says, and that approving the permit “risks contamination of our primary drinking water supply.”
The effort was led by Republican State Rep. Mark Dorazio, whose district would include the development. Other signers include Republican Reps. Marc LaHood and John Lujan, and Democratic Reps. Diego Bernal, Elizabeth Campos, Philip Cortez, Josey Garcia, Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Ray Lopez and Trey Martinez Fischer. The 10 legislators represent approximately 2 million constituents.
The letter was addressed to TCEQ Chairwoman Brooke Paup and commissioners Bobby Janecka and Catarina Gonzales, who now are expected to decide on the permit in August or September.
View the letter here: https://www.scenicloop.org/wp-content/uploads/Guajolote-Ranch-Bexar-County-Delegation.pdf
“Our constituents, our neighbors and our families are being put at potential risk due to this wastewater treatment plant,” the letter says. “They risk seeing their beloved Helotes Creek permanently damaged by wastewater that we know will contain pharmaceuticals and, if there is any deviation from 100% effectiveness in filtration, may contain fecal matter.
“The amazing, God-given blessing of the Trinity and Edwards Aquifers are threatened by this treatment plant. Millions rely on these natural wonders for their water, and as the state grows, we must make every effort to protect our fresh water supply. San Antonio and other cities in the region have been conserving water for years; it makes no sense to risk contaminating two of the largest sources of drinking water in the region under these circumstances.
“We do not oppose growth and development, but we do fear the damage that this particular plant may cause; and that damage will not be reversible should it occur,” the letter concludes. “We respectfully urge you to reject this dangerous and potentially disastrous permit.”
Earlier, the letter notes that, to date, the only definitive study of the effects of such a development in this specific watershed was done by the highly respected Southwest Research Institute, funded through the city of San Antonio’s Edwards Aquifer Protection Plan. It found that discharging any type of treated wastewater from a residential development in the Helotes Creek watershed would “significantly degrade the watershed and the quality of water recharging the Edwards Aquifer,” the letter says.
As demonstrated by the study, it notes, and supported by other accepted research of the region, the fragile geology here makes this proposed development unsustainable. Faults, sinkholes, caves and other karst features allow rapid infiltration, making pollution on the surface an immediate threat to groundwater.
While more than 400 letters and emails of opposition have gone to the TCEQ in just more than two months, a similar number also has gone to Gov. Greg Abbott. Go here to see all the correspondence to TCEQ.
And a social media campaign over that time has netted about 500,000 views on Instagram and another 40,000 on Nextdoor. Go here to view the Instagram posts, including one popular post from former UTSA student body president Aydan Villarreal, standing in front of the state capitol, and can be viewed here.
The Scenic Loop-Helotes Creek Alliance is a nonprofit that represents the largest neighborhood by square mile recognized by the San Antonio Neighborhood & Housing Services Department, a wide corridor along Scenic Loop Road from Bandera Road to north of Babcock Road.
CONTACT:
Scenic Loop-Helotes Creek Alliance
Randy Neumann, 210-867-2826, uhit@aol.com
Steve Lee, 210-415-2402, slee_78023@yahoo.com