PETROLEUM LEASES ISSUED FOR LAKE SOMERVILLE LAND

  

The Bureau of Land Management has issued controversial petroleum leases for land at Lake Somerville.

The Bureau has issued leases on nearly 1,400 acres of land at or under the lake.

Amid a slew of protests, including the City of Brenham and Texas Rural Voices, the government auctioned off the leases for just over $170,000.

The city council voted unanimously on a resolution requesting the property be withdrawn from government auction.

Lake Somerville is the City of Brenham’s sole source of water.  Local leaders say a contamination of the lake would be ‘catastrophic’ to the city.