November 7, 2012
Austin commits another $30 million for Land Conservation!
Hill Country voters keep on proving they value open space and land conservation. Yesterday, Austin passed another bond election that includes $30 million to buy land or easements in environmentally fragile areas to protect those areas from development. “I think the bonds passing reflects Austin’s determination to have a high quality of life,” said George Cofer, executive director of the Hill Country Conservancy. “The voters of this town have shown they will do whatever it takes to make that happen.” Read more from the Statesman.
October 16, 2012
Austin voters to consider water quality protection purchases on November ballot
“Development-rights deals keep the land in private hands and typically involve no access to the general public.” This is one of the best Hill Country strategies for improving water supply and water quality while protecting heritage ranch lands. The cities of Austin and San Antonio and Travis, Hays and Bexar Counties have had tremendous success with bond initiatives. HCA’s research indicates that it’s feasible for other high growth counties such as Kendall, Kerr, Comal and Blanco to do the same. Read more from the American Statesman. More from Statesman.com.
October 4, 2012
Keeping our Water Healthy: New Easements to Protect Edwards Aquifer
Over the next few months, San Antonio City Council will begin considering recommendations from the Conservation Advisory Board (CAB), signaling the commencement of the current round of the $90 million sales-tax-funded, voter-approved Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. Read more from the Rivard Report.
August 6, 2012
New Travis County Conservation Easement Program Call for Applications!
Travis County has initiated a program to conserve land through conservation easement agreements with willing land owners. Conservation easements allow Travis County to retain open space and protect natural and cultural resources. Applications are now being accepted through August 31, 2012. Click here to learn more about conservation easements, the new Travis County program or to submit an application.
July 16, 2012
How far can investing in conservation take us?
Blair Fitzsimons of the Texas Agriculture Land Trust recommends solutions to the issues of increasing loss of rural lands, land fragmentation, dwindling water resources and the costs of community services that accompany residential growth on the rise here in Texas. Investing in conservation is key. Read her testimony here.
February 21, 2012
Texas Land Trusts and Texas Landowners . . . Writing the Greatest Conservation Success Story You May Have Never Heard
We all know that the population of Texas continues to grow. The projection is that by 2060 there will be 46 million Texans, almost double our current population. During this same period, an unprecedented transfer of rural land will occur. Much of our state will be passed from one generation with a strong connection to the land, to another that has fewer opportunities and less time to connect to the land. While this may seem to forecast a bleak future for the land, water and wildlife that make Texas so special, Texas landowners and Texas land trusts are working hard to ensure that our innately Texan landscape is preserved in perpetuity. Read more from Texas Land Trust Council.
January 2, 2012
Groups Tout Message Of Public Benefits From Private Lands
According to the most recent data gathered by the Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University, over a short period of 10 years, from 1997 through 2007, some 2.1 million acres of farms, ranches and forestlands were converted to other uses. A host of land conservation organizations are working to reverse or at least slow the land converting trend. “We’re going to get more people, and we have to figure out how not to lose 500 acres every time we get 1000 people…” Read full Livestock Weekly article.