Posted by Leah Cuddeback | Aug 1, 2023 | Groundwater Resources, Land Conservation and Stewardship, News, Planning and Development, Regional Planning, Water Conservation, Water Planning, Water Quality, Water Resources
The Texas Hill Country has long been revered for its scenic landscapes, pristine water resources, and the allure of a peaceful retreat. In fact, a survey conducted in the 1990s revealed that a staggering 80% of Texans expressed a desire to retire in this picturesque...
Posted by Leah Cuddeback | Jul 19, 2023 | Aggregate Production Operations, Community, County Authority, Land Conservation and Stewardship, News, Regional Planning, Water Planning, Water Quality, Water Resources
Facing a two-lane highway about 13 miles west of New Braunfels, a 546-acre ranch hugging the west fork of Dry Comal Creek has caused a stir in the community. Behind a small gate, hills dotted with live oaks and a few freely roaming horses can be seen. But neighbors...
Posted by Leah Cuddeback | Jun 21, 2023 | Community, Equity in the Outdoors, Hill Country Tourism, Land Conservation and Stewardship, News, Public Lands, Regional Planning
Andrew Sansom got his first job in 1959 as a lifeguard at Lake Jackson Municipal Pool in his hometown about 55 miles south of Houston. Little did the 14-year-old know the job would set the stage for a lifelong career in parks administration and environmental...
Posted by Leah Cuddeback | Jun 12, 2023 | Land Conservation and Stewardship, Land Stewardship, Local, Sustainable Agriculture, News
If you step outside into the morning sun but don’t hear birds singing, you may have a problem. “Birds are a leading indicator of what’s happening in your ecosystem,” says Chad Lemke, a Texas rancher who took over his family’s operation in the early 2000s with his...
Posted by Leah Cuddeback | Apr 9, 2023 | Children in Nature, Community, Hill Country Tourism, Land Conservation and Stewardship, Land Stewardship, Low Impact & Sustainable Development, News, Planning and Development, Water Conservation, Water Resources
The SITES Gold Campsite at Shield Ranch, located just 22 miles from downtown Austin, Texas, serves as the new home for Camp El Ranchito, a scholarship-based overnight camp. El Ranchito started in 2007 as a primitive campsite with the mission to connect children with...
Posted by Leah Cuddeback | Apr 9, 2023 | Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape, Land Conservation and Stewardship, Land Stewardship, Low Impact & Sustainable Development, News
Now with the help of the Sentinel Landscape designation, efforts are underway to help area landowners preserve nearly 1 million acres around the camp, protect water and wildlife, and reduce noise and light pollution. “The challenge is how do we work across this vast...
