Highland Lakes residents speak at recent LCRA board meeting as agency continues work on new commercial dredging ordinance

Posted by admin | Nov 2, 2021 | Aggregate Production Operations, News, Water Catchment Areas (Watershed), Water Conservation, Water Planning, Water Quality, Water Resources

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula – Published October 27, 2021 Highland Lakes residents who spoke during a recent Lower Colorado River Authority board meeting urged directors to be cautious while creating a new commercial dredging ordinance. At its Nov. 17 meeting, the...

Residents struggle to coexist with quarries

Posted by admin | Oct 13, 2021 | Aggregate Production Operations, Community, Equity in the Outdoors, Land Conservation and Stewardship, Land Stewardship, Native Landscapes, News, Water Conservation, Water Planning, Water Quality, Water Resources

Growing up in the Texas Hill Country, Mark Friesenhahn often would run barefoot through the countryside with his younger brother — but only if their father, “a 150-pound, mean little banty rooster German, full of the culture and work ethic,” hadn’t assigned them a...

Director’s Notes – July 2021: Join as a Sustaining Neighbor and Receive a Special Gift!

Posted by admin | Jul 12, 2021 | Aggregate Production Operations, Community, Director's Notes, HCA in the News, Land Conservation and Stewardship, News, Night Skies, Water Resources

Dear Hill Country Neighbors, It finally feels like we’re reaching the light at the end of a long tunnel. Summer in the Hill Country, particularly when fueled by abundant spring rains, is a season for slowing down—appreciating the shade of an ancient oak tree, the cold...

Judge strikes down air quality permit for proposed 1,500-acre limestone quarry in Comal County

Posted by admin | Mar 22, 2021 | Aggregate Production Operations, Community, Land Conservation and Stewardship, Land Stewardship, Landowner Alliances, Legislature and Regulation, Low Impact & Sustainable Development, News, Planning and Development, Regional Planning, Scenic Beauty

Opponents of a proposed 1,500-acre open-pit limestone quarry between New Braunfels and Bulverde scored a “monumental” victory on Friday when an Austin judge struck down an air-quality permit Alabama-based Vulcan Construction Materials needed to proceed with the...

County asks Leg for more regs on miners

Posted by admin | Mar 22, 2021 | Aggregate Production Operations, Land Conservation and Stewardship, Land Stewardship, Landowner Alliances, Legislature and Regulation, News, Planning and Development, Regional Planning, Scenic Beauty, Special Districts

Kerr County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution asking the Texas Legislature to place more regulations on mining operations. The resolution states that although mining operations – also known as aggregate production operations – have attempted...

Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining (TRAM) invited to contribute to House Interim Committee’s Study on Aggregate Production Operations

Posted by admin | Feb 3, 2021 | Aggregate Production Operations, Economics of Sound Planning, Land Conservation and Stewardship, Land Stewardship, Landowner Alliances, Legislature and Regulation, News, Planning and Development, Regional Planning, Scenic Beauty

Hill Country Alliance – Community Program Note: The Hill Country Alliance is an active member of the Texans for Responsible Aggregate Mining (TRAM) coalition. Quarries, gravel mines, sand mines, and concrete batch plants are increasingly posing significant...