House Bill 3883: Good legislation for the Hill Country

House Bill 3883: Good legislation for the Hill Country

NOTE: Although this article was written for a Kendall County audience, the bill itself would apply throughout the Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area (PGMA), covering all of Bandera, Blanco, Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr Counties, as well as parts of...
3 lessons from a Texas groundwater district on managing during drought

3 lessons from a Texas groundwater district on managing during drought

The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District in central Texas urges residents to “please protect your aquifer by limiting water use.” The district manages groundwater in Hays County, Texas, one of the top five fastest-growing counties in the U.S. Due to drought,...
An audacious and timely conservation challenge

An audacious and timely conservation challenge

We should all applaud President Biden’s executive order calling for conservation of 30% of the U.S. land base by 2030. This bold “30×30” vision is firmly rooted in science, given that protected land is key to a healthy and secure future for all...
Judge strikes down air quality permit for proposed 1,500-acre limestone quarry in Comal County

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

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...
It’s time to stop pointing fingers and take steps to make the Texas grid more reliable

It’s time to stop pointing fingers and take steps to make the Texas grid more reliable

The withering winter weather and associated power outages across Texas left millions without electricity for days (including some of my kids and grandkids). It was the most extensive and will likely to be the most expensive storm in Texas history. The resulting...
County asks Leg for more regs on miners

County asks Leg for more regs on miners

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...