CBSL Test

The Lone Star State’s First Sentinel Landscape Designation

The Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape Consortium is a partnership focused on conserving natural resources, strengthening military readiness, and bolstering agricultural productivity around Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis.

Camp Bullis is located in northern Bexar County on the Edwards Aquifer Recharge and Contributing Zones. Here, Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) provides training opportunities for 266 mission partners; this includes supporting all Department of Defense (DoD) enlisted and officer medical training, military intelligence, special forces, pre-deployment, national, and international training requirements.

Camp Bullis Military Training Reservation is a U.S. Army training camp comprising more than 27,000 acres in Bexar County, Texas, just northwest of San Antonio. – Joint Base San Antonio

With rapid population growth emanating from San Antonio and the I-35 corridor, the Texas Hill Country and Camp Bullis Sentinel Landscape (CBSL) are facing a mounting number of challenges affecting the long-term resilience of the region’s natural resources. New development contributes to the loss of agricultural lands and increased ambient light pollution, impacting nighttime military training. Growing demands on existing water supply have led to the loss of spring flow and aquifer drawdowns, impacting drinking water supplies for Camp Bullis, rural landowners, towns, and cities.

These and other challenges have attracted a myriad of partners to come together to create a collective vision for how to invest in protecting the natural resources that define the region as it grows. Since 2021, HCA has coordinated this collaborative effort, engaging dozens of partner organizations to collaborate towards shared goals.

Collaborative work will especially focus on supporting private landowners with resources that align with their stewardship goals. Thoughtful land stewardship provides rippling benefits, not only for the private landowner, but for society and future generations. Good land stewardship enhances water quality and quantity, mitigates floods and drought, supports agricultural productivity, and improves wildlife habitat.

The Consortium will also work to address regional challenges and opportunities, including: reducing light pollution that impairs nighttime training capabilities at Camp Bullis; mitigating wildfire risks to the military installation and nearby communities; and expanding access to public recreation areas.