December 28, 2010
Book chronicles struggles of early Texas environmentalists
When a famed, elderly Dallas conservationist and mentor suffered a brain embolism 15 years ago, Austinite David Todd thought he ought to document the environmental stories of that generation before they disappeared. “It was kind of a wake-up call that there’s this generation of people that grew up in the post-war era and helped us to create many of the parks we enjoy, passed a lot of laws that fund environmental protection and regulate environmental activities.” Read full Statesman.com article here.
Texas Land Conservancy announces Llano County easement
Joyce Lucas, owner of the Birk-Sommerfeld Heritage Ranch (Llano County), donated a conservation easement on the 444-acre working ranch in December, 2010 in order to protect it forever from the damages of land fragmentation and development. Learn more
December 21, 2010
Devil’s River State Natural Area saved
Environmentalists hailed a state panel’s decision Monday to buy 18,000 acres of wilderness along a remote West Texas river without trading a pristine state natural preserve in the bargain. Read more from Statesman.com here.
December 20, 2010
Nature Conservancy, Hays County, WVWA Partner to protect Jacob’s Well
The Nature Conservancy of Texas, the Hays County Commissioners Court and the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association (WVWA) announced today the purchase of 50 acres near Wimberley that will permanently protect Jacob’s Well, one of the Hill Country’s most iconic natural features. Read more here.
Billboards: a less-than-gracious welcome to our cities
Texans should make the owners pay a higher price for roadside signs, which spoil the landscape and present our communities in a most unflattering light. Read opinion piece by Michael Barnes of the Austin American Statesman here.
McCamey D to Kendal CREZ line recommendations submitted to PUC
Save Our Scenic Hill Country Environment keeps members informed about developments relating to transmission lines through the Hill Country region. The Administrative Law Judges submitted their proposal to the PUC on December 16th for the McCamey D to Kendall line. Read more here.
December 17, 2010
Central Texas in drought again
Scarcely a year after one drought ended, another has gripped Central Texas. Parts or all of Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties are in a severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a federally funded service that tracks conditions across the country. Read full Statesman.com article here.
December 16, 2010
Consumers can lose big when water, sewage is privatized
“In my opinion, all of the communities that will be impacted by the Lower Colorado River Authority decision to sell all of its water and sewage systems should get active and educated about what the sale of your system could mean to your community.” Read more by Charles McClure from the Lake Travis View. Read more from LCRA here.
December 9, 2010
Experts fear Texas heading into another drought
State climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon told the Houston Chronicle that continuing dry weather is likely to persist at least into the spring. Nielsen-Gammon, who’s also a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University, says “it’s probably going to get worse before it gets better.” Read full Statesman.com article here.
Learn more from the Texas Drought Project
The Clear View Alliance Perspective
CVA was recognized as a meaningful and significant party in the recently completed PUC hearings in Austin. “Speaking about long-term social and ecological costs must have sounded like Greek” reflects Bill Neiman. Read more here.
December 8, 2010
TCEQ Sunset Review – Public Hearing December 15th at the Texas State Capitol
The Alliance for Clean Texas urges public participation in the TCEQ Sunset Review process. This is the big opportunity for members of the public to present formal testimony to the Sunset Commission. Anyone who wants to can attend the public hearing and present testimony. Learn more from ACT, read the TCEQ staff report and review comments from Texas’ Environmental leaders here.
Holiday Gift Ideas for the Outdoor Lovers on Your List
If you find yourself fresh out of holiday gift ideas for your camping-enthusiast cousins or that friend who would rather spend his or her spare time fishing on the lake and exploring state parks, TPWD suggests you shop the outdoors.
Water, Land Use, Transportation and Economic Development
CAPCOG has released the long-awaited Regional Growth Assessment. The report includes an analysis of growth in four key areas – water, land use, transportation, and economic development – then makes policy recommendations about what communities in the region should consider if they are experiencing the challenges identified. Water availability is the most prominent issue for the region. Download the report here.
Save Our Scenic Hill Country CREZ updates
The PUC has ordered cost effective alternatives for two CREZ lines, while progress continues on the big one, McCamey D to Kendall. Routing decision should be made before Christmas. Click here to read the latest from SOSHE.
December 7, 2010
San Antonio West/Southwest Sector Plan 12/14
The City of San Antonio invites you to participate in the first West/Southwest sector planning meeting. December 14th from 6 – 8 pm at the Northside ISD Activity Center. Click here for details.