Hill Country Alliance

San Marcos - Merry at the Meadows Holiday Boat Tours
2019-11-24 16:45 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, 201 San Marcos Springs Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, United States
Enjoy the lights and sounds of the season on a holiday-themed glass-bottom boat tour at Spring Lake! Complimentary cookies and hot beverages will be provided. Get into the holiday spirit as you view the amazing light display at Spring Lake!
Tours will run November 16 through December 22, rain or shine. We encourage you to bring a blanket as the weather gets cooler. Pre-registration is required, and check-in will be at 4:45pm. Tickets are $14/person; children 3 and under are free.
‘Tis the season at the Meadows Center!
Click here to learn more.

San Marcos - Tree Planting on 31 acre East Side Property with the San Marcos River Foundation
2019-11-23 09:00 - 11:30 | 576 E Hopkins St, 576 E Hopkins St, San Marcos, TX, 78666, United States
Calling all tree-loving outdoor volunteers!
We are having a native tree planting on our 31 acre East Side Preserve along the river and need your help!
It’s a beautiful way to see this part of the San Marcos River.
If you are able to join us, please please wear appropriate clothing: work shoes, long pants and sleeves.
Also: We love small children, but this may not be the most appropriate event for them.
Learn more here.

San Marcos - Texas Water Symposium: One Water - Projects in Motion
2019-11-21 18:30 - 20:30 | Texas State University, LBJ Student Center Teaching Theater, 109 Student Center Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, United States
Click here to download an informational flyer on this event.
Learn more about this and future Texas Water Symposium events here.

Special thanks to:
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment
Texas Public Radio
Texas Water Journal
HarvestRain.com

Round Mountain - Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center Star Party
2019-11-16 18:30 - 20:30, 2019-10-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center, 24814 Hamilton Pool Rd, Round Mountain, TX, 78663, United States
Tour the night skies at Westcave Preserve, a dark sky location convenient to Austin. Star Party nights are an ideal opportunity to enjoy an evening gazing at the stars through a high-quality telescope.
With local astronomers on hand to answer questions, you’ll be delighted and amazed by what you see and learn!
$15 adult (18+) | $5 child (4 – 17)
2019 Star Party Dates:

September 21, 8:00-10:00 pm
October 19, 7:30-9:30pm
November 16, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
December 14, 6:00 – 8:30 pm
January 18, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
February 15, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Events are weather permitting. To make a reservation, please email starparty@westcave.org or call 830.825.3442
Please include a phone number and the size of your group in your email or phone message.
Click here to register.

Spring Branch - Fall into Spring: Fall Water Conservation Event with Canyon Lake Water Service Company
2019-11-16 10:00 - 2019-11-17 17:00 | Spring Creek Gardens, 11355 US-Highway 281 N, Spring Branch, TX, 78070, United States
Fall into Spring is a conservation festival focused on helping customers make landscape changes in the fall and winter so plants have time to get established and need less water to survive the heat in spring and summer.
This family friendly event will include education stations, a range of children’s activities and gift-giveaways. We hope to see you there!

San Marcos - Texas Groundwater Invertebrate Forum
2019-11-15
Goal:
To bring together people in Texas who are working on subterranean biology so that knowledge and information can be shared and transferred and future efforts to increase knowledge of groundwater ecosystems can be coordinated.
Mission Statement:
The mission of the organizers of TGIF is to encourage collaboration and exchange of ideas and information, and to more efficiently and clearly convey and transfer information to those who need and/or use it.
Problem Statement:
Many people are working on groundwater organisms in TX, but sparse research coordination and exchange of information about the many diverse projects and efforts is a barrier to fully understanding groundwater biodiversity, and to the efficient dissemination and effective use of data for research and management purposes.
Forum Format:
Texas may host some of the world’s most biodiverse groundwater ecosystems. Despite the fact that this has been acknowledged for decades, little long-term coordinated research is focused on understanding the diversity, distribution, function, or importance of these organisms. Additionally, dissemination of information to researchers, regulators, managers, and the public is limited and sporadic.
The forum will consist of morning and early afternoon sessions that will provide an opportunity for people working on groundwater invertebrates to present their work, ideas, or plans to the community, and to seek input and advice. The objective of these sessions is to disseminate information and facilitate collaboration. Presentations by attendees will be 20 minutes, including time for Q/A after each.
Forum discussion topics
We request and solicit advance submission of discussion topics by potential attendees. After the afternoon break, topics and questions that were proposed in advance by attendees will be discussed in breakout groups or in a small panel discussion format with audience Q/A and participation.
Forum presentations
All attendees are encouraged to submit a topic that they would be willing to speak about for 15 minutes, with an additional 5 minutes for Q&A. Organizers will review the list of topics and presenters, and after organizing the schedule, will follow up with speakers to request a title and short abstract. Each speaker will be assigned one of 10 scheduled oral presentations.
Based on the list of topics submitted by attendees as being of interest, and the number of potential speakers that volunteer, organizers may also solicit speakers. Suggestions for invited speakers are also welcomed; please contact Benjamin Schwartz (bs37@txstate.edu) or Amelia Hunter (amelia_hunter@fws.gov) with questions or suggestions.

Find out more here on the Edwards Aquifer Research & Data Center (EARDC) website, or register for the event by clicking this link.

Kerrville - Texas Water Symposium: Mysterious Creatures - Exploring the Depths of Our Aquifers
2019-11-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Schreiner University: Cailloux Campus Activity Center Ballroom, 15 Acorn Loop, Kerrville, TX, 78028, United States
Click here to download an informational flyer on this event.
Learn more about this and future Texas Water Symposium events here.
Special thanks to:
Texas Water Journal
HarvestRain.com
Photo Courtesy:
Tom Devitt

New Braunfels - Comal County Conservation Alliance Community Meeting: Up the Creek Without a Park
2019-11-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Landa Haus, 360 Aquatic Circle, New Braunfels, TX, 78130, United States
The Dry Comal Creek Greenway project may have missed inclusion in the latest city bond program, but this popular project is not going away. Ylda Capriccioso, Park Development Manager for the City of New Braunfels, will bring us up to date on its status, what the next steps are, and how the community can support the effort.

Wimberley - Two-Step for TESPA
2019-11-10 17:30 - 21:30 | Montesino Ranch, 300 Little Arkansas Rd, Wimberley, Texas, 78676
Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association (TESPA) invites you to come for dinner, dancing, raffle-mania and downhome fun!
Sunday, 11/10/19, in the big dance barn at Montesino Ranch, Wimberley, TX.
Hill Country BBQ & fixins served under twinkling lights. World-class fiddler Erik Hokkanen opens. Two Tons of Steel heat up the dance floor until closing. Austin funnyman Kerry Awn keeps it lively. Treaty Oak Distilling generously hosts the bar.
This is a critical fundraising event for a citizen-driven, non-profit organization on the front line of a fight for equitable groundwater rights, flowing springs, and responsible aquifer management in Hays County – and the Texas Hill Country.
Tickets $125 person.

Wimberley - Bald Cypress Sapling Tree Giveaway at Blue Hole
2019-11-09 10:00 - 13:00 | Blue Hole Regional Park, 100 Blue Hole Ln., Wimberley, TX, 78676, United States
Hill Country Landowners:
If your land is adjacent to a river or creek, join us for a “Meet & Tree” at Blue Hole on November 9th, where TreeFolks will be hosting a Bald Cypress sapling adoption event!
Hays County Master Naturalists will be on site to lead guided tours of the Cypress Creek Nature Preserve, showcasing ways in which the balance between recreation and function can be achieved. We plan on planting a few saplings as well, but the main purpose of this event is to bring riparian landowners together to share and gather ideas about how to manage their landscape. Event time is from 10am-1pm (guided hike every half hour). Please RSVP so that we know how many trees to bring!
Please note:
Bald Cypress trees are happiest when their feet are wet so please consider their planting location very carefully.
Learn more here.

Burnet - Veterans' Day Fishing Event at Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery
2019-11-09 09:00 - 12:00 | Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery, 345 Clay Young Road, Burnet, TX, 78611, United States
Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery
Free: Veterans’ Day Fishing Event
Saturday November 9, 2019, 9a.m. to ~12 noon

Capacity-limited to the first 300 Veterans, spouses, children & grand kids
Reserved Tickets available here

Entry at the gate without tickets– but only up to the capacity limit

Hungry Catfish, some exceeding 10 lbs!
This is a totally FREE event to Honor our Veterans

The Fine Print

One Adult per 2 Children please
You may keep some fish or practice catch and release (to a volunteer – no fish back in the pond)

Catch all you want, but you can only keep 2 fish per person or 4 fish per vehicle (please request tickets)
Please keep fish only if you plan to clean and eat them
No fish cleaning on Hatchery grounds
If you plan to keep fish, you must bring a LARGE cooler for your catches

We will provide bait, tackle and ice for your catches – some loaner equipment available
For your tackle, only barbless hooks (for safety reasons)and dead bait or artificial lures permitted
We will provide free bottled water to ensure everyone stays hydrated
No Alcohol or Weapons per Federal Regulations

Sponsored by:
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery
Friends of the Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery

Galveston - Texas Society for Ecological Restoration 24th Annual Conference
2019-11-08 08:00 - 2019-11-10 17:00 | Sea Star Base Galveston, 7509 Broadway, Galveston, TX, 77554, United States
The TXSER 24th Annual Conference will take place November 8-10, 2019 at Sea Star Base Galveston, located at 7509 Broadway St in Galveston, TX 77554. All general and concurrent sessions will take place at Sea Star Base Galveston, as well as the awards banquet on Saturday, November 9th. Off-site field trip and workday options will take place on Friday afternoon, followed by a networking mixer on Friday evening. Budget-friendly onsite lodging will be available at Sea Star Base, which you can add on to your conference registration.
Find out more here.

Kerrville - Streamside Landowner Workshop
2019-11-05 08:15 - 14:30
UGRA Auditorium and nearby field site
125 Lehmann Drive
Kerrville, TX 78028
Workshop is free and includes lunch.
Seating is limited, so pre-registration is required. This workshop is designed for streamside landowners and managers who can implement the practices and skills on the Upper Guadalupe River and its tributary streams.
Call UGRA at (830) 896-5445 with questions or registration assistance.
Registration deadline is November 1, 2019

Austin - Brews and Views with Scenic Texas
2019-10-30 17:30 - 20:30
Don’t miss this Old Austin nostalgic night, as we look forward to Austin’s future looking more scenic! We will have Dark Skies Black Pilsner on tap (named for the Dark Sky Association) donated by Vista Brewing, a taco/nacho bar by Smoke N’ Roses, Deep Eddy drinks, an ecological glass art creation by local artist Allison Lipkin for auction, some wares from The Sage Soul, and information on the Hill Country Alliance a partner and environmental organization focused on land conservancy and Dark Sky protection. Scenic Texas will also honor Senator Kirk Watson with the Scenic Star Award.
Register here.

Medina - Medina Dark Sky Night
2019-10-29 19:00 - 20:30 | Medina Community Library, 13948 State Hwy 16 N, Medina, TX, 78055, United States

Austin - Edwards Aquifer Protection Program Public Hearing with TCEQ
2019-10-29 13:30 - 16:00 | TCEQ Park 35 Office Complex, 12100 Park 35 Circle, Building E, Room 201S, Austin, TX, 8753, United States
The Edwards Aquifer is a home to diverse fauna and is a drinking water source for the city of San Antonio and surrounding central Texas communities. Because it is a karst aquifer, fractures, caves, sinking streams, and sinkholes act as conduits to the aquifer from the surface. While this means that the aquifer recharges quickly after a rain event, it also means that any surface pollution from stormwater runoff or spills will directly impact the water quality of the aquifer, possibly impairing drinking water and affecting the sensitive ecosystem.
The TCEQ will conduct public hearings to receive comments about ways to protect the Edwards Aquifer from pollution.
The next hearing will be held at the following time and location:
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.
TCEQ Park 35 Office Complex
12100 Park 35 Circle, Building E, Room 201S
Austin, Texas (map)

CANCELLED: Johnson City - Settlement Restoration at LBJ National Historical Park
2019-10-29 09:00 - 12:00 | Johnson City Settlement, 227 Settlement Rd, Johnson City, TX, 78636, United States
This event has been cancelled due to inclement weather – stay tuned for updates!

San Antonio - Edwards Aquifer Protection Program Public Hearing with TCEQ
2019-10-28 14:00 - 16:30
The Edwards Aquifer is a home to diverse fauna and is a drinking water source for the city of San Antonio and surrounding central Texas communities. Because it is a karst aquifer, fractures, caves, sinking streams, and sinkholes act as conduits to the aquifer from the surface. While this means that the aquifer recharges quickly after a rain event, it also means that any surface pollution from stormwater runoff or spills will directly impact the water quality of the aquifer, possibly impairing drinking water and affecting the sensitive ecosystem.
The TCEQ will conduct public hearings to receive comments about ways to protect the Edwards Aquifer from pollution.
The hearings will be held at the following times and locations:
Monday, October 28, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Tesoro Building, Alamo Area Council of Governments, Room 1A
8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100
San Antonio, Texas (map)
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 1:30 p.m.
TCEQ Park 35 Office Complex
12100 Park 35 Circle, Building E, Room 201S
Austin, Texas (map)

New Braunfels - Town Hall on Nov. 5th Ballot Propositions with Rep. Kyle Biedermann and Rep. Erin Zwiener
2019-10-24 18:00 - 20:00 | McKenna Event Center, 801 W San Antonio St., New Braunfels, TX, 78130, United States
State Representative Kyle Biedermann and State Representative Erin Zwiener will join us at our Town Hall Meeting, co-sponsored by GEAA, to discuss Props 2, 5, and 8, which are on the November 5th ballot and very important for conservation.
Proposition 2: Authorizes the Texas Water Board to issue bonds for water and sewer projects in economically distressed areas.
Proposition 5: Ensures the existing sporting goods sales tax will go to the TPWD and Texas Historical Commission for protecting natural areas, water quality, and history.
Proposition 8: Creates funding for infrastructure for drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects, including “green infrastructure” projects, which use undeveloped land for flood mitigation.
NOTE: Light refreshments served

Junction - Texas Riparian & Stream Ecosystem Workshop
2019-10-23 08:00 - 16:00
Click here to view the full agenda.
RSVP is required by October 14, 2019. RSVP online through the marketplace at https://bit.ly/2YvPd7X or by email to clare.entwistle@ag.tamu.edu. This workshop is free because the program is funded through a Clean Water Act grant provided by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Morning coffee, pastries, fruit and a catered lunch will be provided to participants during the day for $15. We ask that participants pay online with credit card or bring cash to the training to cover food costs. Dress is casual and comfortable for the weather as we will be outside along the river during the afternoon.
For more information or questions, please contact Clare Entwistle at 210-277-0292 x205 or clare.entwistle@ag.tamu.edu
For more information, check out the Texas Riparian Association website here. Click here to register.

Fredericksburg - Madrone Lore and More with the Fredericksburg Native Plant Society
2019-10-22 18:30 - 20:00 | Memorial Presbyterian Church, 601 North Milam, Fredericksburg, TX, 78624, United States
“Madrone Lore and More” – How to Plant a Madrone Tree
Presented by David Winningham, Ph.D.
Owner of Natives of Texas Nursery, Specializing in Madrones
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
What: Fredericksburg Native Plant Society Meeting
Topic: “Madrone Lore and More”- How to Plant a Madrone Tree
Brief: The enigmatic Madrone tree is the poster child of the Hill Country’s disappearing specialty understory trees. Highly prized because of its unique bark, blossoms, and berries, the slow growing Madrone tree is rarely found in the wild and is very difficult to grow in a domesticated setting. David Winningham, owner of Natives of Texas Nursery, will share his eight-year long journey of learning how to cultivate Madrones. He promises to teach us how to “plant” a Madrone tree and will give a few tips on how to “grow” one, though he cautions that nature is actually in charge of the latter process.
Dr. Winningham is a real-life “rocket scientist”, having spent his professional career with NASA. As retirement neared, he and his late wife spent over four years looking for the perfect retirement location in the Hill Country. They found their paradise eleven miles south of Kerrville on acreage with soaring cliffs, spring-fed flowing waters and Madrone trees. After tackling removal of cedar and other restoration projects, the Natives of Texas Nursery emerged, specializing in hard to find native plants and trees; most significantly, the Madrone.
Date: October 22, 2019
Time: 6:30 p.m.-Light refreshments and social; 7:00 p.m.- meeting

Blanco - Protect Our Blanco Meeting
2019-10-20 16:00 - 18:00 | Gem of the Hills, 2233 US Highway 281 North, Blanco, Texas

Johnson City - Pedernales Wildlife Management Coop Speakers Program
2019-10-19 16:00 - 18:00 | First United Methodist Church Community Activity Center, 105 LBJ Dr, Johnson City, TX, 78636, United States

San Marcos - Sacred Springs Powwow
2019-10-19 10:00 - 2019-10-20 21:00 | The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, 201 San Marcos Springs Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666, United States
The Sacred Springs Powwow is organized by the San Marcos nonprofit Indigenous Cultures Institute. The festival boasts an annual attendance of 6,000 and features performances by over 100 dancers, traditional drums & singers with a spectacular Indian Market of arts & craft booths and authentic Native foods.
Highlights include:

Over 100 Native dancers competing in ten categories
Largest Native Market at an outdoor powwow with 50 Native arts, crafts, and food booths
Outstanding powwow drum groups
Frybread & other Native favorites

Find out more here.

San Marcos - Monarch Fest and Native Plant Sale
2019-10-19 09:00 - 16:00
Save the date for San Marcos’ second annual Monarch Fest! Conservation groups will be there to show visitors the importance of monarch butterflies and other pollinators that can be found in the region. Peruse our fall native plant sale and be inspired to build your own butterfly garden and lend a helping hand to pollinators while enjoying native flowers. Learn how to join citizen science projects and help track monarchs as they make their migration to and from their wintering grounds in Mexico.
Did you know Central Texas is in the heart of a flyway for many migrating species of birds and insects including the monarch butterfly? That means we are lucky enough to witness a diversity of migrating species when the time is right.
Come see what San Marcos is doing as a city to help pollinators and learn how to get involved to make a difference!
For more updates, check out the Facebook event here.

Castell - Caring for Your Land: Incentives for Stewardship and Conservation Workshop
2019-10-18 13:15 - 17:15 | Castell General Store, 19522 Ranch Road 152, Castell, TX, 76831, United States
We hope you can join us for the October 18th, CARING FOR YOUR LAND – INCENTIVES FOR STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION WORKSHOP at Castell General Store (19522 Ranch Road 152) in Castell, TX.
This free event, which will detail tools and financial incentives to support land stewardship and conservation, starts at 1:15 PM and ends at 5:15 PM on Friday, October 18th.
To learn more, please go to https://www.texas-wildlife.org/resources/events/caring-for-your-land
To register, click here: http://texaswildlifeassociation.salsalabs.org/clcaringforyourlandllano?page=register&eType=ActivityDefinitionInstance&eId=442fc96d-ca41-4ac8-b27b-a57c671463cf

Concan - Frio Family Camp Fall Retreat
2019-10-18 - 2019-10-20 | House Pasture Cattle Co, 2 River Road, Concan, TX, 78838, United States

Spicewood - No Water, No Beer: What a Groundwater Conservation District Means for Western Travis County
2019-10-17 17:30 - 19:30 | Sorellina Pizzeria, 23526 HWY 71 W, Bldg. B, Spicewood, TX, 78669, United States
Join us for a Hill Country Alliance + Pizzeria Sorellina happy hour!
This fall, voters will have the opportunity to formally approve the Southwest Travis County GCD on November 5th. This would close a loophole and provide some management of groundwater withdrawals in SW Travis County. Domestic and livestock wells would not be impacted by the formal approval of this district. Come learn more, have a beer, and hear more from the President of the new Southwest Travis County Groundwater Conservation District, Rick Scadden.
Additional information on the Southwest Travis County Groundwater Conservation District:

Fact sheet
Groundwater Truths and Myths in Travis County
HCA webpage on the Southwest Travis County GCD
Official Southwest Travis County GCD website

Fredericksburg - Deer me! Native Plant Landscaping Despite the Deer!
2019-10-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Fredericksburg Middle School Library, 110 West Travis, Fredericksburg, TX, 78624, United States
Fredericksburg Native Plant Society and Fredericksburg Independent School District Community Education Present
“Deer me! Native Plant Landscaping Despite the Deer!”
What: Fredericksburg Independent School District Community Education Class
Speaker: Chris Anderson
Learn how to create and protect a beautiful native plant landscape despite the constant depredations of our beautiful, but always hungry deer population. The course covers deer food preferences and a wide variety of techniques for selecting and defending Hill Country native plants, suitable to any area landscape.
Mr. Anderson is a past President of the Fredericksburg Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. He is an active Master Naturalist, serves on the Board of the Fredericksburg Nature Center and is an interpretive guide at Enchanted Rock. The native plant landscaping surrounding his house serves as a personal laboratory for determining which plants the deer avoid.
Time: 6:00 p.m.-7:00 pm
Cost: $20.00
Register: Contact Rachel Malinak, rachelm@fisd.org, 830-997-9552
