News & Updates
Clash of land-use priorities troubling
The Lower Colorado River Authority has proposed to construct a large electrical transmission line across the largest piece of protected land — public or private — in Gillespie County, southwest of Austin. Owned by Terese T. Hershey, a renowned conservationist, the...
Advocates Petition EPA to Strip Texas of Some Environmental Responsibilities
Petition says Texas programs no longer meet fundamental federal air and water safeguards, can’t protect the public. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Caddo Lake Institute (CLI) are asking America’s environmental protection agency to strip Texas of some of the...
The Blanco River Flood: The Healing Has Begun
In this TWA Magazine article, retired NRCS biologist Steve Nelle explores the history of major floods in the Hill Country and what lessens we should take away from the Memorial Day 2015 flooding of the Blanco River. One of Nelle’s most important messages? “A healthy...
Warbler Science Matters
“The golden-cheeked warbler already has an uncertain future as more and more land is developed in the Hill Country,” said Joan Marshall, director of Texas Audubon. “That’s why the science is so important — to base listing decisions on the best science available....
An exploration of the long-term viability of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer
The first 2016 Texas Water Symposium will be held February 11th at 7 p.m. at Texas State University. Dr. Robert Mace of Texas Water Development Board will moderate a panel of hydro-geologists to take close look at the health and sustainability of the Carrizo-Wilcox...
Public participation encouraged in groundwater management process
Every five years the general public has the opportunity to weigh in on the Desired Future Condition (DFC) of our aquifers. Regional Groundwater Management Areas (GMAs) are in the process of determining management goals for Hill Country aquifers. Currently the Trinity...
Celebrating Aldo Leopold’s 129th Birthday
January 11 … It's the birthday of writer and ecologist Aldo Leopold (books by this author), born in Burlington, Iowa (1887). Aldo grew up in a big, prosperous family, and lived on a 300-acre estate with a lot of his relatives. The whole family spoke German together...
Encourage the next generation of environmental Stewards!
Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center Empowers New Environmental Leaders Nonprofit Group Announces 2016 Regional Legacy Camp at Shield Ranch Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center through the Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin (CiNCA) is partnering with the Children...
Texas Land Use: A Comprehensive Land Resource Management Study
In 1973, during the administration of Governor Dolph Briscoe, the Governor’s Office authorized a comprehensive study of land resource management in Texas. At that time, as described in the forward to the study, our state was beginning to face...