News
Austin Parks: We’re No. 46
The Trust for Public Land (www.tpl.org) has released its annual "ParkScore" index, and reports that Austin ranks 46th among the 100 largest U.S. cities in ratings for park access, size, and facilities and investment. According to the Trust's release, Austin's park...
Commentary: Legislation not good for Kendall County
Milan J. Michalec | Boerne Star | An Open Letter to Sen. Campbell and Rep. Biedermann, I have been following and actively commenting on SB 2273 to create Kendall County Water Control and Improvement District (WCID) No. 4 by (Sen. Donna) Campbell since it was filed on...
Texas Sues to Kick Bird Off Endangered Species List
The Texas General Land Office and Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, are suing the federal government to take the golden- cheeked warbler off the endangered species list. Their lawsuit, filed on Monday, argues that the golden-cheeked warbler...
17 Hill Country Communities Represented at Regional Dark Sky Conference in Fredericksburg
“There are more community efforts to preserve the night sky in the Hill Country than there are in any other similarly sized region on earth.” That was the message from Dr. John Barentine, Program Manager for the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), at the Hill...
Suburbs lead the way in Austin region’s growth
Austin has long been the poster child for explosive growth, but new Census Bureau data released Thursday signals that the city’s growth rate is starting to mellow out as its surrounding suburbs boom. Austin added more than 20,000 people each year from 2011 to 2015,...
State officials close to deal to expand Pedernales Falls State Park
A deal meant to protect the views in a popular Hill Country state park appears to be near completion, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials and a landowner said Thursday. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will buy, at no more than half the market rate,...
Night skies protection means economic benefits
James Murr | The Junction Eagle | Public interest continues to grow in preserving the “awe-inspiring night skies” of the Texas Hill Country. Local communities can derive significant economic benefits from visitors who come for stargazing, which is no longer possible...
From the Archives – Silent springs: is it too late to save Hill Country water?
Texas Observer (2009) In 2000, Jacob’s Well stopped flowing for the first time in recorded history. Its source sapped, Cypress Creek came to a trickle in Wimberley, and the state added it to a list of streams with impaired water quality. “I think it was a big wake-up...
UCISD students are big winners in poster contest
What started as a mere Astronomy Day poster contest turned out to be a huge event for Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District students, local stargazers and interested novices as people near and far got involved. The Uvalde County Historical Commission, Inc.,...
Opinion: Conroe’s groundwater legal fight accelerates rate increases
When local groundwater production fees rise soon, a major cause of higher water bills will be the relentless City of Conroe-led litigation which challenges the authority of the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District to impose water production limits on...
Seattle Climbs but Austin Sprawls: The Myth of the Return to Cities
Be skeptical when you hear about the return to glory of the American city — that idealized vision of rising skyscrapers and bustling, dense downtowns. Contrary to perception, the nation is continuing to become more suburban, and at an accelerating pace. The prevailing...
Rainwater Harvesting Increasingly Helps Companies Reduce Stormwater Fees & Energy Use
Commercial enterprises are increasingly installing various rainwater harvesting systems for water conservation purposes. Harvesting can also reduce stormwater runoff and fees, and helps solve potable, non-potable, and energy challenges. Commercial property owners are...
Rep Hurd, Three Other Reps Introduce Bill to Help Fund National Park Repairs
Monday, Representatives Will Hurd (R-TX), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Dave Reichert (R-WA), and Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) introduced a bipartisan bill to jump start overdue maintenance projects in national parks. The National Park Service Legacy Act would provide investments...
St. Elmo Brewing Co. and Richard’s Rainwater Collaborate on Ale Made with Rain Water
Austin-based St. Elmo Brewing Co. teamed up with Richard’s Rainwater, a rain water bottling company located in Dripping Springs, TX to create their Rain Pale Ale. A core value of St. Elmo is collaboration. Experimenting with rainwater was an ongoing interest for both...
Junction ISD Students learn how to preserve our night skies
Junction ISD elementary, middle and high school students gathered recently at South Llano River State Park for a full day of assemblies about night sky issues. Bill Wren of the MacDonald Observatory joined the staff of the South Llano River State Park to discuss the...
Twinkle twinkle little Star Party
Steven Santana | Castroville News Bulletin | Clear skies and a starry night at the Castroville Regional Park presents an opportunity to educate families on the preservation of the night skies. Budding and experienced stargazers gathered in the park soccer fields last...
Meet the former first lady who helped make Austin, Texas, one of the most popular cities in the US
Austin, Texas is the place to be. US News & World Report rated the Texas capital as the best place to live this year. It's also a great spot if you're looking for a job or seeking a high quality of life. It's clear that life is pretty good in ATX. This is largely...
Fredericksburg applies for International Dark Sky Community designation
On May 15th, the Fredericksburg City Council passed a resolution affirming its support for the City’s application to the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) for a Dark Sky Community designation. The resolution, proposed to Council by Kate Peake of the Hill...
Texas parks boosters approach lawmakers once again for more money
Two years ago, George Bristol, perhaps Texas’ chief booster for state parks, thought he had scored a coup when lawmakers passed a measure that appeared to ensure that nearly all the tax revenue raised through the sale of tennis rackets, soccer balls, kayaks and other...
Reimagined Alamo Plaza Design Ignores 1871 Deed by Enclosing Plaza
In 1871, the Catholic Bishop of the State of Texas, Claude Marie Dubuis, sold the galera, an Americanism for “shed” referring to the rectangular structure that included the Alamo barracks, south gate, and jail, to the City of San Antonio for $2,500. The deed included...
Could landowners switch groundwater districts?
As House Bill (HB) 4122 passed the Texas House of Representatives on third and final reading, State Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs) said he is afraid the bill will “set a bad precedent” for groundwater protection in the future. Isaac said the controversial bill,...
TPWD launches new “Texas Rivers” Conservation License Plate
Texans can help the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department keep the state’s rivers healthy and flowing through their purchase of the new Texas Rivers conservation license plate, available now at www.ConservationPlate.org/Rivers. “The new plate design features a Texas...
Rainwater Revival Calls for Grant Applications from Hill Country Schools
For the seventh consecutive year, the Hill Country Alliance’s Rainwater Revival offers funds to help students learn about rainwater catchment and water conservation. As Texas Hill Country residents and businesses look for ways to conserve water, the Hill Country...
May 8 hearing to consider Amicus brief on eminent domain
Folks in Texas interested in the effects eminent domain might have on farms, ranches and private property in general may want to attend a hearing May 8 in Hondo, Texas, at the Medina County courthouse. The hearing will consider a request by Southwest Gulf Railroad to...
Dreamcatcher Ranch won’t be developed
Dreamcatcher Ranch, a key piece of the San Marcos River watershed upstream of Spring Lake, has been preserved in perpetuity with a conservation easement. The easement was completed this month by the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF) and the landowners, Karen and Don...
Creek health demands action
A stream of problems with aquatic invasive species was the topic at the Hill Country University Center last Thursday during the final Texas Water Symposium of the 2016-2017 series. The free symposium — a partnership project of Schreiner University, Texas Tech...
Texas Lone Star Land Stewards Recipients Named, Hill Country Landowners Kim Bergman and Pam Mabry Bergman Honored
AUSTIN – They restore vital woods and waters, help bring back diverse wildlife ranging from rare species to popular game animals, share their knowledge with neighbors, and open their gates to youth groups and researchers. They are recipients of the 2017 Lone Star Land...
Conservation, Not Growth, Should Guide Water Restrictions
The recent City Council kerfuffle over year-round watering restrictions should not be the end of the matter. The current San Antonio Water System rate structure encourages wasting water by subsidizing large water users. This amounts to a tax on ordinary people to pay...
Arundo Management Meet and Greet BBQ planned for May 7th
On Sunday, May 7th, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at Frantzen Park, community members can learn about non-native, invasive plants that are encroaching Hill Country river banks and threatening native ecosystems. Join local landowners, staff from Texas Parks & Wildlife...
HB 4122 Final Committee Substitute
On Thursday, April 27th, the House Natural Resources Committee passed House Bill 4122 out of Committee at a formal meeting at Chairman Larson's desk on the House floor. The introduced version of this bill allowed a landowner with 1,000 acres or more and within the...