News
A Scientist who Modeled Texas’s Blanco River in 2007 Probes for Lessons After the Deadly Flash Flood
As news spread of the devastating and deadly flooding west of Austin, Tex., last weekend (followed by so much more), I started exploring what’s known about flood risks along the Blanco River and other waterways in Texas’s “Flash Flood Alley.” I came across a 2007...
Tussle in Legislature over Hueco Tanks, Hays County water
Residents of flood-ravaged Hays County were furious Tuesday that State Rep. Mary González used a legislative maneuver in an attempt to kill a local bill they say will protect their wells. In calls and emails, several asked why a lawmaker whose district is 500 miles...
Cibolo Nature Center & Farm awarded REI grant to expand access to natural places in Texas
The Cibolo Nature Center & Farm was awarded a $10,000 grant from specialty outdoor retailer REI for recreational trail improvements to increase public access to wild, open places in Texas, executive director Carolyn Chipman Evans said Thursday. “We are honored to...
Finding Nature Near You Just Got Easier
Nature Rocks Texas is making it easier for families to get outside and connect with nature. The Nature Rocks Texas website brings together parks, nature centers, zoos, natural areas and nature-based programs and events all in one place. Did you know that Texas has 15...
Before Central Texas Flooding, Officials Sounded Alarm
When some residents of Wimberley woke up early Sunday morning to flooding inside their homes, the fear and surprise were palpable: The Texas Hill Country had been going through a record, multiyear drought. But just three months earlier, local officials had voiced...
Contested Case Hearing legislation signed by the Governor
Senate Bill 709, which will become law Sept. 1, scales back contested-case hearings, a process that allows landowners and the public to challenge industrial TCEQ permits such as sand and gravel operations and wastewater discharges in and along Hill Country rivers....
Award for Llano River Field Station
James Murr, The Junction Eagle: Texas Tech University’s Llano River Field Station in Junction has been selected for the “Education and Public Service Award” given by the Universities Council on Water Resources. The award recognizes “contributions to increased public...
Tomorrow: Public Forum – San Antonio’s Water Future: Better Alternatives (to the Vista Ridge deal)
Public Forum: San Antonio's Water Future: Better Alternatives (to the Vista Ridge deal) and better ways of engaging the whole community in deciding and realizing that Water Future Tuesday, May 19 -- 6:30-8:30 pm. Location: at Trinity University, in Northrup Hall 040...
EAA recognizes TerraScena as “Aquifer Smart” community
TerraScena is a new 100% rainwater harvesting community in Dripping Springs. In addition to rainwater harvesting, the community focuses on green building materials and preserved natural green spaces. The Edwards Aquifer Authority has recently recognized TerraScena as...
How to save Texas’ crumbling parks
Andy Sansom: Having served as the executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the 1990s, I’m acutely aware of the chronic funding shortfall for Texas’ magnificent state and local park system. One of the most important things I learned during those...
San Antonio Voters Approve Conservation Funding
San Antonio voters overwhelmingly approved two conservation propositions today. The Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, which uses a one-eighth cent sales tax to purchase conservation easements over the aquifer's recharge zone, was approved by 78 percent of voters....
‘Tiny House Compound’ in Texas Goes Viral as ‘Bestie Row’
Fred Zipp was an editor of the Austin-American Statesman for 32 years. So when it came time for him and some friends to build a series of vacation homes outside Austin, alongside the Llano River, he was well aware of the conservation and environmental issues facing...
Texas Senate Passes Legislation to Protect the San Marcos River
The Texas Senate yesterday (Monday) overwhelmingly approved legislation by Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, that would promote safety and enjoyment on the San Marcos River and protect landowners’ private property rights. Senate Bill (SB) 234 would authorize a local...
Get regularly updated water resource information on TWDB’s Water Data for Texas webpage
Texas Water Development Board has expanded their Water Data for Texas webpage to include reservoir and aquifer levels, and drought alerts throughout Texas. Information may be viewed statewide or from a variety of different regional or municipal aspects. Links are...
EVENT – July 8 in Austin:
LCRA and Region K RWPG will be holding a meeting and public hearing on the Initially Prepared Plan (IPP) - July 8 at 10:00AM. The meeting will be held at the LCRA Dalchau Service Center, 3505 Montopolis Drive in Austin. For more information about the meeting click...
Healthy rivers a priority for Texas
Texas Water Development Board: The health of our state's rivers affects the simple pleasures of many Texans. Fishing, tubing, and enjoying nature's beauty all rely on maintaining the complex ecosystems of our rivers. Not only do they harbor a variety of species and...
Electro Purification Challenged by Legislation and Law
Citizens Alliance for Responsible Development (CARD): So where are we now on EP? The battle to stop Electro Purification from taking our Trinity Aquifer water to sell for future developments elsewhere is going strong. If it seems the initial shouting has died down,...
Class Recruiting 2015 – Texas Master Naturalists
The Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists is now accepting applications for the Class of 2015. Residents of Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Mason, Menard, Real, and San Saba counties who want to learn more about the Hill Country...
HCA Pedernales Program Kicks off Monthly Newsletter
This month HCA sent out its first Pedernales Newsletter- a compilation of news, events and partner spotlights geared specifically to the residents and landowners of the Pedernales River Basin. Modeled after the weekly Watershed in Review newsletter produced by the...
Lone Star Land Steward Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary
2015 Regional Winners To Be Honored for their Conservation Contributions AUSTIN— The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) honors the conservation contributions of private landowners each year with its Lone Star Land Steward Award. This year, seven winners...
Legislative Solution to Hays County Water Dispute Takes Big Step Forward
Those of you who have been keeping up with efforts to put restrictions on Electro Purification’s pumping of water from an unregulated area of the Trinity Aquifer in Hays County will be pleased to know that a proposed legislative solution took an important step forward...
Truth in Budgeting for State Park Funding
Good news from Representative Larson’s recent capitol update: Last week, HB 158 passed the House by a vote of 138-1. The bill is now headed for the Senate. Since 1993, a portion of the sales tax revenue generated by sporting goods has been statutorily allocated to...
House Bills Erode Water Quality and Open Space Protections in the Hill Country
On April 13th, the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Land and Resource Management heard House Bills 3620and 3621, authored by State Representative Jason Isaac of Dripping Springs. In a maneuver likely designed to avoid heated debate over his bills, which...
“Transferring water from one area to another has social and environmental consequences”
Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter: TAKE ACTION! “House Bill 3298 is set to be debated on the Texas House floor Thursday, May 7 – the bill would direct the state’s water planning agency to evaluate how to establish and operate a state water conveyance network – a massive...
Citizen referendums are fundamental to democracy
Texas League of Conservation Voters urges “NO” votes on HB 2595. Home rule cities have enormous powers to govern. But in circumstances when governing bodies are not acting—or are slow to act—initiatives have proven useful tools for VOTERS to enact local ordinances...
Kramer: Water grid proposal not right for Texas
Critical vote Thursday, May 7th: Many Texans find satisfaction in being different from California. But a new legislative proposal would have Texas follow the deeply flawed California model of massive and costly pumping of water all over the state. This approach...
HCA learning opportunities about the SEP HCP
The Southern Edwards Plateau Habitat Conservation Plan (SEP HCP) has its share of controversy. HCA convened a successful meeting in Boerne in March to foster more understanding and as a result, a landowner gathering has been scheduled in Bandera on May 5th. Read more...
The steep costs of living so far apart from each other
In strictly economic terms, sprawl is inefficient. Spread people out, and it takes them longer to drive where they need to go, and it costs them more in gas money to get there. Disperse a few people over a lot of land, and that land is used inefficiently, too. Then...
A Habitat Conservation Plan for the Southern Edwards Plateau
Bexar County and the City of San Antonio are working on a regional planning effort to balance the conservation needs of rare plants and animals with the demand for economic growth and development. This program is known as the Southern Edwards Plateau, Habitat...
Lawmakers move to speed permits and limit protests
Hill Country landowners already have very little to say about industrial projects upstream. “The bill would scale back contested-case hearings, a process that allows the public to scrutinize and challenge industrial applications for environmental permits, such as...