News
Can we start thinking of water as a crop?
Water is not traditionally thought of as a crop, but Water As A Crop® and its partners are hoping to change that. This organization promotes the idea that water falling on private, rural land can be effectively conserved and marketed in a manner similar to crops. In...
Now it’s time to implement SWIFT
You’ve been hearing about SWIFT for months, TWDB is now ready to implement this revolving loan program for water supply projects. The first round of applications is due February 3rd. Conservation is the least expensive, most efficient strategy of all which is why...
Scientists Seek Public Help to Track Monarch Butterfly Milkweed Habitat
“Where have all the monarchs gone?” This is becoming an oft repeated query, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists are asking for citizen help in answering the question. Since monitoring of overwintering monarch butterfly populations 1993, the WWF has...
US cities increasingly embracing water conservation
Los Angeles is a city that is notorious for its use of water- importing it from hundreds of miles away and delivering stormwater to the Pacific Ocean through the Los Angeles River, which largely has been converted to a concrete ditch. The story that is less often told...
Why Water is Not the New Oil
The legislative session is gearing up, and increasing groundwater production will be the objective of at least a couple of bills. Groundwater will be an important asset for Texas' future water portfolio, but should maximization be the goal? That's one of the questions...
Comal Commissioners Support Trinity GCD Bill
Comal commissioners are supporting proposed legislation to create the “Comal Trinity Groundwater Conservation District.” “The GCD is necessary because the Trinity, a major source of well water in the Hill Country area west of Interstate 35, already has dropped some 87...
How Underground Sensors in Texas Will Help NASA Predict Drought and Floods
Stanley Rabke’s family has lived and worked on their Hill Country ranch since 1889. Generations of Rabkes have struggled with the extremes of Texas weather, but one storm sticks out in Stanley’s memory: it came after the drought of the 1950s. Learn about the Bureau of...
Riparian & Stream Ecosystem Workshop Dec 25
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Hill Country Alliance and The Nature Conservancy will be hosting a riparian workshop Friday, Dec 25 in Stonewall. The "Texas Riparian & Stream Ecosystem" workshop will focus on the Pedernales River Watershed and will cover an...
Travis County OKs Land Water and Transportation Plan
Despite the fact that Texas counties have very little real control over how unincorporated land is developed, Travis County is giving it its best effort, as Commissioners approved a comprehensive Land Water and Transportation Plan on Tuesday. Read more from Austin...
CCGCD provides rainwater harvesting resource videos
Storing and using the rainwater that falls on your roof can improve the quality of your drinking water and free you from the restricted use of water for your landscape in time of drought. Cow Creek GCD has provided several video examples to show how it's done.
GEAA announces low impact development manual
The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance has published "Watershed Stewardship for the Edwards Aquifer Region, a Low Impact Development Manual." The manual was designed for developers, landscape architects, and all of those who live on, or are planning to build over our...
Mason County community ready to do battle
Residents are concerned that a sand quarry would destroy the tranquility of the rural community. Because mines typically operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a quarry would bring noise and heavy truck traffic to the area…and because Pontotoc is emerging as a...
Texas’ Courts Legal Treatment of Groundwater is Fluid
Groundwater rights have been hotly debated in Texas for as long as there has been the ability to pump it. Unlike surface water, which is owned by the state and held in trust for the public, Texas courts have ruled that groundwater is the surface owner’s vested private...
Depleting the Water, 15 minutes you shouldn’t miss
This Sunday’s 60 Minutes segment on Groundwater Depletion in California’s Central Valley explores California’s drought and the depletion of it’s Central Valley aquifer due to agricultural over-pumping. With dwindling reservoirs here in Central Texas and ever growing...
HCA honored by Hays County Master Naturalists!
HCA has been recognized as an "HONORARY MEMBER” in the Hays County Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist for exemplary service and commitment to the community and natural resources of the State of Texas. The recognition took place Saturday, November 15th at the HCMN...
The Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
This amazing natural resource area is devoted to protecting the habitats of hundreds of species of native flora and fauna, grasslands, wooded hills and canyons, and vital watersheds. Thousands of school children visit and participate in hands-on learning experiences...
Prince Charles says people’s connection with countryside is dying
"Prince Charles has warned that the majority of people have 'lost any real connection with the land' as he outlined his concerns about the future of the countryside. He stressed the benefits to the wider economy of the countryside's 'ecosystem services' - with meadows...
Landowners Appeal Party Status to State District Court
by Environmental Stewardship Landowners Bette Brown, Andrew Meyer, Darwyn Hanna, as individuals, and Environmental Stewardship, a non-profit organization, filed a petition on November 7 in State District Court in Bastrop County, seeking to reverse a decision by Lost...
HCA to co-host Workshop on Riparian Function in the Pedernales Basin
The Hill Country Alliance, in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and The Nature Conservancy, will host a workshop on the nature and function of stream and riparian zones in the Hill Country. The workshop will feature presentations on riparian...
Texas Water Symposium, Nov. 20 in Kerrville
Join us for the final Texas Water Symposium of 2014 - Thursday, November 20 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Schreiner University. The topic for the evening will be Balancing Rural and Urban Water Needs: How Local and Regional Planning Activities Ensure Long-Term Supplies....
Living With Karst: The Benefits and Challenges of Living in a Cavernous Environment
Do you live in karst? About 25% of the US and the planet’s land surface is karst. Karst areas are the world’s most diverse, fascinating, resource-rich, yet problematic terrains. They contain the largest springs and most productive groundwater supplies on Earth. They...
Texas A&M Study Trumpets Texas State Parks’ Economic Benefit
"The take-away message from this study," Dr. Crompton says, "should be that the state park system is an important contributor to the Texas economy, particularly in rural areas and that the state’s net investment in parks is returned many times over as visitors travel...
Maps illustrate seriousness of California’s water shortage
“Groundwater is being pumped at far greater rates than it can be naturally replenished, so that many of the largest aquifers on most continents are being mined, their precious contents never to be returned.” Take a look at these maps that illustration how serious...
SH 130 key road in Travis County’s plans for growth
While much of the plan is dedicated to the preservation of farmland, watersheds and nature preserves, other parts focus on encouraging building more dense, urban-like centers in the county’s unincorporated and undeveloped areas. Read more from Community Impact.
Next Steps for San Antonio’s Vista Ridge Project
Last week, the San Antonio City Council unanimously voted to move forward with the Vista Ridge Project that plans to bring 50,000 acre-feet of groundwater from Burleson County to the city. Because of our many concerns with this project, the vote was a disappointment,...
Rainwater Catchment Program
Ranchers and Landowners Association in collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District will be hosting a rainwater catchment program November 15th in Bandera. Topics will include the state of...
Texas Water Development Board adopts rules for SWIFT
On November 6, 2014, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) adopted a set of rules needed for fully implementing SWIFT in the lone star state. These rules will determine how projects eligible for SWIFT will be prioritized for funding. Now that the rules are...
Don’t miss Chuck Marohn from Strong Towns November 20th
CNU Texas Chapter is bringing Chuck back to Texas for a three hour workshop on sensible transportation and infrastructure planning. “We advocate for a model of growth that allows America's places to grow financially strong and resilient,” Strong Towns. Chuck was a...
Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer District Announces Precinct 2 Directorship
Blayne Stansberry has been announced as the unofficial winner of of the Precinct 2 Directorship for The Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District. She and Director Craig Smith (Precinct 5, uncontested this election) will serve 4 year terms and join current...
The 2014 Rainwater Revival was a great success!
Yes! Rainwater harvesting is a doable, practical, affordable and great tasting way to provide water for homes, gardens and businesses. That was the message heard by the more than 750 people who came out to Dripping Springs to celebrate and learn at HCA's day long...