News
Two Texas Parks & Wildlife Properties Achieve International ‘Dark Sky’ Status
August 6, 2014 TUCSON, Ariz. – Texas state parks remain among the few public places in one of the nation’s most populous and increasingly urbanized states where the starry heavens can be viewed in all their celestial glory with only minimal intrusion of artificial...
LCRA Accepting Applications for Regional Councils
Volunteers provide feedback, share information about LCRA with local communities LCRA is accepting applications through August for membership on its four Regional Councils, groups of volunteers who provide an important link between LCRA and the communities it serves....
CARD Hosts a Community Water Meeting September 11
Today the supply of water for our area is adequate. But we know additional growth is bringing many more people and businesses. As responsible, foresighted citizens, we must consider how we can assure a reliable supply of water for our own future, and for those who...
Limits to outdoor watering become a permanent part of the Texas landscape
Cities across Texas have adopted water conservation policies that limit outdoor lawn irrigation as a way to reduce water waste and stretch existing water supplies. The City of Fort Worth is among the most recent to adopt no more than twice per week lawn watering as...
LCRA and City of Mason award $24,000 to Odeon Preservation Association for LED lighting
August 1, 2014 The Odeon Preservation Association (OPA) will be able to purchase and install LED stage lighting for Mason’s historic Odeon Theater with the help of a $24,000 community development grant. The Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Mason...
Cibolo Conservancy sets Aug. 6 workshop to help families protect land, get tax incentives
BOERNE, Texas—A workshop exploring how families can legally protect and preserve the legacy of their land – and be eligible for tax relief at the same time – will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the Cibolo Nature Center & Farm auditorium. “Estate Planning...
State water fund rules a big deal
The rules are a big deal. They'll help decide how billions of dollars are spent, or misspent, in the coming decades to help Texas meet its growing demand for water. If we get them right, they can help guide state and regional water officials to craft a more balanced...
The Source: Calls For Development Freeze Over Recharge Zone
Water conservation advocates are calling on the San Antonio Water System to cease permits for service to new developments over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone until a plan for growth can be established. The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance wants to ensure less...
Can brush control program enhance water supplies?
“A state program meant to encourage old-school range management and new-school water saving methods has become the subject of a peculiarly Texas controversy. The State Soil and Water Conservation Board will decide Monday how to disburse millions of dollars to clear...
“Destination Junction” Community Meeting All Invited
The South Llano Watershed Alliance invites all persons interested in protecting and restoring the confluence of the North Llano River and South Llano River to attend a community meeting on Thursday, July 31st at 6pm in the Kimble County Courthouse. Topics to include:...
Call for 2015 Rainwater Revival Exhibitors!
HCA is currently looking for Rainwater Harvesting and related businesses and organizations to exhibit at the 2015 Rainwater Revival! This one-day “edu-fest” is the perfect opportunity to meet one-on-one with citizens interested in water conservation, rainwater...
Certified Interpretive Guide Training Workshop Just added for August at Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center
Do you want to create meaningful experiences that last a lifetime? HCA is offering an Interpretive Guide Training workshop that will help you connect the minds and hearts of your audience to the beauty of nature and the mysteries of history. Register now, class size...
Conservation Groups Encourage Input on State Water Funding Rules
Public Comment Period Underway, Public Hearings Begin July 24 in San Antonio July 18, 2014 Austin)—The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has proposed agency rules to govern the use of a new state water project fund approved by voters last November with the passage...
To protect aquifer, limit SAWS service
“Now that San Antonio Water Systems is considering acquisition of new water supplies from the Vista Ridge project, the prospect that these supplies will be used to expand development over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone looms large. By approving these utility...
HCA’s Certified Interpretive Guide Training Workshop Returns October 14-17 in San Antonio
Do you want to create meaningful experiences that last a lifetime? HCA is offering an Interpretive Guide Training workshop that will help you connect the minds and hearts of your audience to the beauty of nature and the mysteries of history. Register now, class size...
Texas Tribune Q&A with Karen Ford
“There are two schools of thought. One is we are not going to build our way out of this, and I’ve heard other people say we’re not going to conserve our way out of this. I have to take issue. I think we really are going to have to adopt as a citizenry a new water...
LCRA and PEC Award $25,000 to Old Blanco County Courthouse for Masonry Repair
The Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society will be able to repair masonry and stone on the building’s exterior, thanks to a $25,000 community development grant. The Lower Colorado River Authority and Pedernales Electric Cooperative provided the grant to...
How to Inspire Millions More Americans to Ride Bicycles
“Over the past five years we’re seeing an infrastructure revolution, a rethinking of our streets to accommodate more users — busways, public plazas, space for pedestrians and, of course, bike lanes,” said David Vega-Barachowitz of the National Association of City...
Proposed Truck Stop along the Llano River draws concerns
Hill Country conservationists, including HCA, have expressed concerns over a proposed Pilot Flying J truck stop to be constructed close to the North Llano River in Junction. “South Llano Watershed Alliance (SLWA) is a non-profit organization of landowners and...
Water Planners Focus on Bigger Texas, Not a Hotter One
After Texans overwhelmingly approved spending $2 billion in public funds on new water infrastructure projects last November, Republicans and Democrats alike hailed the state’s ability to solve its water woes in the wake of explosive growth and debilitating drought....
Plans for Texas 45 Southwest bring quest to document historical sites
"Environmentalists eye the proposed road’s path over the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. Fans of the tollway note how it would provide an alternative to congested roadways. History enthusiasts, though, see what’s not on the map. They see land that the...
AgriLife Extension sets Living Waters Conference for August 19 in Junction
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the Living Waters Conference beginning at 8 am, August 19 at the Texas Tech Junction Center, 254 Red Raider Lane in Junction. “This is a well-rounded program that centers on topics relating to watersheds,...
HCC Ruby Ranch – A Conservation Success
The Hill Country Conservancy (HCC) announces a new conservation easement. 747-acre Ruby Ranch, a historical property in Hays County, is the final piece of the puzzle that will result in over 10,000 acres of contiguous open space. As rapid development continues in the...
Travis County attempts to guide surging growth in unincorporated areas
"One difficulty is that the county has little say in what ultimately gets built on unincorporated land." This issue is felt in Bexar, Kendall, Comal, Hays, Burnet, Bandera and all of the rapidly expanding counties throughout the Hill Country. Read the full story in...
Travis County attempts to guide surging growth in unincorporated areas
"One difficulty is that the county has little say in what ultimately gets built on unincorporated land." This issue is felt in Bexar, Kendall, Comal, Hays, Burnet, Bandera and all of the rapidly urbanizing counties throughout the Hill Country. Read the full story in...
Who Stole the Water?
As the water crisis in Texas continues to escalate, it is becoming a topic of national interest. This article illustrates that the prospect of dried up springs, streams, and lakes in our Hill Country and the bays of Texas is provoking anger far and wide. One thing to...
GEAA making a difference in and around San Antonio
The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA) has consistently opposed utility service contracts for new developments in the Edwards Aquifer watershed. Of particular concern are contracts for sewer service, which allow for much higher density development and have the...
Here’s 5 Challenges to Texas Water That Might Surprise You
"Beyond those two big-ticket items — how to pay for water supplies and how to regulate water underground — there are some other smaller challenges the state faces when it comes to water. At a hearing by the House Natural Resources Committee Thursday, several state...
Taller billboards could be coming to Texas
Billboards designed to get people’s attention could be getting taller. In a proposal the Texas Department of Transportation has rolled out, drivers on interstates, major roadways and rural areas could see signs as high as 65 feet tall. “It may seem like a small thing...
Green Spaces Alliance Hires New Executive Director
Green Spaces Alliance June 23, 2014 Julia Murphy has been tapped as the next Executive Director of Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas. As the creator of the San Antonio Bikes program at the City of San Antonio's Office of Sustainability, Julia has managed a number...