September 30, 2013
Looking for a speaker to address conservation issues at your next meeting?
Texas Parks and Wildlife Biologist, Judit Green offers a variety of lectures on topics ranging from Wildlife Conservation, Wildscapes, Native Landscaping, Butterflies and more. Find a complete list of program highlights here. Remember HCA has many resources for speakers too!
September 29, 2013
Save Our Scenic Hill Country Environment latest updates
If you share concerns about costs, long-term planning, scenic blight and loss of property value related to transmission lines through the Hill Country, stay informed by joining Save Our Scenic Hill Country Environment (SOSHE). Read the latest newsletter and participate in the upcoming November 7th membership meeting. Learn More
Running Dry
Express-News staff photographer Bob Owen and staff writer Richard Oliver traveled the state from May through September to tell the stories of people whose lives have been changed by the drought. Read the four-part series.
September 26, 2013
American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association annual conference, November 5-7
Rainwater Harvesting as an Alternate Water Source will be the Focus of this Year’s Annual Conference of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association. Learn More
Connecting Kids with Nature – Mike Mecke
What’s Best for Texas? Electronics Whiz Kids Who Are Houseplants, or Computer-Savvy Kids Who Know and Love Nature? Don’t miss Mikes recent columnin Ranch and Rural living Magazine.
September 25, 2013
San Antonio offers WaterSaver landscape coupon
Using a plant-by-numbers approach, the WaterSaver Landscape Coupon program simplifies water-wise landscaping by encouraging SAWS residential water customers to replace parts of their traditional lawns with garden beds made up of hardy, drought-tolerant plants. Learn More
September 23, 2013
Llano River Watershed Protection progress and water news from Junction
Workgroups will tackle: Invasive Species, Riparian Protection, Water Quality, Upland Management and Water Supply issues. Learn more in the September Newsletter for the Upper Llano River Watershed Protection Planning process. Learn More
Hill Country Land Trust opens Fredericksburg office
The Hill Country Land Trust officially opened their Fredericksburg office with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on September 12. The land trust is dedicated to working with landowners in a 19-county area of the Hill Country to help them preserve their properties for future generations. Read More
September 19, 2013
San Antonio long range transportation planning meetings set for Sept and Oct.
In preparation for updating the 2040 transportation plan, meetings have been scheduled throughout San Antonio and in New Braunfels Oct. 2nd and Boerne Oct 3rd. Virtual meeting are also an option. Click here for a full schedule and details.
LCRA to Take Matagorda Bay Off Life Support?
Matagorda Bay is the second largest estuary on the Texas Gulf Coast. The Bay stretches over approximately 350 square miles and, in a normal year, receives an average of 1.8 million acre-feet of inflows from the Colorado River. So far this year, bay inflows have been about 150,000 acre-feet. Recently, the LCRA Board met to discuss the fate of Matagorda Bay. More from texaslivingwaters.org.
New AgriLife publications give ‘undiluted’ truth about urban landscape water use
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists have produced two new free downloadable resources to help educate Texans about how much water is actually used on urban landscapes, the benefits of green spaces and other ways to save water. Learn More
Public Art Competition Launched to Protect Rivers
The City of San Marcos and Texas State University are sponsoring an art competition seeking a design for storm drain manhole covers that will be installed on all new City-owned storm drains. The contest is intended to raise awareness of water quality issues and the impact that pollutants, dumped into city storm drains, can cause to the San Marcos River and other tributaries. Learn More
September 13, 2013
Your Water Supply
We all use groundwater whether we know it or not. Many believe groundwater is unrelated to surface water but actually they are interconnected. Perhaps lending to the confusion, Texas categorizes surface and groundwater differently. Read more from Karen Huber
Court Ruling Dares Regulators to Limit Pumping
A major decision came down in the arcane, but important world of Texas water law last week—opening the door to more lawsuits against local groundwater boards for regulating water use across the state. More from Texas Observer.
September 6, 2013
Hill Country Residents Can Help Document Monarchs During Fall Migration
The monarch butterfly population is declining at a rapid pace. Monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico each year with the majority of the population crossing through Texas. You and your family can join together to help scientists learn more about this issue by documenting and reporting monarch activity and overnight roosts during this fall’s migration. Find out how.
Native plants have advantages over imports that are good for the pocketbook and the environment
With drought gripping much of the state over the past several years, adding native plants to the garden makes sense for both environmental and economic reasons. Not only do these native, drought-tolerant plants consume less water, but they also use less fertilizer and offer greater disease resistance than nonnative versions. Learn more from Texas Co-op Power Magazine.
Master Naturalists Offer Free Help to Landowners
The Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists wishes to inform all new landowners about a program designed especially for them. The volunteers with the Land Management Assistance Program provide aid to landowners in identifying trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses on their property, and offer observations as to land, wildlife and livestock management, and recommendations to help landowners accomplish their goals. Learn More
Land for Water
Texas Land Conservancy announces “Land for Water,” a new conservation project focusing on the protection of 6 key watersheds: Llano, Pedernales, Medina, Lower Brazos, Lower Trinity, and Neches. Learn More
September 4, 2013
Got Rainwater?
“Thousands of Central Texas residents have opted to use rainwater as their primary source for pure, clean potable water.” Read more from CARD. And, remember the HCA Rainwater Revival is just around the corner, November 2nd in Boerne.
Protect your Groundwater Day – September 10th
Everyone can and should do something to protect groundwater. Why? We all have a stake in maintaining its quality and quantity. Most surface water bodies are connected to groundwater so how you impact groundwater matters. Learn more from the National Groundwater Association. Find out more about this groundwater surface water connection in the Hill Country from HCA here.
September 3, 2013
A message to the New Texas Water Development Board
Imagine the possibility of new, modern planning strategies to meet water needs and challenges ahead. Read this excellent blog post from Mary Kelly, Texas Center for Policy Studies.