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Rainwater Harvesting News and Events
Events
September 25, 2010 in Brenham - 2nd Annual South Central Texas Water Conservation Conference - Details
October 9, 2010 in Dripping Springs - Hays County Rainwater Revival - All day event celebrating and learning about Rainwater Harvesting and Water Conservation - Details
News
August 20, 2010
Rainwater Revival announces speaker and live music line-up
The Rainwater Revival today announced the speaker and live music line-up for this outdoor festival created to celebrate the timeless conservation practice of rainwater collection. Read more here.
June 8, 2010
Rainwater Revival ramps up for Hays County
The Rainwater Revival will be a fantastic opportunity for the entire Hill Country conservation community to come together in support of rainwater harvesting. Sponsorships and vendor booths are now available and filling fast. The event will take place October 9th in Dripping Springs. Click here to find out how you or your organization can get involved.
May 25, 2010
Texas AgriLife Extention offers online rainwater harvesting training course
Texas AgriLife Extention is offering a self-directed online course designed to help small acreage landowners gain an understanding of how to collect rainwater for livestock. Click here for details.
May 19, 2010
Cibolo Nature Center announces three upcoming programs
Sustainable Concept House Workshop, May 29th, and two Rainwater Harvesting Workshops, June 12 and July 10. Click here for more.
April 13, 2010
Rainwater Revival
The Rainwater Revival is coming to Dripping Springs on 10-9-10. A brainstorm of the Hays County Water Conservation Working Group, The Rainwater Revival will be a fun, festive, educational event to spread the good word on rainwater harvesting and water conservation, the importance of which grows with our ever increasing population. Click here to check out the event website for volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.
February 6, 2010
Bandera settles with business refusing water
A two-year standoff is ending between the city and a businesswoman who refused to take municipal water because she'd installed a rainwater catchment system on her new building. Read full SA Express article here.
March 11, 2010
TRCA 2010 State Conference, March 12-13 in Kerrville
The mission of the Texas Rainwater Catchment Association is to provide Texas citizens with credible information and resources on rainwater collection, to promote the advancement of rainwater conservation and to work with state, county and other local government units in promoting rainwater catchment. The agenda of this conference has been put together with that mission in mind. - Details and Registration
August 18, 2009
Drop in time
A one-inch rain falling on a 1,000-square-foot roof yields 600 gallons of water — a bounty during times of drought, according to Hill Country Master Naturalist Jim Stanley. But storing rainwater is just one of the benefits of a rainwater harvesting system, said Stanley, who has served as a Riverside Nature Center volunteer for the past eight years. Read full Kerrville Daily Times article here.
August 11, 2009
Rainwater catchment catches on
Many Bandera County residents have been wondering the obvious, when is it going to rain? Naturally, we are all concerned about our water supplies and whether our wells will withstand the drought. Asserting he can provide an alternative to groundwater usage, Bryon Moseley, of Rain Catchment Systems, Inc., claims it's all on the roof. Read full Bandera Bulletin article here.
August 1, 2009
Collecting rain catching on in Hill Country
It seems somewhat counterintuitive that the longer the drought persists, the more demand grows for rainwater harvesting systems around the Hill Country. They're increasingly popular because, in spite of sparse rainfall, clouds may prove a more reliable long-term water source than wells because of recent rapid growth. Read full Mysanantonio.com article here.
July 31, 2009
What Roof is Best for a Rainwater Harvesting System?
Rainwater harvesting is fast becoming an attractive water supply option in many areas of Texas; some households are even using it as their sole source of water. Although rainwater is generally clean, it can contain chemical and biological contaminants. Some of these contaminants are picked up in the atmosphere, but others are from the roof of a building when rain comes in contact with it. Read full article TWDB's newsletter here.
July 15, 2009
Rainwater Catchment... Where every drop counts
With rainwater catchment dating back to 4,000 years ago, the statement "Where every drop counts" has rung true throughout the centuries in countries around the world. As our region continues to endure almost 2-years of drought conditions and our groundwater resources diminishing more with each passing day, one local Boerne couple continues to prove this method works and the statement is true. Read full Hill Country Times article here.
June 19, 2009
The Great Rain Harvest
While Hari Krishna was visiting his native India recently, he traveled through a remote rural village and saw that rainwater was being collected from the roofs of some of the buildings. He stopped and asked the villagers how they learned to build the catchment system. One man went inside and promptly brought out a copy of The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting written by none other than Krishna. A longtime employee of the Texas Water Development Board, now working as a consultant, Krishna was gratified to find his handbook so far from home, but not all that surprised. Read full TP&W artile here.
Hill Country home off the grid
Talk about the concept of a self-sustained home and the image that comes to mind is a rustic cabin with bare minimum comforts. But one couple in the Texas Hill Country — Rick and Stephanie Ertel — has erased that image. The couple has built a platinum-certified LEED home that is both environmentally friendly and luxurious. What’s more, it also won an Austin Energy Five-star rating. Read full SA Business Journal article here.
June 28, 2009
It’s Now Legal to Catch a Raindrop in Colorado
DURANGO, Colo. — For the first time since territorial days, rain will be free for the catching here, as more and more thirsty states part ways with one of the most entrenched codes of the West. Precipitation, every last drop or flake, was assigned ownership from the moment it fell in many Western states, making scofflaws of people who scooped rainfall from their own gutters. In some instances, the rights to that water were assigned a century or more ago. Read full NY Times article here.
May 1, 2009
Walking in the Rain
When it rains most people stay in and look out. But the next time it rains, get dressed and go out. This is the best way to really know what the flow of water is on ... and off your property. Read full article in Rain Garden Networks latest newsletter here.
November 20, 2008
Central Texans learn about rainwater harvesting
"Residents from all over the Hill Country of Texas who are concerned about water conservation are learning how Mother Nature can lend a helping hand," writes Scott Sticker for the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. "The Texas AgriLife Extension Service on Saturday afternoon hosted a rainwater harvesting seminar at its Comal County extension office where gardeners, agriculture experts and the everyday water drinker had the chance to learn how to properly harvest and filter rainwater for various needs." Read the full Herald Zeitung story here.
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The Latest News
LCRA’s Tom Mason, “A conflict is brewing in the Texas Hill Country”
On its face, it pits transmission lines, which are needed to bring wind power from West Texas to the state's power grid, against communities of Central Texas. In reality, it's a conflict among several competing objectives, all of them important.” Read full opinion piece here.
Saving Family Lands Seminar – September 21 in San Antonio
To help farmers and ranchers keep their land intact and pass it on to the next generation, the Texas Agricultural Land Trust is hosting two “Saving Family Lands” Seminars. Read More.
Mythical Texas Vs. Modern Texas Land Management
Experts predict that if significant changes aren't made, the state will experience a profound shortage of water by 2060 -- or sooner. Read TWA President Tina Buford’s opinion piece on environmental challenges and land stewardship here.
TCEQ Sunset Town Hall Meeting Sept 23 in San Antonio
GEAA and several partners have organized a town hall style meeting to share suggestions about improving the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Key legislators will be present to listen to public input. Participate and Learn more here.
Texas Completes Key Groundwater Planning Step
An intensive process to plan out the maximum depletion of aquifers over the next half-century has been completed just ahead of the Sept. 1 deadline. Read full Texas Tribune article here.
Wind transmission lines across Hill Country face holdup at Public Utility Commission
By the time the first segment of the Hill Country line came before the commission in April, the commissioners told the LCRA to go back to the drawing board on proposed routes. And now, with commission Chairman Barry Smitherman signaling his unwillingness to go forward, the commissioners appear to be on the verge of scotching the line altogether. Read full Statesman.com article here.
Nominate an "Endangered Historic Place” in the Hill Country
Preservation Texas has called for nominations for its annual naming of “Texas’ Most Endangered Historic Places”. Nominations are due October 15th. HCA has resources and people who will help. Think about a special place that deserves help with preservation and public attention and take it upon yourself to get the ball rolling. Learn more
Riparian Landowner’s Workshops scheduled for October
Riparian areas are important components of the landscape and water cycle. Please read Steve Nelle’s (NRCS) “Riparian Notes”, learn about taking care of your water resources. More information and details about upcoming workshops here.
TCEQ Considers lower water quality standards. SARA says “clean enough to swim in”
The board of the San Antonio River Authority has come out against the state lowering water quality standards for any of the creeks and rivers it oversees. Other Hill Country river basins are looking at this issue carefully. Sign a petition supporting high standards and learn more here.
Mainstreet Architect Introduces Design Guideline Process to Blanco
The first Design Guideline Public Meeting was held on Tuesday evening, July 27, 2010 at the Blanco Public library at 6 p.m. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce to Blanco citizens and business owners the steps involved in developing design guidelines for the city. Read more from Blanco County News here.
Kerr Wildlife Management Area to be Dedicated Aug. 27th
New, $1.8 million conference center to be dedicated Aug. 27 at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area will provide Texas Parks and Wildlife Department with a quality venue for presenting habitat management and ecological programs to thousands of landowners, students and researchers.
More…
UGRA to host Watershed Stewards event this Thursday
August 26th from 8 am – 4pm in Kerrville. Free, one-day workshop designed to help watershed residents improve and protect their watershed, the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake. Details
Water Matters: Highland Lakes Group
One thing that almost everyone involved with water supply from groundwater agrees with, including users, marketers and regulators alike, is that the volume of water pumped from an aquifer should not exceed the natural recharge of water into the aquifer” Read Water Matters.
Capitol Area transportation planning news
The Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's (CAMPO’s) August “CAMPO Connection” features information about the newly adopted 2035 Plan and ECT’s forum taking place on September 10th, “Innovate or Stagnate: Can New Approaches to Infrastructure Development Transform our Region?
Hill Country elected officials urging re-evaluation of transmission lines
Public officials participated in the August 19th PUC Open Meeting in Austin; “CREZ transmission line would have a significant negative impact on the Hill Country which is truly a unique area…” Read the summary from SOS Hill Country here. Senator Fraser continues to push for use of existing rights of way. Read Fraser’s letter to the PUC dated Aug 19th here.
Rainwater Revival announces speaker and live music line-up
The Rainwater Revival today announced the speaker and live music line-up for this outdoor festival created to celebrate the timeless conservation practice of rainwater collection. Read more here.
Senator Fraser Announces Gillespie-Newton Transmission Line Unnecessary
Senator Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) announced on Tuesday that the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has determined that the Gillespie to Newton transmission line is not necessary to solve congestion problems as part of the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone project. Read more here.
TWCA Fall Meeting Scheduled for October 13-15
State Representative Doug Miller and TWDB Board Member Thomas Weir Labatt III will headline the fall meeting of the Texas Water Conservation Association (TWCA), scheduled for October 13-15, 2010, at the Crowne Plaza Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio. The program will also include numerous presentations on surface and groundwater management. Registration information and a full agenda should be available on the TWCA website by mid-August.
Hill Country power line may not be needed, state grid operator says
A controversial power line proposed to cross the Hill Country to transmit wind power from West Texas may not have to get built after all, according to a letter Tuesday from the agency operating the state's electricity grid. Read full Statesman.com article here.
TCEQ recognizes need for Hays, Travis, Comal Groundwater District
The TCEQ issued a report that draws the conclusion that an order be issued to create a Groundwater Conservation District to include Western Travis, Hays and Comal Counties. The report was filed June 30th and is available online here. More information here. A hearing has been set for set for October 28, 2010 at the Hays County Courthouse at 10:00 a.m. Click here for details.
Hays County picks Nicholson Ranch for Conservation
Nicholson Ranch tract may contain some karst features, which allow substances to more easily enter aquifers. The property includes a small section of Glen Rose limestone, is at the headwaters of Onion Creek, includes several branches of the creek, and may possess springs. Read full San Marcos News article here.
SOS Hill Country requests re-evaluation of transmission line
SaveOur Scenic Hill Country Environment (SOSHCE)is an organization of more than 500 members in Gillespie, Llano, Mason, Kerr and Kimble counties. They are highly concerned about the negative impacts that the McCamey D – Kendall – Gillespie CREZ line will have on the future of the Hill Country and are asking for a re-evaluation of the need for these lines. Read their letter to PUC here.
Great Video About Bear Springs Blossom Preserve
Peter and Marianne Bonenberger were recently awarded a Lone Star Land Steward Award for their excellent work educating the public about land conservation and active restoration practices. Texas Parks & Wildlife put together a great video about the Bonenbergers that is now available. Take five minutes and see what these awesome folks have been doing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6m8pLdxxww
LCRA Newsletter announces procedural schedule for Hill Country CREZ
LCRA TSC mailed about 5,100 notice letters to landowners along each of the 75 alternative routes the same day it filed the application on July 28. Newspaper notices describing LCRA TSC's proposed routes began running in area newspapers the week of Aug.2” August 27th is the intervention deadline. Complete LCRA Newsletter can be viewed here.
American Planning Association/Texas Conference October 6-9 in San Antonio
Water, Wind and Solar Resources - will there be enough for our growing State? Other topics include; physical and social sustainability planning; planning services to assist in meeting specific community needs; tools for planner's to use in their professional development and Ethics and legislative and court decisions and their effect on community development. HCA friend Randall Arendt, the nation's premier "green" landscape planner, site designer, author and lecturer and an advocate of "conservation planning" will return to Texas as a featured speaker. Learn more here.
Tom Mason, GM at LCRA to speak to PLTA Sept 9th
The Protect Lake Travis Association annual general membership meeting will be combined with a special meeting of the newly formed Lake Travis Community Coalition. The meeting will be held at the Travis County West Service Center near Mansfield Dam at 7PM on Thursday, September 9th. Learn more here.
Transmission Line Seminars Offer Information and Options for Landowners
Five transmission line seminars are scheduled across the state featuring expert information on the electric transmission line process, CREZ, and options for private landowners who may be impacted by proposed transmission line routes. Read details from Texas Wildlife Association here.
Statewide Long Range Transportation Plan 2035
TxDot hosts an open-house style public meeting for the development of the Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan addressing roads, transit, rail, and all transportation related planning - Wednesday, August 11th in San Antonio - Details
Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust Becomes Texas' First Accredited Land Trust
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, announced today that Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust has been awarded accredited status, making Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust the first accredited land trust in the state of Texas. Read more from Texas Land Trust Council here.
TCEQ Draws Flak for Studies That Might Result in Weaker Water Quality Standards The efforts of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to weaken water quality standards for numerous Texas streams through so-called “recreational use” studies were dealt a serious setback Thursday night in the small community of Kosciusko southeast of San Antonio when over 300 residents of Wilson, Karnes, and neighboring counties turned out to demand better water quality for their local stream, Lower Cibolo Creek. Read full story here.
Viewpoint: Comal County needs groundwater conservation district
In the state of Texas, the state owns surface water, including lakes and rivers. But groundwater is a private-property rights matter. In this regard, the state has declared that the preferred method of managing groundwater in Texas is by a groundwater conservation district. (Comal) county has no such groundwater conservation district atop the Trinity Aquifer, which spans about two-thirds of our county. Read full San Antonio Express community article here.
The Future of Water: GMA 9's 30-foot drawdown decision could crimp future growth
After nearly four years of hydrology modeling and politicking, representatives from groundwater districts in Kendall and eight other Hill Country counties decided Monday to limit the drawdown of aquifer levels to no more than 30 feet over the next 50 years. Read full Boerne Star article here.
Read more Hill Country news
Upcoming Events
September
September 1 in Wichita Falls - Transmission Line Seminar Hosted by Texas Wildlife Association and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association - Details
September 2 in San Marcos - Texas Wildlife Association Landowner Workshop and Membership Reception - Details
September 9 in Austin - Combined Protect Late Travis Association (PLTA) and Lake Travis Community Coalition (LTCC) meeting, open to the public - Details
September 10 in Austin - INNOVATE OR STAGNATE: Could New Approaches to Infrastructure Transform Our Region? - Envision Central Texas Regional Forum III - Details
September 11 - 21st Annual Frio River Trash Bash - Details
September 17 in San Antonio - Texas Riparian Association 2010 Annual Meeting - Details
September 17 in San Antonio - Edwards Aquifer Authority workshop on Karst Aquifers - Details
September 17 in New Braunfels - Austin-San Antonio Growth Summit - Details
September 21 in San Antonio - Saving Family Lands Seminar - Land conservation, tax planning and financial strategies for landowners and their advisors - Registration deadline: September 13 - Details
September 23 in San Antonio - TCEQ Townhall Meeting - details
September 25 in Brenham - 2nd Annual South Central Texas Water Conservation Conference - Details
September 25 in Helotes - Riparian Zone Workshop: San Geronimo Creek - Details
September 26 in Helotes - Riparian Zone Workshop: Helotes Creek - Details
September 26 in Driftwood - Wimberley Valley Watershed Association annual Hill Country Water Celebration - Details
September 27 in San Antonio - Riparian Zone Workshop: San Antonio River - Details
October
October 4 in Lockhart - Riparian Landowners' Workshop - Details
October 5 in Swinney Switch - - Riparian Landowners' Workshop - Details
October 6 in Camp Wood - Riparian Landowners' Workshop - Details
October 6-9 in San Antonio - 2010 American Planning Association Texas Conference - Details
October 7 in Tarpley - Riparian Landowners' Workshop - Details
October 8 in Barksdale - Riparian Landowners' Workshop - Details
October 8 in Kerrville - Transmission Line Seminar Hosted by Texas Wildlife Association and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association - Details
October 9 in Dripping Springs - Hays County Rainwater Revival - All day event celebrating and learning about Rainwater Harvesting and Water Conservation - Details
October 11-12 in San Antonio - Texas Innovative Water 2010 - Details
October 13 in Cleburn - Transmission Line Seminar Hosted by Texas Wildlife Association and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association - Details
October 13-15 in San Antonio - Texas Water Conservation Association Fall Meeting - Registration information and a full agenda should be available on the http://www.twca.org/TWCA website by mid-August.
October 22 in Driftwood - Hill Country Conservancy's 4th Annual Hill Country Nights - Details
October 27 in Lubbock - Transmission Line Seminar Hosted by Texas Wildlife Association and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association - Details
October 27-30 in Austin - National Preservation Conference - Details
The Hill Country is an idea Texans share.
The Hill Country Alliance connects people and place as active stewards of a regional heritage worth sharing and sustaining for future generations.
"The Mission of the Hill Country Alliance is to bring together an ever-expanding alliance of groups throughout a multi-county region of Central Texas with the long-term objective of preserving open spaces, water supply, water quality and the unigue character of the Texas Hill Country."
