April 30, 2010
Workshop gives landowners new tool to control their properties’ future uses
LCRA is sponsoring a free conservation easement workshop on Friday, May 14. Learn how conservation easements can help you plan ahead to conserve land, about the potential tax benefits of conservation easements, the role of land trust organizations in conservation easement agreements and more.Click here for details.
April 27, 2010
Negotiating Transmission-line Easements in Lieu of Condemnation
Save our Scenic Hill Country Environment (SOSHCE) will be hosting the presentation “Negotiating Transmission-line Easements in Lieu of Condemnation”, May 11th in Fredericksburg. The presentation is open to the public. Click here for details.
April 26, 2010
Summary of Envision Central Texas Infrastructure Forum: More People. Less Money. What Now?
On March 31, 2010, Envision Central Texas and more than 250 Central Texans gathered to discuss the challenges facing our region in providing efficient and coordinated infrastructure in a time of limited resources. Read a summary of the forum here.
April 23, 2010
Utility commission rejects route of line to bring wind power from West Texas
A final decision on the route of an electric line intended to carry wind power from West Texas through the Hill Country took a tumble Friday after the state agency nixed the options before it. Read full Statesman.com article here
April 22, 2010
A Watershed Case
On the surface, it’s a case about an oat-and-peanut farm and two South Texas men who wanted enough water to operate it. But underneath lies a century-old tug-of-war over who really owns the water beneath the land. At the core of the case is how the court will interpret Texas law, which currently acknowledges not only landowners’ rights to water beneath the land but also the authority of groundwater districts to regulate it. Read full Texas Tribune article here.
April 21, 2010
Low Impact Design Workshop May 10 -11 in Austin
Advanced Low Impact Design for Sustainable Storm Water Management workshop presents leading-edge and underutilized low impact concepts, innovative green storm water techniques, and integrated management practices. Great for hill country planners, policy makers and developers. Learn more and register here.
Get on the Record, Stand Up and Be Counted
Hill Country residents have another chance to tell our stories regarding the LCRA high-voltage transmission lines. Your personal story can be put on the record as part of the scoping meetings hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Read more here.
April 19, 2010
New Braunfels Future Growth Plan Requires Shared Vision
New Braunfels was once promoted as “The Beauty Spot of Texas”. A regional land use plan that expresses goals for sustainable growth will help the city and surrounding land retain its beauty and enjoy prosperity as it grows. Read more here.
Hill Country Land Trust celebrates conservation partners
The Hill Country Land Trust (HCLT) recognized its conservation partners during a ceremony at the Stonewall Heritage Society’s Lindig cabin on March 27. Read more here.
April 18, 2010
Up to date news about CREZ from SOS Hill Country Environment
Hearings continue April 23rd regarding the Fredericksburg to Lampasas line. US Fish and Wildlife begin Hill Country public meetings regarding the Environmental Impact Statement. Mason County in the News and SOSHE schedules a meeting for May 11th in Fredericksburg. Details here
April 16, 2010
Land Stewardship Workshop for Women
The Texas Wildlife Association (TWA), in partnership with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department will be hosting “Women of the Land”, a land stewardship training program designed specifically for women landowners, land managers, hunters, and wildlife enthusiasts, May 14-16 in Carrizo Springs. Click herefor details.
Presidential Memorandum — America’s Great Outdoors
Americans are blessed with a vast and varied natural heritage. From mountains to deserts and from sea to shining sea, America’s great outdoors have shaped the rugged independence and sense of community that define the American spirit. Read more here.
EARIP seeks public input
The Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP) and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are seeking public input regarding the effects of certain actions on federally protected species associated with the Edwards Aquifer. The two entities will hold seven public meetings across the Edwards region in April. People are invited to attend the meetings to learn more about the EARIP activities and provide public comment. Read full media release here.
April 15, 2010
CAMPO extends public input process
Long range transportation planning is underway in Central Texas. This is your time to read the plans, consider how they affect you, and provide your own comments to elected officials who are determining transportation improvement priorities through 2035. CAMPO will receive input through May 14. A public hearing has been scheduled for May 10th. Learn more…
April 14, 2010
Public Must Get Involved to Protect Endangered Hill Country Environment
Common sense tells us that clear-cutting a path through the Hill Country’s heart and erecting 18-story towers to hold high-voltage transmission lines will have environmental impacts. Even the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), the utility power player, isn’t disputing that. In fact because LCRA knows that the damage is unavoidable, they have been working to find a way around the requirement to protect endangered species: they are trying to obtain an Incidental Take Permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by developing a Habitat Conservation Plan. Read full Clearview Alliance Op-ed here.
GMA 9
The GMA 9 “desired future conditions” process continues. Ron Fieseler recently released a status report for the GMA 9 process as of April 2010, click hereto read. Texas Water Matters is always an excellent resource on groundwater and surface water planning.
Hays Trinity GCD featured on KDRP Saturday April 17th
During the drought Groundwater Management in the Texas Hill Country was a topic of conversation everywhere you turn. We have to keep that conversation alive while creeks are flowing; managing groundwater for our growing region remains a challenge. Learn about the history and intentions of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District with Jack Hollon on “Cedar Lady” this Saturday morning at 9:00 am on 99.9 FM, orhttp://www.kdrplive.org.
April 13, 2010
Experts agree good land management means more water
San Antonio Express News reminds us, “The quality and quantity of the water that flows into the Edwards Aquifer and thus out of taps in San Antonio is dependent on the type of land that catches the rainfall.” Link to the full story here as well as additional resources and comments from J. David Bambergerhere.
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.
Lake Travis water quality news
If water quality in Lake Travis is important to you, please keep up with the Protect Lake Travis Association newsletter. This issue covers the TCEQ’s movement to lower water quality standards to the lowest level allowed by the EPA. Read more
April 12, 2010
Free Texas Watershed Steward training set April 29 in Junction
A free Texas Watershed Steward training program will be held from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. April 29 at the at the Llano River Field Station. The Program is designed to help residents improve and protect their water resources by involving them in local watershed protection and management activities.” Learn about watershed systems, water quality regulation and monitoring, methods to improve water quality, and community-driven watershed protection and management. Learn more…
April 5, 2010
Watershed planning and protection meeting April, 26th in Kerrville
Join Ryan Bass, the City of Boerne’s Watershed Planning Coordinator for the Upper Cibolo Creek Watershed as he discusses the watershed planning process in the state of Texas. Details…
SEP-HCP Citizen’s Advisory Committee tonight, Monday April 5th in Helotes.
This is a multi-county habitat conservation plan in the works for the Southern Edwards Plateau. Learn more about this project here: www.sephcp.com To learn more about Habitat Conservation Plans in the Hill Country, click here.
RavenStar Outdoor Education Center explores Comal Springs April 7th
The latest edition of The Bird’s Eye View Newsletter includes great information about Hill Country endangered species, Comal County events and nature news. April 7th, the center is hosting a program about the Edwards Aquifer, the source of the Comal River and the species who live only there. “Enjoy it’s beauty and write a poem to honor the worlds shortest river”. More here…
April 2, 2010
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to hold meetings on environmental impact of new transmission lines
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold five scoping meetings to gather public comment as it prepares a draft environmental impact statement that relates to potential impacts to endangered species habitat that may occur in connection with construction and operation of new transmission lines the LCRA Transmission Services Corporation plans to build in parts of West and Central Texas. Read full media release here.
April 1, 2010
Public input sought on water plan
Today in Victoria is the first of seven meetings that will be held across South Texas to gather the public’s input about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan to collectively manage Edwards Aquifer and ensure protection of the ecosystems that those species and people depend on for clean water. Read full San Antonio Express News article here.
PUC expected to make decision on wind transmission lines in April
After a string of hearings, open houses and debates, the Public Utility Commission is preparing to make decisions in April on the hotly contested routes for the transmission lines bearing West Texas wind power to the central part of the state. Read full Statesman.com article here.