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| Thank you
for visiting the Hill Country Alliance website. HCA was formed
in response to the escalating challenges brought to the region
by rapid development. Concerned citizens began meeting in
September of 2004 to share ideas about strengthening community
activism and educating the public about regional planning,
conservation development, and a more responsible approach to
growth in the Hill Country.
We are building
this resource as an educational tool for citizens, neighborhood
groups, developers, landowners, and public officials. We invite
your participation in HCA and welcome your ideas.
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September 2, 2008
"The California Senate this weekend approved a bill intended to discourage the kind of sprawling suburbs and crawling traffic that have long characterized the communities where many of the state’s 38 million people live," The New York Times reported Monday. "The overall goal is to either piggyback on existing job centers and public transit or to create new higher-density developments with jobs, bus stops and rail stations nearby."
Read the full story here.
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September 2, 2008
132,000 acre feet of grounwater in the Hill Country isn't always what it seems. Read what Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District director had to say about determining Hill Country droughts in reponse to an article in The Boerne Star. Click here for more.
Click
here for more
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September 2, 2008
With population exploding in Central Texas, planning is essential. Now is the time to think ahead and plan for growth, infrastructure needs, economic vitality and water resources, in a way that maintains what is so special about this region. Comal County Commissioner Jay Millikin, New Braunfels City Council Member Kathleen Krueger and the Citizens’ Alliance for Smart Expansion are hosting a conference in New Braunfels Sept. 18 to examine techniques and options for growing in a balanced way. Read more about the event here.
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September 2, 2008
"A large crowd packed the Groundwater Management Area 9 meeting Friday in Kerrville to discuss future conditions of the area’s aquifers," the Kerrville Daily Times reported Tuesday. "Several in attendance expressed concern about the process that GMA 9 is using to determine the future conditions — specifically that the 1950s “drought of record” is not being considered." Read the full story here.
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August 25, 2008
This Friday the groups responsible
for planning the future of Hill Country groundwater will meet in Kerrville to
discuss what will happen to the precious resource over the next 50 years.
Without your input, very important data and community voices could be left out
of their decision-making process. Follow the link below to read
HCA Advisory Board member David K. Langford's urgent letter, contact your
Groundwater Conservation District, and view our resources on this important
topic.
Click
here for more
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August 24, 2008
Envision Central Texas recently completed a progress assessment to determine how well the region is meeting the demands of its continued growth. County Authority, Regional Planning and Water Quality are among the central themes of the report. View the entire document on the ECT website
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August 21, 2008
After discovering that a proposed wastewater plant in Medina and Bendera counties would dump 225,000 gallons a day into San Geronimo Creek, Central Texans piled into the Kendall County district courtroom to expess their deep concerns. Judge Roy Scudday has set an evidenciary hearing for the case from Dec. 15 - 18 in Austin.
Read the full story about the facility after the jump or at the Bandera County Courier's Web site.
Click
here for more
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August 21, 2008
"Many new residents to the Hill Country buy a home and property and then
begin to landscape without concern for the plants native to the region," writes
Andrew Martinez for the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. "While
they may be pleasant to look at and easy to find, invasive plant species can be
detrimental to both wildlife and the environment." Read the full story
after the jump or on the Zeitung's
Web site.
Click
here for more
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August 13, 2008
The Burnet County office of Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service, and the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District have teamed up to offer a educational program on rain water harvesting.
This program is open to all and will be held at the Burnet Community Center located at 401 E. Jackson St. in Burnet, Texas beginning at 7:00 PM on Tuesday August 19th.
On hand will be Billy Kniffen, Water Resource Specialist with the Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering office of Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Mr. Kniffen is the state’s premier expert in design of water catchment systems and the treatment of rain water for landscape, household, wildlife and livestock use. Program emphasis will be to help citizens find ways to catch and use rainwater to supplement their water needs to expand the water resource be it a private water well or a community water system.
Topics of discussion will include, design and construction of rain water harvest systems, water tank placement, construction, material selection, pumps, distributions systems, water treatment and much more.
Any vendors of tanks, gutter system and water treatment systems who would like to set up displays and participate as a sponsor are encouraged to contact Richard Bowers, General Manager of the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District at 512-756-4900.
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August 13, 2008
The LCRA is working on a Water Supply Resources Plan and is seeking public input as an important step in preparing their (our) plan. The LCRA has a short survey on their website and is seeking your input on how they should meet water supply needs in the future and what goals they should keep in mind when evaluating possible water supply strategies. There are also a couple of questions on what you would be personally willing to do in your household to use water more efficiently.
Click
here for more
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| | To view more HCA news click here. | |
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