December 29, 2011 The Texas Water Crisis Texas water authorities at every level are on alert. Last summer’s extremely hot, dry weather was a wake-up call. Now more than a dozen Texas towns are in danger of running out of water. Texas is in a water crisis. To make it official, the Texas Water Development Board December report says the state reservoirs are extremely low even after some autumn rain. Read more from CleanHouston.org. December 28, 2011 Dangers of fracking…
February 21, 2011 Growing pains come with rise in population As civic leaders in San Antonio and surrounding communities began digesting new census figures released Thursday, the implications of the region's 25 percent population increase were both gratifying and sobering. Read full article from SA Express-News here. February 7, 2011 Counties continue to wish for more land-use authority Residents of unincorporated areas outside Austin's city limits often call Travis County officials to complain about bars, dance halls, industrial operations and…
December 28, 2011 Travis County park purchase to add access to Pedernales River Earlier this month, Travis County commissioners closed on a 770-acre ranch owned by Eugene and Jean Reimers in southwestern Travis County near the Hays County line that will connect Milton Reimers Ranch Park and Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve. More from Statesman.com June 6, 2011 Texas Conservation Action Plan comment period June 10-July 8 The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is seeking online public input as the department…
October 24, 2011 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference Seeks to Combat Growing Threat The 2011 Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Conference, hosted by Texas Invasive Plant and Pest Council (TIPPC), will be held November 8-10 at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. A broad range of speakers will present information on non-native invasive plants and pests and strategies for combating them.Read More September 22, 2011 Texas city rips up grass in effort to save water A study released in…
January 2, 2011 Keeping rural roots alive without leaving the city A great story featuring thoughts of Wendell Berry and Wes Jackson, two sustainable agriculture pioneers… “We came here as poor people on rich land, but now we are rich people on poor land," Jackson said. As we made 'progress,' we didn't realize what we were undoing in the process. Our society is built upon the withdrawal on the "capital stock of the earth." Read story from Statesman.com. December 5,…
November 17, 2011 Texas Land Conservation on the rise! A new report by the Land Trust Alliance shows that land conservation by nonprofit land trusts across the United States is thriving, with more than 10 million acres conserved from 2005-2010. According to TLTC Land Trusts in Texas contributed to that success, reporting and increase in 55% in acres conserved over this period. Read more from USA Today. September 27, 2011 Is Our Rural Heritage at Risk? How we conserve our…
December 28, 2011 EAA Board Approves Funding Agreement for Habitat Conservation Plan The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) Board of Directors approved a funding and management agreement on Tuesday, December 28, that details how the EAA will pay for implementing a habitat conservation plan (HCP) aimed at protecting threatened and endangered species whose only known habitats are the aquifer-fed Comal and San Marcos springs. More from AACOG.com December 14, 2011 Vote sinks aquifer funding The Edwards Aquifer Authority board failed Tuesday…
December 29, 2011 Private Lands, Public Benefits: Innovations to Sustain the Private Lands that Provide Food, Fiber and Water Policy In early December, the Texas Agricultural Land Trust and Texas Department of Agriculture hosted Private Lands, Public Benefits in Austin, Texas. The full day conference showcased examples of unique, market based approaches to land and natural resource conservation. Topics included; land fragmentation and loss of rural lands, purchase of development rights or “PDR” programs, the value of natural ecosystems and…
December 28, 2011 Dangers of fracking still becoming clear The word "fracking" may sound funny, but it describes a drilling practice that has created a serious boom in natural gas production in Texas and elsewhere, and with the boom has come serious worries about fracking's effects on the environment. More from Statesman.com. December 14, 2011 New rules for fracking approved The Texas Railroad Commission approved a rule Tuesday requiring oil and natural gas drillers to disclose most of the…
December 29, 2011 The Texas Water Crisis Texas water authorities at every level are on alert. Last summer’s extremely hot, dry weather was a wake-up call. Now more than a dozen Texas towns are in danger of running out of water. Texas is in a water crisis. To make it official, the Texas Water Development Board December report says the state reservoirs are extremely low even after some autumn rain. Read more from CleanHouston.org. December 21, 2011 Water planners urged…