A tiny, rare fish found only in a small section of the San Marcos River has gone the way of the dodo. The extinction of the San Marcos gambusia affirms the fears of scientists and environmentalists that mounting development and rapid population growth in Hays County threaten the survival of endangered species as well as the region’s water supply. Read more from Annie Blanks with the San Antonio Express-News here.
The San Antonio City Council approved an agreement with the San Antonio Spurs organization Thursday to contribute up to $17 million in tax rebates for a proposed new development and practice facility on the far Northwest Side. The Chapter 380 Economic Development Grant Agreement with Spurs, Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) includes a 20-year, 60% tax rebate and a five-year recapture period to support construction of a total $510 million Human Performance Research Center (HPRC) and other public and commercial spaces.…
The Howard W. Peak Greenway system is a jewel, connecting San Antonians to nature in the heart of our city. Bike, walk or run on these 82 miles of developed trails and you will encounter deer, foxes, the occasional ambling armadillo, and an array of butterflies and birds. To travel on San Antonio’s greenways is to bask in the shade of a live oak in the summer or feel the first crisp breeze of November. Read more from the…
Austin's Save Our Springs Alliance and a group of environmental scientists have filed a petition with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Pedernales River springs salamander as "endangered" or "threatened" under the federal Endangered Species Act. The action is a direct response to the planned 1,400-acre Mirasol Springs development along Hamilton Pool Road and the Pedernales River that encompasses the amphibious species' already delicate habitat near Dripping Springs' Hamilton Pool Preserve. Read more from Lina Fisher…
Growing up in the Texas Hill Country, Mark Friesenhahn often would run barefoot through the countryside with his younger brother — but only if their father, “a 150-pound, mean little banty rooster German, full of the culture and work ethic,” hadn’t assigned them a task on the family farm. Occasionally, the boys would hear a siren warning of an imminent blast at the Servtex Quarry Plant 3 miles away. Read more from Brian Chasnoff with the San Antonio Express-News…
Flat Creek had always been translucent, flowing clear and cold through Kathleen Wilson’s 15-acre spread in the Texas Hill Country. Then something changed. The dust was the first sign. “That was really the first noticeable thing, was the whole surface was covered with dust,” said Wilson, 63, who runs an eco-friendly bed and breakfast on the Blanco County property. “You’d stick your hand in and it would, like, stick to you.” Read more from Brian Chasnoff with San Antonio…
How much of the Milky Way galaxy can you see from your front door? For those looking to escape to the great outdoors as the weather cools off in the fall, Central Texas has several designated International Dark Sky parks that offer views of the night sky with less light pollution, so visitors can enjoy plenty of stars in the Lone Star State. There are six dark sky parks in Texas, and three of them are within striking distance from…
San Antonians can now travel almost 40 miles straight without ever exiting a trail. An eagerly awaited connection between the Leon Creek and Salado Creek Trails officially opened this past Friday, Oct. 1. A newly minted trailhead at Eisenhower Park links the two sides with 2 miles of brand new trail. One person who monitored the new trail’s progress is Xavier DeHoyos; he bikes the trail system everyday, barring rain. He emphasized the new trail’s steep nature. Read more…
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University and the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District will hold a public meeting on October 12, 2021 to receive community input and participation on a study that seeks to better understand how Krause Springs and the Little Cypress Creek watershed interact with the underlying aquifers. The meeting will be held at the Spicewood Community Center (7901 County Road 404, Spicewood, TX 78669) from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It…
While at the entrance of Eisenhower Park, it's hard to miss the huge fence with a sign that reads, "Leon Creek Greenway: Coming 2021." Brandon Ross, manager for the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails System, tells MySA the new 2-mile paved trail that will connect Eisenhower Park to the Rim should be available for public use by the end of September. He says there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 6 to celebrate the connection of two major greenways — Leon…