Hays
County, Texas
Information for the News Media
Aug. 21, 2014 UPDATED
Jacob’s Well Natural Area Swim Season Ends, Park Remains Open for Nature Activities
Hays County Courthouse, San
Marcos, TX – Jacob’s Well
Natural Area will close
to swimmers for the winter following the
Labor Day weekend so that park
employees can
work on restoration activities.
Beginning Tuesday, September 2, park
hours will change to
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and be open for hiking, bird-
watching, picnicking and the
popular 10 a.m. Saturday tours led by
Hays County
Master Naturalists.
“We’ve had an amazingly active swim season following local
and national media exposure,” said Clint Garza, Director of Development and Community Services for Hays County. “Our park employees can now
focus on major projects such as trail building, updating park amenities and other infrastructure improvements. We expect to offer our visitors an even
better experience once these improvements are made and to allow swimming again, on
a limited basis, during the 2015
swim season. We
will continue
to restore the Jacob’s
Well Natural Area to protect our natural
resources while sharing it with
our visitors
in the coming seasons,” Garza said.
There may be
times due to heavy construction that the
entire park will
be closed. Visitors
are encouraged
to call the Parks Information
Line for updates
at 512-847-2140 before
heading out to Jacob’s Well
Natural Area. For more
information about Hays County
Parks, visit www.co.hays.tx.us and
choose Parks from the Office dropdown tab.
###
|
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Jacob’s Well Natural Area Swim Season Ends, Park Remains Open for Nature Activities
GEAA publishes Manual for Edwards Aquifer region
Dear GEAA members and friends,
I am delighted to announce the completion of GEAA’s latest publication, Watershed Stewardship for the Edwards Aquifer Region, a Low Impact Development Manual. This project has been in the works for years, and we are so happy to have finally sent it off to the printers! You can access the full publication on-line here.
We are extremely grateful to all who contributed to the creation of this publication – especially to karst expert, George Veni, and graphic artist, Janet Thome for their considerable expertise and artistry.
Full color print copies will be available for sale in mid-September through the GEAA store on our web site, and in our office at 1809 Blanco Road in San Antonio. On line access is available from the "Publications" section on our web site.
Again, thank you to everyone who made this possible!
Annalisa Peace, Exective Director,
Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance
You can always keep up with interesting water news on GEAA's Face Book page
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Neighbor to Neighbor News Pass it on...Hill Country News...August 27, 2014
Truck Stop in Hill Country Threatens Llano River
Hill Country preservationists are calling on state officials to act after Pilot Flying J, the nation’s largest truck stop operator and diesel fuel retailer, broke ground on an environmentally sensitive site in Junction only a few hundred yards from the banks of the North Fork of the Llano River. Read more from the Rivard Report.
Workshop Will Feature Discussion of Proposed Blumenthal Substation and Transmission Line
A landowner workshop has been planned for all interested in, or potentially impacted by, the proposed substation and transmission line planned for the Blumenthal area, September 6 near Fredericksburg. Learn more
Texans Speak Up for Beautiful Highways: TxDOT withdraws proposal for taller billboards
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has withdrawn its June 2014 proposed rule change that would have allowed billboards along federal highways to be taller. After receiving public comments from more than 900 Texans and 15 organizations in opposition to taller billboards, the agency advised today it is removing the item from consideration on the August 28 Texas Transportation Commission agenda. Learn more
The City of Fredericksburg takes steps to protect the night sky
Efforts to limit the nighttime glow in and around Fredericksburg were buoyed this month as the council approved an outdoor lighting standards ordinance, which will primarily affect new residential and commercial development. A complete draft of the ordinance can be found on the city’s website, www.fbgtx.org. Learn about Hill Country attorney-astronomer, HCA Night Sky team member Ken Kattner who records skies from home observatory and advocates for proper lighting in the Hill Country here.
SAWS proposing Burleson County pipeline – questions raised
SAWS presented plans for a 142 mile pipeline from Burleson County to San Antonio at a recent community forum at UTSA. Learn more and watch a video from SAWS news here. While the plan promises 50,000 acre feet of non-Edwards water annually, a Texas Public Radio segment points out that perhaps not enough questions have been raised. Are there consequences related to costs to the community and impacts on San Antonio’s conservation ethic worth exploring? Click here to read and listen to “The Source: Some Critique On A SAWS, Vista Ridge Deal." Decisions will be made by SAWS in September and SA City Council could take this up in October.
The City of Dripping Springs is planning for a “World Class Trail”
“The routes will connect destinations beyond Dripping Springs and will take advantage of opportunities to reach the proposed Violet Crown Trail and other regional trails and parks planned for Central Texas.” Read more and get involved. The City of Dripping Springs is soliciting input.
Rainwater Revival Returns to Dripping Springs on October 25
Look to the sky for your water supply—and learn how to capture and use it at the fifth annual Rainwater Revival, which returns to Dripping Springs on October 25. The popular and free edu-fest event is put on by the Hill Country Alliance. “We began our part-educational, part-fun fest in Dripping Springs in 2010, and after two years there we took the event on the road to other parts of the Hill Country,” said Event Chair Karen Ford. “We’re happy to be coming ‘home’ to share the latest information about rainwater conservation and harvesting at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. Learn more
NPSOT Native Landscape Certification Program - Register Now for 2014 Fall Classes
The Native Plant Society of Texas Native Landscape Certification Program is a series of courses that teaches best practices for native plant landscape and habitat preservation. Targeted audiences are homeowners, native plant enthusiasts, landscape architects, architects, landscape designers and nurserymen, Master Naturalists, teachers, citizens, Master Gardeners, engineers, and more. Learn more and register.
San Antonio Mulls $3 Billion Water Supply Project
Depending on whom you ask, San Antonio might either be on the cusp of securing its water future at a relatively low cost, or it is pinning most of its hopes on a multibillion-dollar boondoggle that could diminish the water supply for fast-growing Central Texas and wouldn’t deliver what San Antonio expects. Read more from the Texas Tribune.
A landowner workshop has been planned for all interested in, or potentially impacted by, the proposed substation and transmission line planned for the Blumenthal area, September 6 near Fredericksburg. Learn more
Texans Speak Up for Beautiful Highways: TxDOT withdraws proposal for taller billboards
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has withdrawn its June 2014 proposed rule change that would have allowed billboards along federal highways to be taller. After receiving public comments from more than 900 Texans and 15 organizations in opposition to taller billboards, the agency advised today it is removing the item from consideration on the August 28 Texas Transportation Commission agenda. Learn more
The City of Fredericksburg takes steps to protect the night sky
Efforts to limit the nighttime glow in and around Fredericksburg were buoyed this month as the council approved an outdoor lighting standards ordinance, which will primarily affect new residential and commercial development. A complete draft of the ordinance can be found on the city’s website, www.fbgtx.org. Learn about Hill Country attorney-astronomer, HCA Night Sky team member Ken Kattner who records skies from home observatory and advocates for proper lighting in the Hill Country here.
SAWS proposing Burleson County pipeline – questions raised
SAWS presented plans for a 142 mile pipeline from Burleson County to San Antonio at a recent community forum at UTSA. Learn more and watch a video from SAWS news here. While the plan promises 50,000 acre feet of non-Edwards water annually, a Texas Public Radio segment points out that perhaps not enough questions have been raised. Are there consequences related to costs to the community and impacts on San Antonio’s conservation ethic worth exploring? Click here to read and listen to “The Source: Some Critique On A SAWS, Vista Ridge Deal." Decisions will be made by SAWS in September and SA City Council could take this up in October.
The City of Dripping Springs is planning for a “World Class Trail”
“The routes will connect destinations beyond Dripping Springs and will take advantage of opportunities to reach the proposed Violet Crown Trail and other regional trails and parks planned for Central Texas.” Read more and get involved. The City of Dripping Springs is soliciting input.
Rainwater Revival Returns to Dripping Springs on October 25
Look to the sky for your water supply—and learn how to capture and use it at the fifth annual Rainwater Revival, which returns to Dripping Springs on October 25. The popular and free edu-fest event is put on by the Hill Country Alliance. “We began our part-educational, part-fun fest in Dripping Springs in 2010, and after two years there we took the event on the road to other parts of the Hill Country,” said Event Chair Karen Ford. “We’re happy to be coming ‘home’ to share the latest information about rainwater conservation and harvesting at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. Learn more
NPSOT Native Landscape Certification Program - Register Now for 2014 Fall Classes
The Native Plant Society of Texas Native Landscape Certification Program is a series of courses that teaches best practices for native plant landscape and habitat preservation. Targeted audiences are homeowners, native plant enthusiasts, landscape architects, architects, landscape designers and nurserymen, Master Naturalists, teachers, citizens, Master Gardeners, engineers, and more. Learn more and register.
San Antonio Mulls $3 Billion Water Supply Project
Depending on whom you ask, San Antonio might either be on the cusp of securing its water future at a relatively low cost, or it is pinning most of its hopes on a multibillion-dollar boondoggle that could diminish the water supply for fast-growing Central Texas and wouldn’t deliver what San Antonio expects. Read more from the Texas Tribune.
Interested in getting more actively involved in HCA?
Join
HCA leaders and volunteers as well as invited elected officials, GCD
board members, landowners and conservationists for a day dedicated to
vibrant towns, healthy landscapes, protected natural water systems and
people making a difference in our Hill Country. HCA Leadership Summit,
September 25th at the Admiral Nimitz Museum in Fredericksburg. Learn more and register today.
Upcoming Events
September
September 6 in Fredericksburg - HCA Landowner Workshop: Discussion of the Blumenthal Substation and Transmission Line - Details
September 6 in Fredericksburg - HCA Landowner Workshop: Discussion of the Blumenthal Substation and Transmission Line - Details
Sepbember 8-12 in Austin - 6th International Workshop on Catchment Hydrological Modeling and Data Assimilation - Details
September
9 in Kerrville - “Drought Impact in Kerr County & How to Improve
Our River’s Health” by Tara Bushnoe, UGRA’s Natural Resource
Coordinator, at the Riverside Nature Center - Details
September 11 in Wimberley - Community Water Meeting, hosted by CARD - Details
September
12 in Kendalia - 2014 New Landowner Series: Wildlife and Range
Management, Brush Work and Sculpting - Presented by the Texas A&M
AgriLife Extension Service - Details
September 22 in Kerrville - Monthly meeting of the Texas Master Naturalists - Topic: Hill Country Land Trusts, Speaker: Bill Lindemann, Vice President of Hill Country Land Trust - Details
September 22 in Kerrville - Monthly meeting of the Texas Master Naturalists - Topic: Hill Country Land Trusts, Speaker: Bill Lindemann, Vice President of Hill Country Land Trust - Details
September 26-28 in Belton - Renewable Energy Roundup - Details
September 27-28 in Boerne - Texas Hydro-Geo Workshop - Details
September 27-28 in Boerne - Texas Hydro-Geo Workshop - Details
September
28 in Austin - 7th Annual Celebration of Children in Nature - Hosted by
The Children in Nature Collaborative of Austin and the Westcave Outdoor
Discovery Center - Details
*Save the date for the October 8th Water Forum: Securing our Water Future
“Innovative Strategies and Hard Choices for a Secure Future” will be moderated by Robert Rivard and hosted at the Historic Pearl Stable in San Antonio. A stellar line-up of speakers includes: Berto Guerra, Bill West, Andy Sansom and Karen Guz. Learn more and mark your calendar today.
“Innovative Strategies and Hard Choices for a Secure Future” will be moderated by Robert Rivard and hosted at the Historic Pearl Stable in San Antonio. A stellar line-up of speakers includes: Berto Guerra, Bill West, Andy Sansom and Karen Guz. Learn more and mark your calendar today.
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