June 5, 2007
These are exciting times at the Hill Country Conservancy. The organization has continued to grow, we have closed several important land transactions, we have made great progress on other land transactions, and we have undertaken an important role in a hike and bike trail program that could link Barton Springs with north central Hays County.

Elsewhere in this newsletter you will read about two conservation easement projects: Autumn Woods and the Gibson/Ragsdale Ranch. HCC played a key role in insuring that those two beautiful pieces of land---totaling 629 acres with an appraised value of $8,000,000 for the conservation easements---will be set aside as open space in perpetuity.

George Cofer, our Executive Director, has done a great job of identifying other viable land transactions for HCC, and we are focused on prioritizing those projects and looking for partners to help defray the costs of closing those deals. HCC has had extraordinary success in competing for federal open space dollars, and we hope to continue that success.

Bryce Miller chairs the HCC Land Committee. Bryce and the committee comprised of Dave Anderson, Jeff Francell, Perry Lorenz, Nikelle Meade, Terry Mitchell, and Susan Rieff have spent a tremendous amount of time closing the two projects mentioned above, as well as working on the future land transactions that will likely close during the remainder of this year and in 2008.

I don’t believe I’m guilty of embellishment when I say that the trail program is the single most exciting project I’ve seen in Central Texas in the last 30 years. This opportunity really began in 1998 when City of Austin voters authorized $65,000,000 in bonds for open space. Those voters have continued their support for open space with other positive votes for open space bonds, most recently in 2006.

The opportunity for a long hike and bike trail system connecting urban Austin with Hays County crystallized as the City of Austin astutely used the bond proceeds to purchase key parcels of green space in southwest Travis County and northern Hays County, all in relatively close proximity to each other. HCC’s role is to use its resources---real estate expertise, conservation experience and financial resources---to try to connect the green spaces with a trail system. It is an enormous undertaking, but one that we are excited to undertake. We are fortunate that HCC’s effort will be lead by one of our Board members, David Anderson. As an engineer and as the current chair of the City of Austin’s Environmental Board, David is uniquely suited to the task. He will be assisted by Richard Maier, Christy Muse, Jon Beall, Nikelle Meade, Fritz Steiner, and Casey Dobson.

If the trail is to become a reality for Central Texas, it will require a number of partners, including the City of Austin, the City of Sunset Valley, Travis County, Hays County, several non-profit groups, a number of landowners who own property in the area, and, frankly, you. We have a number of volunteers who are devoting an enormous amount of time to this effort, but we continue to need financial support for this mission Please renew your membership in HCC---or join for the first time---and help us find others who will do so as well. We have a unique opportunity---a 26 mile trail that Central Texans can enjoy for generations to come---but our window to make it happen is closing rapidly. Please do what you can to help.

Steve Drenner
President

Hill Country Conservancy is pleased to announce another win/win land conservation project near Manchaca, just south of Austin near Brodie Lane and 1626. A rural community since the 1800s, Manchaca and its citizens have been experiencing rapid growth and dramatic changes in their local landscape as suburban sprawl spreads outward from central Austin.

Thanks to a substantial contribution of development rights from Rocky and Kelly Romano and Robert McDonald, Autumn Woods will now remain undeveloped for the most part. This beautiful 132-acre property on Little Bear Creek provides high quality recharge to the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. Adjacent to other undeveloped land, including the City of Austin’s Water Quality Protection Lands, Autumn Woods is a special place with abundant and diverse native vegetation and wildlife that characterizes the history and heritage of Manchaca.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

“This is a remarkable 3-for-1 conservation deal, ” said Hill Country Conservancy executive director George Cofer. “Not only will it protect Central Texas’ water quality and wildlife habitat, but it will also preserve one of the most special historic sites and the rural heritage of the region. ” (click here to read the May 7th press release)

The 500-acre historic Gibson Ranch, now known as Ragsdale Ranch, recently utilized FRPP funds, along with funding from the City of Austin, Advanced Micro Devices and Hill Country Conservancy, to create a conservation easement that will protect its water, pastures and wildlife habitat, forever. In addition, the original chimney, hand-dug well and log cabin on the 1870s home site will be preserved to commemorate our regional heritage.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Click here to see the official press release.

Click here to listen to KUT report on this project.

DAVE ANDERSON, in addition to playing a critical role in Austin’s philanthropic community and being an avid backpacker, skier, and all-around sports enthusiast, is Business Development Manager for Water Resources in Central Texas with URS Corporation in Austin. He contributes time to the City of Austin through his service as Chair of the City’s Environmental Board, his involvement on multiple environmental committees, his activity with Experience Austin as a tour guide, and his service on the Board of Directors for Wonders and Worries and the steering committee for the Longhorn Environmental Alumni Association. He also coaches a TOPSoccer team and is involved with several other organizations focused on the management of water resources in Texas.

GARY S. FARMER serves as the president of Heritage Title Company of Austin, Inc, First Capitol Title Company, Inc. and Heritage Exchange Corporation of Texas. In addition to his position on the Board of Directors at HCC, some of Gary’s many civic activities include serving on the boards at JPMorgan Chase Bank, the Real Estate Council of Austin, the Trust for Public Land, the Capital Area Transportation Coalition, the National Multi Housing Council, Austin Community Foundation, Caritas of Austin, the Colorado River Foundation, Headliners Club, and the Children’s Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas.

In 2006, the Real Estate Council of Austin presented Gary with its highest award: “The Gary S. Farmer Commendation of Excellence Award.” He was also honored by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce as “Austinite of The Year.”

Late winter and early spring brought Hill Country Conservancy volunteers together for two fun, productive volunteer days at the HCC-Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve and Storm Ranch. Volunteer days like these provide an opportunity to experience the benefits of conservation first-hand while strengthening our members’ connection with nature.

In early February, Hill Country Conservancy volunteers joined together with TreeFolks to plant native trees at the Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve in West Austin. These 37 acres of wildlife habitat on Lake Austin were donated to Hill Country Conservancy in 2001 by the Nalle family, in remembrance of Anne Byrd Nalle, an avid lover of nature and the Hill Country. Since then, Hill Country Conservancy has managed the preserve for the benefit of wildlife habitat and water quality improvement.

The newly planted trees at Nalle Bunny Run will serve to increase canopy cover and diversity in and around the spring-fed drainages at the preserve. Canopy cover from trees cools riparian areas and preserves precious water for wildlife, while preventing erosion and runoff on slopes. At the same time, trees provide nesting material, cover, and forage for wildlife, while sequestering carbon and helping to prevent global warming.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Who makes money from floods? Who benefits from building in harm’s way? And why are flood disasters growing with no end in sight? "The Water’s Edge" is a new documentary which offers a well-researched critique of the systemic failures behind the deadliest and most costly natural disaster. Compelling flood victims, renowned scientists, and amazing footage from recent events reveal how government and business interests perpetuate flood catastrophes.

The pseudo-science behind the “100-year flood” is exposed as a deadly convenience that fosters delusional building and rebuilding in harm’s way. Tens of thousands will suffer each year all across this country but their misfortune churns huge profits few have considered.

New Orleans fate is clearly foretold five weeks before Katrina. And we see how financial incentives in the politically driven aftermath of floods (along the Gulf Coast and elsewhere) ensure that much worse disasters are likely in the near future.