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- On a clear, bright and sunny August morning, Congressman Silvestre Reyes
joined members of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition and the
Frontera Land Alliance to help clean up TxDOT right of way along the
Coalition's adopted segment of TX Loop 375 near the entrance to the Tom Mays
unit of the Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, Texas. Congressman
Reyes' efforts to support conservation have directly benefited the El Paso
community. Through efforts spearheaded by the Coalition and supported by
Reyes, The Frontera Land Alliance will soon receive a Department of Defense
grant to study how a relatively new conservation tool known as a
Conservation Conveyance (10 USC 2694a) might be applied to Castner Range at
Ft. Bliss. Castner Range is a more than 7,000-acre firing range—defunct
since 1971—nestled in the heart of the Franklin Mountains in El Paso. The
area boasts several mountain peaks, sheer cliffs, tree-lined canyons, three
natural springs, Native American rock art and, most noticeably, a series of
unfettered bajadas at the mountain foothills that bedazzles residents and
visitors every spring with a stunning bloom of orange and yellow Mexican
Poppies.
In 2009, Congressman Reyes drafted language in the 2010 National Defense
Authorization Act that allowed the conservation conveyance grant to be
realized. In addition, he co-sponsored H.R. 1831, the Conservation Easement
Incentive Act. Reyes stands committed to supporting conservation of the
special places and wide open spaces that Frontera has pledged to protect.
from left to right: Frontera VP and Coalition Member
Richard Teschner; Reyes' granddaughter Amelia; TPWD Peace Officer Fernie
Rincón, Jr.; wife Carolina Reyes; grandsons Mateo and Julián; Congressmen
Silvestre Reyes holding grandson Orlando; Frontera President Michael Gaglio;
TPWD Ranger Robert Pichardo; and Frontera officers Doug Echlin and Kevin Von (08/26/10)
- Hays County Commissioners Court Votes to Purchase Land to Protect Jacob's Well
The Hays County Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday to approve $1.7 million to
purchase 50 acres of land that had been slated for high density development directly
adjacent to Jacob's Well. Commissioners approved the allocation of $850,000 of
parks and open space bond funds and agreed to borrow $850,000 from The Nature
Conservancy in order to purchase 50 acres of environmentally sensitive land. The
additional property will double the size of the current 46 acre Jacob's Well Natural
Area. The combined acreage will be protected by a conservation easement held by The
Nature Conservancy and will serve as the first county owned nature preserve in
western Hays County.
Vegitation at JWNA mp <http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs063/1102324226817/img/90.jpg>
"Today I'm asking the county to move forward and protect Jacob's Well. We are coming
together in partnership with the WVWA and The Nature Conservancy to preserve this
great spring," said Commissioner Will Conley, who sponsored the meeting agenda
items.
The court also voted to approve a Memorandum of Understanding between WVWA and Hays
County to partner on the management and stewardship of the preserve lands. The WVWA
will work to expand education and research programs at the Jacob's Well Natural Area
and will retain a permanent presence on the site.
The purchase will stop any future development on the land and protect a very
sensitive recharge area above the Well. The historic acquisition by Hays County and
The Nature Conservancy will settle two lawsuits filed by the developers against WVWA
and the City of Woodcreek.
In the presentation to the court, Jack Hollon, President of WVWA said, "Nature sends
signals with drought and dry times and won't allow us to wait on acting to protect
Jacob's Well. The county should move forward now and protect this natural
treasure."
David Baker, the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association Executive Director, gave an
in-depth presentation of the history of Jacob's Well and the two decades of
dedicated efforts to protect the headwaters of Cypress Creek. "Jacob's Well is the
heart and soul of the Wimberley Valley and the crystal clear spring water is essence
of what makes the Texas Hill Country so beautiful. " said Baker.
The WVWA offers free public tours of Jacob's Well Natural Area every Saturday
morning at 10:00 am. For more information email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call
512-722-3390. (Posted 8/14/2010)
- Free conservation easement workshop and a tour of Lantana Ridge Ranch, in Goliad County, Friday, October 15, 2010. You can spend the morning touring part of the 6,200-acre ranch, which was placed under a conservation easement in 2009. The tour will be followed by an afternoon workshop on conservation easements and a review of DU and USDA programs. To RSVP or for questions contact Janaé at:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 830-660-3486.
- GUADALUPE-BLANCO RIVER TRUST RECOGNIZED
SEGUIN (Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust) - The Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust
(GBR Trust) has been awarded accredited status, making it the first
accredited land trust in Texas.
"Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting
important natural places and working lands forever," said Tammara Van Ryn,
executive director of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. "The
accreditation seal lets the public know that the accredited land trust has
undergone an extensive, external review of the governance and management of
its organization and the systems and policies it uses to protect land."
According to a GBR Trust press release, only 93 of 1,700 land trusts from
across the country have been awarded accreditation since fall 2008.
The GBR Trust was founded in 2001 and works in the Guadalupe Watershed. It
has successfully preserved over 9,500 acres of natural areas, ranches and
farmlands, and it has conserved more than 16 miles of creeks, rivers and
wetlands.
Its partnerships include the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Ducks Unlimited,
Upper Guadalupe River Authority and Texas Land Trust Council. (POSTED 8/9/2010)
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