land and water stewardship
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROTECT THE WATER AND WILDLIFE OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER – AND PROTECT THEIR SCENIC HILL COUNTRY WATERSHEDS – IS BY EXPANDING PRESERVES, PARKS, AND CONSERVATION RANCHES INTO A LANDSCAPE-SCALE NETWORK OF PERMANENTLY PROTECTED LANDS.
THE GREATER EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE’S (GEAA) CONSENSUS EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PLAN CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL PARK-SCALE NETWORK OF WATERSHED PRESERVES, PARKS, AND PRIVATE CONSERVATION RANCHES STRATEGICALLY LOCATED ACROSS THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES. INITIAL BUILDING BLOCKS FOR SUCH A PRESERVE SYSTEM ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AS A RESULT OF MAJOR EDWARDS AQUIFER CONSERVATION LAND BOND PACKAGES APPROVED BY VOTERS IN SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN AND LAND CONSERVATION EFFORTS BY THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY, HAYS AND KENDALL COUNTIES, PRIVATE “CONSERVATION RANCHERS,” AND OTHERS.
HOWEVER, THESE INITIAL EFFORTS NEED TO BE EXPANDED RAPIDLY BY AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE BEFORE THE AQUIFER AND HILL COUNTRY ARE PAVED, PIPED, AND POLLUTED. AT PRESENT THERE ARE GROWING SIGNS OF A DOWNTURN IN THE HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT MARKETS; IF THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RETREAT IN THE HILL COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT MARKET, THERE WILL AGAIN BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PURCHASING SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION LANDS NEAR URBANIZING AREAS. THERE IS ALSO POTENTIAL FOR MAJOR PRIVATE FUNDING TO ACCOMPLISH LAND AND WATER STEWARDSHIP GOALS SET FORTH ABOVE.
WHAT IS NEEDED NOW IS FUNDING FOR THE HILL COUNTRY LANDSCAPE INITIATIVE, MODELED ON THE PACKARD FOUNDATION’S SUCCESSFUL CONSERVING CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE INITIATIVE. THIS INITIATIVE HELPED SECURE AROUND 400,000 ACRES IN FIVE YEARS. THE GEAA PROTECTION PLAN CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF 250,000 ACRES OF THREATENED HILL COUNTRY WATERSHED LAND. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE MUST START AN AMBITIOUS CAMPAIGN TO WIN SUPPORT FROM LANDOWNERS, VOTERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND FOUNDATIONS WITH LARGE FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
THE GREATER EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE’S (GEAA) CONSENSUS EDWARDS AQUIFER PROTECTION PLAN CALLS FOR THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL PARK-SCALE NETWORK OF WATERSHED PRESERVES, PARKS, AND PRIVATE CONSERVATION RANCHES STRATEGICALLY LOCATED ACROSS THE EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE AND CONTRIBUTING ZONES. INITIAL BUILDING BLOCKS FOR SUCH A PRESERVE SYSTEM ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AS A RESULT OF MAJOR EDWARDS AQUIFER CONSERVATION LAND BOND PACKAGES APPROVED BY VOTERS IN SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN AND LAND CONSERVATION EFFORTS BY THE EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY, HAYS AND KENDALL COUNTIES, PRIVATE “CONSERVATION RANCHERS,” AND OTHERS.
HOWEVER, THESE INITIAL EFFORTS NEED TO BE EXPANDED RAPIDLY BY AN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE BEFORE THE AQUIFER AND HILL COUNTRY ARE PAVED, PIPED, AND POLLUTED. AT PRESENT THERE ARE GROWING SIGNS OF A DOWNTURN IN THE HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT MARKETS; IF THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RETREAT IN THE HILL COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT MARKET, THERE WILL AGAIN BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PURCHASING SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION LANDS NEAR URBANIZING AREAS. THERE IS ALSO POTENTIAL FOR MAJOR PRIVATE FUNDING TO ACCOMPLISH LAND AND WATER STEWARDSHIP GOALS SET FORTH ABOVE.
WHAT IS NEEDED NOW IS FUNDING FOR THE HILL COUNTRY LANDSCAPE INITIATIVE, MODELED ON THE PACKARD FOUNDATION’S SUCCESSFUL CONSERVING CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE INITIATIVE. THIS INITIATIVE HELPED SECURE AROUND 400,000 ACRES IN FIVE YEARS. THE GEAA PROTECTION PLAN CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF 250,000 ACRES OF THREATENED HILL COUNTRY WATERSHED LAND. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE MUST START AN AMBITIOUS CAMPAIGN TO WIN SUPPORT FROM LANDOWNERS, VOTERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND FOUNDATIONS WITH LARGE FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
legal advocacy
SAVE OUR SPRINGS (SOS) ALLIANCE ATTORNEYS PROVIDE A LEGAL VOICE FOR THE WATER, WILDLIFE AND OPEN SPACES THAT MAKE LIVING IN CENTRAL TEXAS WORTHWHILE. MAINTAINING ATTORNEYS ON STAFF ENSURES THE MOST INFORMED AND COST-EFFECTIVE ADVOCACY POSSIBLE FOR OUR MAJOR PROGRAM AREAS: BIODIVERSITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND LAND AND WATER STEWARDSHIP. WE ARE THE ONLY PUBLIC INTEREST LEGAL STAFF IN TEXAS DEDICATED TO PRESERVATION OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER, ITS HILL COUNTRY WATERSHEDS, AND BARTON SPRINGS.
SOS ALLIANCE ATTORNEYS REPRESENT AND ADVISE SOS AND OTHER GROUPS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT HEARINGS, ZONING AND LOCAL LAND USE DECISIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMPLIANCE, AND STATE AND FEDERAL COURT LITIGATION. OUR ATTORNEYS ALSO ENGAGE IN POLICY RESEARCH AND WRITING AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC AND KEY DECISION-MAKERS. WE FOCUS OUR ACTIONS ON THE LARGEST THREATS TO THE HILL COUNTRY WATERSHEDS, INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, REGULATORY ROLLBACKS, MAJOR HIGHWAY EXPANSIONS, AND LARGE DEVELOPMENTS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE KNOWLEDGEABLE ATTORNEYS WORKING ON PUBLIC INTEREST SALARIES CAN MAKE AS OPPOSED TO ENGAGING PRIVATE ATTORNEYS AT HOURLY RATES. OVER THE YEARS OUR STAFF ATTORNEYS HAVE: ARGUED SUCCESSFULLY BEFORE THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT IN UPHOLDING THE CITIZEN INITIATED SOS ORDINANCE; WON TWO FEDERAL LAWSUITS LEADING TO THE LISTING OF THE BARTON SPRINGS SALAMANDER AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES; PREVAILED IN ACTIONS HOLDING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACTS; WON COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL AND STATE WATER QUALITY PROTECTION LAWS; AND HELPED DEFEAT STATE LEGISLATION REDUCING LOCAL CONTROL POWERS.
THE CURRENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CLIMATE IN TEXAS LEAVES THE AQUIFER IN GREAT PERIL. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO PAVE THE HILL COUNTRY WITH SUBDIVISIONS AND STRIP MALLS CLAIMING “GRANDFATHER” STATUS FROM CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS. AS SPRAWL EXPANDS INTO THE HILL COUNTRY, SO DOES THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEYS. IN RESPONSE, IN 2003 WE BEGAN PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE GREATER EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE, A COALITION OF GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS ACROSS THE LARGER EDWARDS AQUIFER REGION.
SOS ALLIANCE ATTORNEYS REPRESENT AND ADVISE SOS AND OTHER GROUPS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PERMIT HEARINGS, ZONING AND LOCAL LAND USE DECISIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMPLIANCE, AND STATE AND FEDERAL COURT LITIGATION. OUR ATTORNEYS ALSO ENGAGE IN POLICY RESEARCH AND WRITING AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC AND KEY DECISION-MAKERS. WE FOCUS OUR ACTIONS ON THE LARGEST THREATS TO THE HILL COUNTRY WATERSHEDS, INCLUDING, FOR EXAMPLE, REGULATORY ROLLBACKS, MAJOR HIGHWAY EXPANSIONS, AND LARGE DEVELOPMENTS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE DIFFERENCE KNOWLEDGEABLE ATTORNEYS WORKING ON PUBLIC INTEREST SALARIES CAN MAKE AS OPPOSED TO ENGAGING PRIVATE ATTORNEYS AT HOURLY RATES. OVER THE YEARS OUR STAFF ATTORNEYS HAVE: ARGUED SUCCESSFULLY BEFORE THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT IN UPHOLDING THE CITIZEN INITIATED SOS ORDINANCE; WON TWO FEDERAL LAWSUITS LEADING TO THE LISTING OF THE BARTON SPRINGS SALAMANDER AS AN ENDANGERED SPECIES; PREVAILED IN ACTIONS HOLDING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACTS; WON COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL AND STATE WATER QUALITY PROTECTION LAWS; AND HELPED DEFEAT STATE LEGISLATION REDUCING LOCAL CONTROL POWERS.
THE CURRENT POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CLIMATE IN TEXAS LEAVES THE AQUIFER IN GREAT PERIL. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO PAVE THE HILL COUNTRY WITH SUBDIVISIONS AND STRIP MALLS CLAIMING “GRANDFATHER” STATUS FROM CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS. AS SPRAWL EXPANDS INTO THE HILL COUNTRY, SO DOES THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEYS. IN RESPONSE, IN 2003 WE BEGAN PROVIDING LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE GREATER EDWARDS AQUIFER ALLIANCE, A COALITION OF GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS ACROSS THE LARGER EDWARDS AQUIFER REGION.
preserving biodiversity
THE HILL COUNTRY/EDWARDS PLATEAU REGION, WITH ITS SPRINGS, CAVES, AND RUGGED CANYONS, IS HOME TO ONE OF EARTH’S GREAT BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS. AN ASSESSMENT OF THE REGION BY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY IN 2004 FOUND THAT “THIS VARIED ECOLOGICAL SETTING . . . MAKES THE EDWARDS PLATEAU ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE BIOLOGICAL REGIONS IN THE WORLD.” WITHIN THE REGION, THERE ARE MORE THAN 50 KNOWN SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT LIVE NOWHERE ELSE.
THERE ARE ALSO AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF SPECIES WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED. AS ONE STUDY STATED, “[T]HERE ARE OF COURSE UNDISCOVERED CAVES WITH UNDISCOVERED SPECIES, UNDISCOVERED SPECIES IN KNOWN CAVES, AND UNDESCRIBED SPECIES FROM ONE OR MORE CAVES.” A SIMILAR OBSERVATION CAN BE MADE ABOUT THE “ISLAND” HABITATS CREATED BY HILL COUNTRY SPRINGS.
THIS RICH BIODIVERSITY IS NOW THREATENED BY OUR REGION’S RAPID URBANIZATION COUPLED WITH INADEQUATE REGULATIONS AND LIMITED PUBLIC PRESERVE LANDS. THE ROADS, SUBDIVISIONS, AND STRIP MALLS, ALONG WITH THE POLLUTION, PESTICIDES AND WATER PUMPING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT, DESTROY AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL HABITATS AND THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT DEPEND ON THEM.
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, ADMINISTRATORS LACK BOTH THE POLITICAL WILL AND THE LEGAL TOOLS TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITATS. AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AGENCY INTRANSIGENCE AND RELUCTANCE HAVE LARGELY GROUND THE MECHANISMS AVAILABLE FOR PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES TO A HALT. (FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE TAKING OFFICE IN 2001, ONLY 56 SPECIES HAVE BEEN LISTED, COMPARED TO 234 UNDER THE FIRST PRESIDENT BUSH AND 512 DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.) HERE, AS IN OTHER STATES, DIRECT “CITIZEN ENFORCEMENT” BY CONSERVATIONISTS IS NECESSARY TO FORCE FEDERAL FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE OFFICIALS TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THERE ARE ALSO AN UNTOLD NUMBER OF SPECIES WAITING TO BE DISCOVERED. AS ONE STUDY STATED, “[T]HERE ARE OF COURSE UNDISCOVERED CAVES WITH UNDISCOVERED SPECIES, UNDISCOVERED SPECIES IN KNOWN CAVES, AND UNDESCRIBED SPECIES FROM ONE OR MORE CAVES.” A SIMILAR OBSERVATION CAN BE MADE ABOUT THE “ISLAND” HABITATS CREATED BY HILL COUNTRY SPRINGS.
THIS RICH BIODIVERSITY IS NOW THREATENED BY OUR REGION’S RAPID URBANIZATION COUPLED WITH INADEQUATE REGULATIONS AND LIMITED PUBLIC PRESERVE LANDS. THE ROADS, SUBDIVISIONS, AND STRIP MALLS, ALONG WITH THE POLLUTION, PESTICIDES AND WATER PUMPING ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT, DESTROY AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL HABITATS AND THE PLANTS AND ANIMALS THAT DEPEND ON THEM.
AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, ADMINISTRATORS LACK BOTH THE POLITICAL WILL AND THE LEGAL TOOLS TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES HABITATS. AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, AGENCY INTRANSIGENCE AND RELUCTANCE HAVE LARGELY GROUND THE MECHANISMS AVAILABLE FOR PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES TO A HALT. (FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE TAKING OFFICE IN 2001, ONLY 56 SPECIES HAVE BEEN LISTED, COMPARED TO 234 UNDER THE FIRST PRESIDENT BUSH AND 512 DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.) HERE, AS IN OTHER STATES, DIRECT “CITIZEN ENFORCEMENT” BY CONSERVATIONISTS IS NECESSARY TO FORCE FEDERAL FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE OFFICIALS TO PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES.
