Dear Hill Country Neighbors,
As always, there is a lot of news and information to take in from this edition of the Neighbor to Neighbor newsletter. The passage of a major federal infrastructure bill has us thinking about what a critical inflection point this moment is for our region. Now is the moment for small towns and big cities alike to be thinking about how we can update and repair critical infrastructure while protecting our existing water, communities, and residents.
This week's newsletter also features a call to action for all who enjoy recreating in and around the Highland Lakes, as the LCRA considers a rule change that would open the door to commercial dredging in the Colorado River. Learn more and register your comments before TOMORROW, 11/17.
The stories featured here are a small drop in the bucket of the news, events, and resources available on the HCA website. Visit our news page to see all the stories playing out around our region!
Grateful for your support,
Katherine
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INFRASTRUCTURE: The infrastructure bill has passed. What now?
We highly recommend the nuanced take on recent federal infrastructure funding outlined in the article below from Small Towns. While having additional federal infrastructure funding is crucial to the continued success of our changing communities, we also recognize that with big money comes big challenges. Learn more
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DEVELOPMENT: Developer aims to create ‘legacy’ music venue with massive 20,000-seat amphitheater in Southwest Austin
Developers hope to add a crown jewel to the Austin area’s already bustling live music scene: a 20,000-seat amphitheater at the center of a 71-acre entertainment and residential project near Bee Cave. Read more
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AGGREGATE MINING: Highland Lakes residents speak at recent LCRA board meeting as agency continue work on new commercial dredging ordinance
Highland Lakes residents who spoke during a recent Lower Colorado River Authority board meeting urged directors to be cautious while creating a new commercial dredging ordinance. Learn more
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NIGHT SKIES: Bee Cave seeking to become Dark Sky Community
The city of Bee Cave will apply to become a Dark Sky Community, a move that would further efforts to preserve the night sky in the Hill Country region by placing restrictions on lights inside city limits. Read more
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HCA IN THE NEWS: Texas is watering down federal infrastructure funds.
A ticking time bomb lies at the bottom of the Llano River, near a small town called Junction. In 2018, major flooding across the watershed overwhelmed the region’s water infrastructure as high waters brought with them silt, dirt and debris. Learn more
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WATER INFRASTRUCTURE: If you think the Texas electrical grid is fragile, take a look at our water infrastructure
In August, during the second special session of the 87th Texas Legislature, the Texas Capitol flooded. After the water stopped cascading down the pink granite walls inside the Capitol extension, the Legislature resumed its deliberations. Read more
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ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
All in the Family: For the Parras family, the fight for environmental justice has always been personal.
Read More →
WATER FUNDING
EPA announces the expected availability of $21.7 million in grant funding to support rural and small water systems
Read More →
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PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Climate change is making Texas hotter, threatening public health, water supply and the states infrastructure
Read More →
DEVELOPMENT
1,400-acre development near Hamilton Pool ignites push to protect salamander
Read More →
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WILDLIFE
Loss of fish affirms fears about growth
Read More →
PUBLIC LANDS
Greenway system is a jewel, fund it in bond
Read More →
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AGGREGATE MINING
Residents struggle to coexist with quarries
Read More →
WILDLIFE
Texas adopts new management rules for chronic wasting disease in deer
Read More →
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Featured Photo: Fallin' for the Frio - Hannah Evans, 2020 Photo Contest
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Building Community Resilience by Investing in Local Leaders
Over the past 5 years, the Hill Country has faced a perfect storm of pressures. Flooding events, a historic winter storm, record-breaking development rates and soaring housing prices. How do we protect the health, economic prosperity, and environmental resilience of our current communities, while planning for the future residents of this region? Carmen Llanes Pulido discusses the important work of GAVA in Austin's Eastern Crescent, and then leads a panel discussion about community building in towns big and small across the region in this recording of the 2021 Hill Country Leadership Summit Keynote session.
Watch and learn more→
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OpenET will fill a major data gap for farmers and water managers in the arid West
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) worked with NASA, the Desert Research Institute, and many other partners to create OpenET. OpenET aims to measure and share data on evapotranspiration - water consumed by crops and other natural landscape. This new resource can accelerate innovation and conservation in water management by providing consistent, easily accessible satellite-based data on this water consumption for 17 western states.
Click here to learn more from EDF →
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Social Media Spotlight
“Announcing the 2021 Hill Country Alliance Photo Contest 2nd Place WINNER!
This year’s second place award features a foxy friend! Congratulations to Jeffrey Gladden, the photographer who submitted this image of a gray fox - titled “Trough Visitor” - to the 2021 Hill Country Photo Contest.
Learn more and get your copy of the 2022 Hill Country Calendar here 📸"
Follow us on Instagram→
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Water Infrastructure Funding Database
The Texas Water Infrastructure Resource and Funding Guide is an online database to help Texas utilities, municipalities, and decision makers navigate the financial and asset management resources available for water infrastructure. The online database below is searchable by various parameters.
Explore this resource from Texas Water Foundation →
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