SMGA Update for July 16, 2008

In This Issue...

For Your Calendar
Grandecom Sponsors Naturescapes/Deadline Approaching Fast
Hays County Citizens Parks Advisory Team (CPAT) Update
Hearings Scheduled on San Marcos Parks Master Plan
Hill Country Land Being Sold
In the News & Other Tidbits

FOR YOUR CALENDAR

View calendar of events

EVERY THURSDAY, TRAIL BUILDING, END OF SUMMIT RIDGE DR, 6:45-8:15 AM
Email alliance@smgreenbelt.org to receive location changes and last-minute weather cancellations. All trail builders must wear gloves, hard shoes, and eyewear. Water bottle, long pants, and hat highly recommended. We supply tools and bug repellent. Find a map to Summit Drive here.

1ST & 3RD WEDS: ELEPHANT EAR REMOVAL, AQUARENA CENTER, 4:30-7:00 PM
Meet at Aquarena Center at the far end of the long parking area. Gloves, supplies, and instruction provided. Volunteers work under the training and supervision of Ethan Chappel and Leah Laszewski. Call Leah to let her know you are coming; leave your phone number so she can call you if there are changes in meeting times: 667-6676.

SATURDAY, JULY 19, HIKE, SPRINGLAKE PRESERVE, 9:00 AM
Texas Stream Team requested that SMGA lead a hike for their volunteer thank you event and also generously agreed to open the hike to the public. So if you are looking for a hiking opportunity at Spring Lake Preserve, meet Todd and friends at Texas Rivers Center. View directions here.

MONDAY, JULY 21, NATURESCAPES PHOTO SUBMISSIONS DUE
See story below. View more info here.

TUESDAY, JULY 22, HAYS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSIDER SM PARKS REQUEST
See story below.

WEDNESDAY JULY 16 & MONDAY JULY 21, SAN MARCOS PARKS MASTER PLAN HEARINGS
See story and additional dates below.

JULY 22-23, 28-29 & AUGUST 11-13, WILD RICE MONITORING, 8:45 AM
Work with Jackie Poole of TPWD to monitor wild rice in the San Marcos River, which entails measuring the length, width, and depth of the wild-rice stands. Volunteers are needed to work in the water as well as on the river bank. Contact Jackie for details at (512) 389-8019 (work) or (512) 657-8036 (cell).

SATURDAY, JULY 26, TRAIL BUILDING, END OF SUMMIT RIDGE DR, 8:00-10:00 AM (7:30 Newbies).
See notes above for Thursday trail building.

SATURDAY, JULY 26, WATER HYACINTH REMOVAL, AQUARENA CENTER, 8:00/9:00-11:00 AM

SATURDAY, AUG 2, T.O.W.N. OUTING, NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS, 8:30 AM
Carpool to San Antonio to check out Chicho Boys Fruit Market, then go to Natural Bridge Caverns for their Discovery Tour. Contact Kathy Rogers for more info and reservations before 8/1: zinnia@grandecom.net,
(512) 754-0538.

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GRANDECOM SPONSORS NATURESCAPES / DEADLINE APPROACHING FAST

Thanks to Grandecom for becoming a sponsor of the Naturescapes Photography Contest co-sponsored by the Hill Country Photography Club (hcphotoclub.org) and SMGA. Spring is past and the deadline for entering the Naturescapes photography contest is fast approaching. The July 21st deadline includes photos taken during the past two years in any natural area of Hays County. A $200 prize is awarded for Best in Show and up to four $100 Awards of Excellence are presented to the next most outstanding photographs. Additional Awards of Merit may be presented by the contest juror.

HAYS COUNTY CITIZENS PARKS ADVISORY TEAM (CPAT) UPDATE

In its June 11 meeting, the CPAT reached consensus that the county should keep its promise to the voters of Hays County as written in the 2007 $30M bond passed by Hays County residents. The discussion at the CPAT meeting focused on habitat preservation and water and resulted in the vision statement, “Hays County will focus the remaining bond funds on projects that secure lands that best fulfill the water protection, open space, water access and habitat protection objectives set forth in the ballot language and campaign materials.” Find out how your county commissioners responded to CPATs vision statement at http://newstreamz.com/2008/07/08/commissioners-court-tackles-the-water-protection-vision.

At this time, CPAT has forwarded the San Marcos Parks Development funding request to the County Commissioners (read related article from last month’s newsletter) with a score of 107 (105 is the minimum for consideration). The San Marcos project requests funding for work that some believe is well aligned with the intent of the original bond; however, others have expressed concern that portions of the funding will pay for recreational improvements instead of habitat protection and water recharge land as described in the language of the bond. Issues to consider about the San Marcos request include:

• Up to 90% of the funds will be spent on areas related to water access or the protection of water quality land.
• Funding for the Purgatory Creek Park entrance will pay for improvements designed to maintain the park a low impact, passive recreation, natural area.
• Funding for Five Mile Dam will pay for improvements to the soccer complex as well as to the park itself.
• Funding for the San Marcos park projects will pay for improvements such as tennis courts at Rio Vista and softball fields at the Gary Job Corp. complex.

The Commissioner's Court will consider the CPAT’s recommendation on Tuesday, July 22; the meeting starts at 9:00 AM, but there’s no telling when the item will come up for discussion. If you want to voice your support, contact the county commissioners directly before the meeting using email, letter, telephone or personal visit. You will find contact information and view regular meeting agendas at http://www.co.hays.tx.us/CommissionersCourt/tabid/54/Default.aspx

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HEARINGS SCHEDULED ON SAN MARCOS PARKS MASTER PLAN

The City of San Marcos Parks & Recreation Department plans a series of public hearings in July, August and September to take public comment on the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. “We invite both written and verbal testimony from San Marcos residents at these hearings,” said William Ford, Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation. “The parks master plan will serve as an important guide for development of future facilities, parks, trails and open space corridors, as well as set priorities for our parks system.” Public hearings will be held on the following dates and locations.

Residents may also mail comments to the Parks & Recreation Department, City of San Marcos, 630 E. Hopkins, San Marcos, Texas 78666 or email to parks_info@ci.san-marcos.tx.us.

We urge you to attend a hearing and voice your support for water, habitat, and greenspace protection.

HILL COUNTRY LAND BEING SOLD

Rumor has it that the GLO deal with Masonwood Properties to purchase about 2,000 acres on the Blanco River (see story below from Environment Texas) has fallen through. Many people are interested in seeing all or a significant portion of this land protected from development, especially given its proximity to the Blanco River. If you share this view, let the following people know:

From Environment Texas: A state agency is in negotiations to sell publicly-owned, ecologically sensitive land in Hays County to a real estate developer. The General Land Office (GLO) has proposed selling the 2,200 acre property, which sits along the Blanco River in Kyle, to Masonwood Properties to build “high-end homes.”

The land is home to an endangered bird, the Golden-cheeked warbler, and sits over the Edwards Aquifer, the drinking water source for almost 2 million central Texans. Development would threaten these two key resources and is inconsistent with a multi-year regional planning effort to steer development off the aquifer.

Under the direction of Commissioner Jerry Patterson, the GLO has moved into the land speculation business, flipping properties to raise cash for the Permanent School Fund. The agency has repeatedly purchased environmentally sensitive lands with hopes of selling them to developers.

“The state of Texas shouldn’t be in the business of encouraging sprawl,” said Luke Metzger, Environment Texas director.

Environment Texas is working to protect the Blanco river land as a park and to reform the GLO to prevent future abuses. http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsletters/summer08.

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IN THE NEWS & OTHER TIDBITS

COMMISSIONER’S COURT TACKLES THE WATER PROTECTION ‘VISION’
http://newstreamz.com/2008/07/08/commissioners-court-tackles-the-water-protection-vision
Figuring out how to best spend the remainder of the 2007 parks bonds budget was on the mind of the Hays County Commissioners Court in today’s meeting.County Judge Elizabeth Sumter asked for the agenda item, which stated, “Discussion and possible action to adopt the ‘vision statement’ agreed upon by CPAT [Citizen’s Parks Advisory Team] and set aside the remaining balance of parks bond funds for implementing the ‘vision’.”

KEEP CONSERVING WATER
Just about everyone is getting a little rain lately, thank goodness, but Edwards Aquifer Authority hydrologists say that we need to still conserve, since it is so hot and normally we do not get much rain in July and August. If your lawn appears to be suffering from weekly waterings due to watering restrictions, take some advice from the San Marcos River Foundation: “St. Augustine can be left 6” long in a drought period, and it will help shade the roots until it rains again. That grass lays over when it gets that long and has a very nice, soft, natural look. Short grass burns easily from the hot sun. Better yet, plant native grasses and let them brown during droughts. They'll green up when it rains. Also, please let the Council know when you run into them, that you appreciate what they are doing to keep the river flowing by implementing water restrictions in times of drought.

DEVELOPMENT MAP, REPORTS NOW ON WEB
http://newstreamz.com/2008/07/02/development-map-reports-now-on-web
The City of San Marcos Permit Center is now posting a development map on the City’s web site along with other development reports that will help citizens track City capital improvement projects as well as major private ventures. The information is posted at http://www.ci.sanmarcos.tx.us/Departments/engineering/permit.html The development map shows capital improvement projects, major commercial construction, public and institutional projects and multifamily projects. The map also lists the estimated cost of the project or development and estimated completion date.

INTERPRETIVE HIKE DISCUSSION UNDERWAY AT PURGATORY
Todd Derkacz met with Jon Cradit, SMGA member and hydrogeologist with the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA), about developing an interpretive hike in Purgatory Creek Park to depict the hydrology of an aquifer. Jon offered tips on submitting a proposal to EAA for getting the funds to develop the trail and educational installations.

ARE YOU TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ALL YOU HAVE AROUND YOU?
http://newstreamz.com/2008/06/28/are-you-taking-advantage-of-all-you-have-around-you I try to get out into the the green spaces of the world as much as possible, but if I am unable during the week, there is always Saturday morning. This is a time I reserve for “recharging my batteries.” (Be sure to read the comments left by Rob Roark near the end.)

LCRA AWARDS GRANT TO CITY OF WOODCREEK FOR JACOB’S WELL NATURAL AREA
http://newstreamz.com/2008/06/27/lcra-awards-grant-to-city-of-woodcreek-for-jacobs-well-natural-area The Mayor of the City of Woodcreek, Gloria Whitehead, announced that the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has awarded the city a $100,000 Partnership in Parks Grant (PIP) for the Jacob’s Well Natural Area. The LCRA PIP grant program funds improvements and development of park and preserve land in the LCRA service area.

FIRST STEPS ON BIKE TRAILS
Here’s a great example of an urban trail project that will provide back-door access to greenspace and help connect neighborhoods. http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/outdoors/stories/MYSA061108.1Acifgreenwayparks.39746fa.html
The first 2 miles of the Salado Creek Greenway will officially open in August. But locals like the Williamses already are filling the trails on weekends. They walk around the construction equipment and hop over the runoff barriers that are in place as contractors finish the concrete path that will be at the center of the park and completed in July. The trail is the first part of what the city plans to make a 22-mile-long park dedicated to walking and biking — one more green space city officials hope will lure residents outside and promote healthier living.

KIMMELS BECOME LIFETIME MEMBERS
If you see Jim and Jerry Kimmel, give 'em a hug! They sent SMGA a check to become lifetime members. The Kimmel's are great people to have in San Marcos and have been longtime supporters of things green and blue. Their recent book, The San Marcos: A River's Story, provides a wealth of information about the San Marcos area and our precious river (http://www.amazon.com/San-Marcos-Rivers-Story/dp/1585445428)

Click a date below to view past News & Events:

June 16 , 2008
May 21, 2008
April 16, 2008
March 25, 2008


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