When we think of Central Texas, we conjure up images of vast ranch lands, rolling landscapes, and natural jewels like the Hill Country.
But life in Texas is changing. More Texans are trading in family farms and ranches for metropolitan areas. More land is being subdivided, which according to Texas Parks and Wildlife, has led to land fragmentation that disrupts native habitats and ecosystems.
Our population is swelling too, increasing demand for our most highly sought after natural resource — water. According to Envision Central Texas, the population in this fast-growing region is expected to nearly double by 2030 to about three million.
"The amount of water we have is the amount of water we have," said Jennifer Walker, a water resource specialist for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. "So we can’t continue to use water how we have always been using it."
Conserving land and water in Austin has become a key issue, with the city implementing aggressive conservation programs like twice-a-week watering restrictions. But many surrounding cities still have little to no conservation programs, some environmental leaders say. And even in environmentally-conscious Austin, experts say there's a lot of room for improvement.
For government and conservation leaders, striking a balance between growth and conservation is among the biggest challenges.
"We're not anti-development," said Kate Vickery, outreach director for the Texas Land Conservancy. "We're against the negative effects of poorly-planned development."
The conservation of land and water in Central Texas faces other challenges such as prolonged and debilitating droughts and the need to educate private landowners, who own at least 95 percent of Texas lands. Some nonprofits also say that the state is behind in land conservation efforts, leaving the heavy lifting to them.
Land and water conservation often go hand-in-hand in Central Texas.
Much of Austin's water comes from the Colorado River and its seven highland lake reservoirs and is secured through long-term contracts with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). Austin is in better shape than other cities that have to find alternate water supplies or pump water from hundreds of miles away, said Daryl Slusher, assistant director of environmental affairs and conservation at the Austin Water Utility.
But officials warn that the state’s water supply can't keep up with the expected population boom in Texas.
Consequences of not conserving include costly infrastructure projects to move vast quantities of water, putting additional pressure on the area's energy usage. And projected growth threatens both the area's natural beauty as well as endangered and protected species that make Central Texas home. Instead, environmental leaders point to a number of ways the region can conserve its water and land.
Top 10 Ways to Better Conserve Central Texas Land and Water
- 1. Boost Conservation Education
People who know where their water comes from are more likely to protect and conserve their water sources, according to Jennifer Walker, water resources specialist for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. Investing in conservation education programs, community and city leaders agree, will help extend the water supply for future generations. In Austin, residents can now use the city’s bilingual, online water use calculator to instantly figure out their household’s daily, weekly, monthly and yearly water usage. Austin Water customers can also contact a water conservation specialist to speak to neighborhood and homeowner’s associations or civic groups.
back to top - 2. Innovative Market-based Conservation Incentives
While Central Texas may know Fort Hood as one of the largest military posts in the U.S., many do not know it’s also home to the world's largest population of Golden-cheeked Warblers. When Fort Hood's expanding training sites threatened the natural habitat of this endangered species, a coalition of nonprofits, state, federal and non-governmental partners came together to aid the warbler's recovery with a unique program. Fort Hood, under the Recovery Credit System, pays private landowners to restore the warbler's natural habitat. In return, Fort Hood receives credits that it can use if it harms the post’s nesting sites. A similar program in Utah has been modeled after the successful Fort Hood conservation program.
back to top - 3. Strengthen Regional Planning
Conservation efforts must go beyond Austin, experts say, especially when the Colorado River and underground aquifers flow past city and county lines. A 2010 Austin Water report notes that "any water savings realized by the City of Austin is water available to be sold by LCRA [Lower Colorado River Authority] to other customers," potentially negating the city’s water conservation efforts. Currently, the Austin Water Utility, LCRA, and the City of Cedar Park are forming an informal partnership to ensure that as the region grows, the Highland Lakes are not overburdened.
back to top - 4. Tax Incentives for Conserving
Conservation leaders are closely following Senate Bill 449, which they say could dramatically boost conservation efforts in Texas. The water stewardship valuation bill would make farmers and ranchers who improve both water quality and quantity potentially eligible for lower property tax valuations. Landowners would need to take steps such as replanting native grasses, removing invasive species, implementing efficient irrigation practices, and preventing erosion along stream banks.
back to top - 5. Change Consumer Behavior
Consumers must take steps to reduce their personal water consumption, conservationists advise, but officials say changing the mindset of communities is not a quick fix.
"Use whatever motivating factor moves you to conserve, whether you are concerned about fishermen in Matagorda Bay or you’re worried about having enough lake water to go boating," said Walker, of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. Consumers in Austin can start reducing their consumption by taking advantage of city programs. Rebates are offered for clothes washers, irrigation systems and water-saving equipment for commercial customers. Austin also has a free toilet replacement program.
back to top - 6. Standardize the way Texas measures water
Cities and other water users utilize widely different metrics to measure their water usage. A proposed bill, SB 181, would allow Texas to develop it’s own standard tool for measuring water usage, making it easier to compare conservation efforts with other Texas cities and better evaluate success.
back to top - 7. Set Aggressive Goals
Austin made a bold move when its City Council passed a resolution in May 2010 directing the Austin Water Utility to develop a long-range conservation action plan. The aggressive plan aims to reduce water use in Austin to 140 gallons per capita, per day (GPCD) or lower by 2020. Currently, Austin’s five-year rolling average is 163 GPCD. One of the ideas proposed to reach that goal is to extend twice per week water restrictions year round.
back to top - 8. Promote Reuse of A/C Condensate
Austinites who blast air conditioning units during scorching summer months may finally see some environmental and financial benefits. Austin Water is pursuing an ordinance that would require the collection of A/C condensate in new commercial and multi-family properties. The water could then be reused for landscaping.
back to top - 9. Conservation Easements
With at least 95 percent of Texas lands in private hands, it's essential for state agencies and nonprofits to work with landowners to encourage land conservation, say environmental leaders. Perhaps the easiest way is through conservation easements, which can qualify landowners for federal tax incentives. Conservation easements restrict the use of a property and can protect land against future real estate development, industrial or commercial uses. Each easement is tailored to a landowner's individual conservation goals, which can include preserving a natural fish habitat or open space.
back to top - 10. Introduce Native Plants to Yards
In most households, lawn watering makes up a big part of the home's water demands. But half of the water applied to lawns is wasted, Walker said. In 2010, Austin implemented a landscape conversion incentive program that offers rebates to homeowners who conserve water by replacing turf areas with native plants or areas that don't require irrigation. The program is expected to peak interest in xeriscaping, chemical use reduction and customer education.
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