http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/statement-on-christmas-mountains-decision We applaud the School Land Board for rejecting bids by private interests to buy the Christmas Mountains. The Christmas Mountains were donated to the people of Texas to be used as a public wilderness area and the sale to private interests was contrary to the wishes of the land's original donors and of more than 10,000 Texans http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/statement-on-christmas-mountains-decision Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:07:36 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/future-brighter-for-christmas-mountains http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/future-brighter-for-christmas-mountains Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/on-eve-of-possible-sale-of-christmas-mountains-group-asks-for-delay http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/on-eve-of-possible-sale-of-christmas-mountains-group-asks-for-delay Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/environment-texas-asks-perry-abbott-to-save-the-christmas-mountains AUSTIN- Environment Texas launched an online petition today calling on Governor Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott to direct their appointees on the School Land Board to cancel the sale of the Christmas Mountains to private interests and work to arrange permanent protection of the property as part of Big Bend National Park. Environment Texas condemned Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson (chair of the School Land Board) for blocking the park’s protection and asked Perry and Abbott to intervene.“We have a great opportunity to add to one of Texas’ most valuable natural treasures: Big Bend National Park,” said Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger. “Commissioner Patterson is unreasonably blocking this conservation effort, so it’s up to Gov. Perry and Attorney General to show leadership and save the Christmas Mountains.”On October 12, the Superintendent of Big Bend National Park (BBNP), William Wellman, wrote Land Commissioner Patterson asking him for a delay in the auction (which could happen as early as Nov. 6), to allow time for the National Park Service to "re-evaluate the feasibility of adding the Christmas Mountains to the park " Unfortunately, Commissioner Patterson refused that request, because he has a personal complaint against NPS policy which prohibits concealed handguns and hunting on park property.However, Patterson is just one of three votes on the School Land Board. The other two are David Herrmann of San Antonio (appointed by General Abbott) and Todd Barth of Houston (appointed by Governor Perry). The Christmas Mountains were donated by the Mellon Foundation and the Conservation Fund to the Permanent School Fund in 1991 to hold until a permanent solution like adding the property to BBNP could be arranged. The lease they signed with the state says GLO has to get their permission to sell, but Commissioner Patterson says that provision won't hold up in court so he's ignoring it.  The Austin American-Statesman  reported that Richard King Mellon Foundation officer Mike Watson wrote that if the auction goes through "the state [should] not look to the R.K. Mellon Foundation for any future help." Other funders may follow suit. The state of Texas hasn't funded a major land acquisition program since 1967 and has relied on the generosity of private foundations to fund natural area protection.At a parks summit in Austin this weekend, the Austin American-Statesman quoted Governor Perrry saying "Our national parks ... are such an important part of Texas. They provide the absolute perfect setting for a family." http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/environment-texas-asks-perry-abbott-to-save-the-christmas-mountains Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/8_4-billion-dollars-at-stake-in-texas-national-forests   http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/8_4-billion-dollars-at-stake-in-texas-national-forests Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/victory-on-parks Statement of Environment Texas Director http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/victory-on-parks Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/new-report-warns-that-many-texas-natural-areas-are-threatened-with-development   http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/new-report-warns-that-many-texas-natural-areas-are-threatened-with-development Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/environment-texas-launches-state-parks-express-rv-to-call-on-legislature-to-fully-fund-texas-parks http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/environment-texas-launches-state-parks-express-rv-to-call-on-legislature-to-fully-fund-texas-parks Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/local-parks-contribute-billions-to-texas-economy-says-new-report-by-economist-ray-perryman Parks Officials and Business Leaders Call on Legislature to Boost Funding for Local Parks http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/local-parks-contribute-billions-to-texas-economy-says-new-report-by-economist-ray-perryman Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/ethan-hawke-stars-in-short-film-on-texas-parks-crisis http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/ethan-hawke-stars-in-short-film-on-texas-parks-crisis Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/texas-voters-approve-more-than-half-billion-dollars-for-parks-recreation-and-green-space  AUSTIN – In an http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/texas-voters-approve-more-than-half-billion-dollars-for-parks-recreation-and-green-space Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/key-national-forest-protections-reinstated http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/key-national-forest-protections-reinstated Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/statement-of-environment-texas-advocate-luke-metzger-on-council-approval-of-the-bond-package http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/statement-of-environment-texas-advocate-luke-metzger-on-council-approval-of-the-bond-package Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/report-finds-texas-natural-areas-at-risk-7500-acres-in-barton-springs-watershed-under-imminent-threatquot  AUSTIN—Some of our best-known natural areas, including Big Bend Ranch State Park and Padre Island National Seashore, are threatened with development and other harmful activities, according to a report released today by Environment Texas, the Save Our Springs Alliance, Texas Committee on Natural Resources, Texans for State Parks and Creating Common Ground. The groups highlighted the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer region, where Austin city staff have warned that 7500 acres are immediately threatened with development. “If we continue to allow development in natural areas like Barton Springs, Caddo Lake and our state parks, the beauty and character of our state will be lost forever,” said Environment Texas Advocate Luke Metzger. “It’s time for our elected officials to invest in Texas’ natural heritage and to provide the planning and resources we need to preserve Texas for future generations.”The report profiles Austin’s Barton Springs, the nation’s largest natural swimming pool in an urban area, a drinking water source for a significant portion of the region and habitat to endangered wildlife. Because the ground above and upstream of Barton Springs is thin, pollution can easily enter the watershed. Further development over the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer thus jeopardizes the future of the Springs. An estimated 30,000 additional acres of land over the Aquifer will need to be protected in order to save Barton Springs forever. In the short term, Austin city staff have warned that 7500 acres are imminently threatened with development. With the City Council currently preparing a bond package to fund community priorities, the groups called on the Council to include at least $75 million in the November bond election to protect the immediately threatened areas. "It's far cheaper to buy out proposed development in the sensitive Barton Springs watershed and preserve land and water quality than to pay for all of the infrastructure required when the Hill Country is urbanized," commented Save Our Springs Alliance Communications Director Colin Clark. Other threats to natural areas include: BNP Petroleum pursuing a thirty-year gas drilling effort in the Padre Island National Seashore; developers hope to build an industrial park in the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge; and water developers threatening to drown some of Texas’ best remaining hardwood forests along the Neches River to build an unnecessary reservoir. “More than 75% of the bottomland hardwood forests in Texas have already been cut and converted to other uses,” said Janice Bezanson, executive director of Texas Committee on Natural Resources (TCONR). “Establishing the Neches River National Wildlife Refuge and completing the Caddo Lake Refuge are two of the state’s most critical resource issues.” Finally, the groups pointed out that budget cuts to the state parks system by the Texas Legislature have reduced public access to parks, led parks officials to consider selling part of Big Bend Ranch State Park, and put on hold indefinitely any plans to create new parks to meet the needs of Texas’ growing population.The coalition called on the Legislature to establish sustainable and substantial funding to meet the basic operating and repair needs of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and to support new park acquisition.“Texans for State Parks is pleased to be joining forces with various statewide organizations to support our State Parks and Natural Areas,” said Beth McDonald, President of Texans for State Parks. “Annual cuts to our State Parks budget have caused the department to lose staff through a reduction in force (RIF) and to severely cut the hours of operation and services at many parks. By combining our efforts we hope to better educate the public about our under funded State Park system and, with their help, correct the problem at the next legislative session.”    http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/report-finds-texas-natural-areas-at-risk-7500-acres-in-barton-springs-watershed-under-imminent-threatquot Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:58:12 -0600 http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/threats-to-texas-parks-continue-but-funding-still-lacking http://www.environmenttexas.org/newsroom/preservation/preservation-campaign-news/threats-to-texas-parks-continue-but-funding-still-lacking Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:55:51 -0500