CONCAN, Texas — More than 85 locals, water practitioners and elected officials gathered Oct. 4 to discuss drought, flood, water planning and what must change for the western Hill Country to secure a reliable water supply for the current and future generations.
Planned by a volunteer steering committee of Hill Country residents, the event constituted the eighth “Rural Roundup” held in the Hill Country over the last three years. Sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and the Hill Country Alliance, the event was filled with stories of how the status quo needs to change, but also stories of how Hill Country residents have already taken action to conserve water at a personal, local and even state level.
“Our goal for this event was to gather neighbors who believe we need to preserve our region’s water,” said Judge Cindy Casburn, a member of the Leading in the Rural Hill Country steering committee and key planner of the event.
“The Hill Country is home to 4 million people, which is double the population from 20 years ago. That does not include our extended family of over 2 million annual visitors per year,” Casburn said.
Another doubled growth is expected over the next 30 years, she said.
“It is imperative to planning the stewardship of our natural resources ahead of this explosive growth,” she said. “The expert presenters at the Rural Roundup echoed the call to conserve to preserve. If we wait, it will be too late. If not you, then who?”
The agenda for the day included: * Opening remarks from organizers Sabinal Municipal Judge Cindy Casburn and Uvalde County Commissioner Roy Kothmann, featuring an original song, “Hill Country Lovers,” with lyrics written by Judge Casburn.
The State of Hill Country Water presented by Paul Bertetti, the Senior Director of Aquifer Science Research at Edwards Aquifer Authority.
Conversation – Past and Future of Water in the Rural Hill Country: Chairman Tracy King and Texas Representative Don McLaughlin discussed how past natural disasters, both droughts and floods, have informed the Texas water policy landscape we live in today. Real County Judge Bella Rubio moderated the discussion.
Workshop – Water in Your Backyard: Texas Agricultural Land Trust CEO Chad Ellis, Hill Country Alliance Water Program Manager Marisa Bruno, and Rainwater Consultant Steven Grainger discussed the different strategies available to individuals, business owners, or neighborhoods looking to curb their water use.
Lunch was provided by House Pasture Cattle Co.
Panel – Water Wins from Real and Uvalde Counties: Joel Pigg from Real-Edwards Conservation & Reclamation District, Vic Hildebran from Uvalde County Underground Water Conservation District, Forrest Anderson from the Uvalde County Office of Emergency Management, and Dick Earnest from the Concan Water Supply Board discussed Concan’s 2022 water shortage and how water practitioners are working to prevent future shortages.
Walking Tour: Led by Dick Earnest and Kason Haby, participants visited Concan water supply wells to learn more about water processing, before learning more about how open lands slow and sink rainfall via the Texas Grazing Coalition rainfall simulator.
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