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The Texas Hill Country is vulnerable because of population growth, climate change, and political challenges.

The Texas Hill Country is facing profound threats to its future according to a recently released report.

  • Dozens of organizations are working together to protect waterways, vistas and wildlife in Central Texas.

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The chair of the network says that The Hill Country's breathtaking vistas, natural spaces, clear waters, abundant wildlife, and small-town charms must not be taken for granted.

Less than 5% of Hill Country land has been set aside for preservation as ranches are broken up and transformed into subdivisions.

  • A proliferation of sewage-treatment plants is threatening the region's recreational economy.

  • Local tourism economies and wildlife are slowly improving because of the dark skies.

The Texas Legislature is known for being friendly to the real estate industry.

  • Tensions between environmental groups have been raised about how aggressively to fight development. Austin's Save Our Springs Alliance is not a signee to the network's resolution calling for collaboration across interests.

What happens in the Hill Country has consequences for Austin.

  • Barton Springs is the source of Austin's beloved Hill Country.

  • Hill Country land management practices figure into Austin flooding.

  • A funnel cloud in Driftwood, Texas dumps rain, and when that flows downriver, that becomes catastrophic to us downstream, according to Carmen Llanes Pulido, director of Go Austin/Vamos Austin, a member of the network.

The window of opportunity to protect and sustain the Hill Country's natural treasures will likely close within our generation, according to a deputy director at the National Wildlife Federation.

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