Green Spaces Alliance helps conserve more than 5000 more acres in South Texas from development

Green Spaces Alliance announced the conservation of over 5000 acres on the Blanco Creek watershed in Uvalde county and plans to work with the landowners of a meticulously acquired 300 acre spread in Comal County to protect their land from development. From Green Space Alliance's email announcement:

Blanco Creek Properties It took a year and half. It took the commitment of eight landowners, the City of San Antonio, Green Spaces, the Nature Conservancy, a fleet of surveyors, appraisers, environmental and hydrogeological experts, title companies, lawyers, and many others to preserve the Blanco Creek watershed in Uvalde County. The conservation of these 5,067 acres will protect water quality and quantity for the citizens of San Antonio for years to come. Grant Ellis, land conservation manager, negotiated this diverse assortment of interests for Green Spaces as partner with the City of San Antonio. This land, along with the approximately 80,000 acres already protected under the City's Aquifer Protection Program, will be a legacy not only to the children and grandchildren of the landowners themselves but also to all of the children of San Antonio's citizens.





Comal County Ranch This weekend, executive director Julie Koppenheffer and land conservation manager Grant Ellis visited a 300-acre ranch just north of Canyon Lake. The landowners have been acquiring their land in 40-acre increments since 1972, and their efforts have resulted in a green oasis surrounded by sururban development. The land evinces the presence of abundant wildlife, including Golden-Cheeked Warbler, deer, fox, and cougars. The landowners contacted Green Spaces because they want to ensure that their property remains in its present state forever. Seeing how they have accumulated this land and protected it is inspiring. Helping them realize their goal of conserving it for future generations is Green Spaces's mission.

San Antonio River Authority begins Design Phase to Restore and Improve, Apache, Alazan, Martinez and San Pedro Creeks

Within living memory in the river city of San Antonio, most of our creeks and rivers have been little more than drainage ditches with names.

Dating back to the vision of Mayor Howard Peak, we've seen work on Leon Creek, the Medina River, the San Antonio River and Salado creek to remake them into linear parks and green spaces. Now, the San Antonio River Authority has brought that process to the creeks of the westside: Apache, Alazan, Martinez and the downtown portion of San Pedro Creek (which those knowledgeable in San Antonio history may recall was in the west or Mexican end of downtown in the days of segregation.)

At Earth Day in Woodlawn Lake Park, Saturday April 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Woodlawn Lake Gymnasium, SARA will be hosting an Imagination Station where we will be encouraged to envision the future of the creek. We will be given the chance to imagine parks, hike trails, bike trails and recreational facilities.

Local land trust, Green Spaces Alliance, preserves land, promotes community gardens and environmental friendly living

Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, a non-profit, non-governmental land trust works with landowners to preserve open space by conservation easements in the San Antonio area.

Landowners decide what about their land they want to be preserved and what uses they want their land to be put to. Green Spaces works with them to develop conservation easement agreements that accomplish the landowner's goals.

Green Spaces has worked to preserve large parcels for scenic views, open space, passive recreation, historic and cultural preservation, and protection of the Edwards Aquifer.

Among their accomplishments are the aquisition of three conservation easements in Bexar and Kendall counties., the aquisition of 1,681 acres of land for the City of San Antonio’s Aquifer Protection Initiative under the Proposition Three Program and 20,000 acres so far under the 2005 Proposition One Aquifer Protection Initiative.

They helped organize and lead the coalition of 23 entities that form the Land Heritage Institute that will preserve the 1,200 acre Land Heritage site in southern Bexar County and have funded and facilitated nine community gardens in San Antonio and have helped over 30 other gardens get started and grow.

Their "Picture Your World Youth Photo Project" has taken hundreds of kids into nature, taught them new skills, given them pride, and will make them better stewards of the land. Two seminars for land professionals each year, public lectures, member hikes, and events educate the public as to the need for preservation of our unique natural and cultural heritage.

They have a membership program and numerous volunteer opportunities. They are involved with the Eco Fashion Show, Wednesday April 22 from noon to 1 pm at Whole Foods in the Quarry, with a silent auction to follow the show from April 22 to 26 to benefit Green Spaces .