Renewable Energy Wind and Solar Farm Texas has long led the nation in energy produced by wind turbines. When TCA took on a landscape analysis of renewable energy in Texas this past year, what we found was a stunning growth in industrial-scale solar facilities as well. Texas is No. 2 in the nation in solar “farms” and likely to be No. 1 by the end of the year. While this augurs well for reducing fossil emissions, it doesn’t come without problems. TCA conducted over 30 intervie

Native tallgrass prairie at Lake Ringgold site As reported last summer, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) rubber-stamped a state permit approving the proposed Lake Ringgold, despite a strong recommendation to deny the permit by Judge Christiaan Siano, who had conducted the hearing in the case. Since then, TCA and landowners impacted by the proposed reservoir have filed a petition in District Court to overturn the permit. TCA and other plaintiffs expect a he

Sulphur River The proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir captured statewide attention in the Texas legislature this session when State Rep. Gary VanDeaver introduced HB 2109 to require that any reservoir that had been in the State Water Plan for more than 50 years be removed from the Plan. What followed was an exceptional hearing before the Texas House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, resulting in a 12-1 vote in favor of sending the measure to the House floor. After

The State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) is the conservation strategy document developed by the wildlife agency for each state to give habitat managers, landowners, partners, researchers, and others a blueprint for what information is needed and what can be done to help fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The Texas SWAP is up for a comprehensive revision over the next year and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is asking for our help. The SWAP identifies species at ris

Opponents of Marvin Nichols Reservoir have been garnering widespread media attention to the enormous negative impacts of the 66,000-acre Marvin Nichols Reservoir, proposed on the Sulphur River in northeast Texas. Roughly 250 Texans – from elder citizens to babes in arms – turned out at a special meeting of the Region D Water Planning Group (North East Texas) on October 30 to voice their opposition to Marvin Nichols Reservoir. A month before, dozens of East Texans traveled to

Last November, Texas voters earmarked a billion dollars in state funds (without raising taxes) to be used to acquire additional land for state parks. Passed during the 100th anniversary year of the Texas State Park System, the money will be used for launching new parks and expanding existing ones. These new public lands will provide additional outdoor recreation, especially near underserved urban areas, and will protect majestic scenery and valuable wildlife lands all across

Mountain Lion courtesy of Expressnews.com For the first time in Texas history, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) has adopted regulations concerning mountain lions. The regulations   Prohibit “canned” hunting , which involves capturing an animal and releasing it so it can be hunted, often without the hunter knowing it had been captive, and Prohibit leaving a live Mountain Lion in a trap for more than 36 hours , to prevent trapped lions from suffering and dying from starvation or

On May 10, 2024, The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) granted a permit to the City of Wichita Falls to build the proposed 16,000-acre Lake Ringgold in neighboring rural Clay County. This despite a strong recommendation by the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who took testimony on the permit that the permit be denied. “TCEQ has a long history of rubber-stamping reservoir projects,” said TCA’s Senior Policy Advisor Janice Bezanson. “We had hope of a better decisio

Save the Sulphur River, Preserve Northeast Texas TWDB Wants YOUR Input about Marvin Nichols Reservoir The Texas Legislature has mandated a feasibility review of the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is seeking meaningful input and information to support the review. Topics to be reviewed include implementation timeline, associated costs, land acquisition considerations, and economic impact. Sign up for updates at: https://preserveno

Early voting is October 23 - November 3 With your vote on the November 7 ballot, you can help secure new parks for future generations of Texans - without new taxes! One of Texas’ biggest conservation opportunities of the decade is coming up fast – Proposition 14 on the November 7 ballot to create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund. Prop 14 will provide a billion dollars to be spent on new state park land when unique properties become available from willing sellers. This

With your vote on November 7, you can help secure new parks for future generations of Texans - without new taxes! Vote YES on Prop 14 on November 7th to create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund. What Is It? This $1 billion Fund will help secure new parks for future generations of Texans to explore and enjoy without increasing taxes. The Fund will allow the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to buy land from willing sellers when unique properties that would make for beauti

If Ringgold is built, the people of Wichita Falls and its customer cities will pay hundreds of millions of dollars to build something they s

Local folks are taking action in opposition to the proposed 66,000-acre lake, known as Marvin Nichols reservoir, in northeast Texas. Click here to read This is the Texas Rainforest published on the front page of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on February 12, 2023. The Dallas Morning News also published an article about the proposed reservoir on its front page in October 2022. Click here to read Reservoir Fight Resurfaces and Campaign Against Reservoir Plan Ramps Up .

For 50 years, Texas Conservation Alliance has been a force for conservation in Texas and beyond. Today, we celebrate TCA’s amazing work to protect our national forests. Longleaf pine forest by Ronald Billings It began with Ned Fritz , whose landmark lawsuit to protect endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers ended clearcutting in national forests in Texas. Ned drafted legislation that created five wilderness areas in Texas, garnered protection for the beautiful Longleaf Ridge area

Wetlands, underground storage and filtration can address North Texas water needs. Solutions to major challenges are rarely simple,...

One-third of all fish & wildlife species in the U.S. are at risk of becoming Endangered. Of the country's 12,000 Species of Greatest...

Join TCA and Patagonia in submitting comments on the Region C Initially Prepared Plan – tell Region C we don’t need the proposed Marvin N

What is a Wildlife Habitat Garden? By creating a natural garden, with native plants, you are providing essential elements of wildlife habi

By Camilla Price Meet the bobcat and coyote, two of the most adaptable and elusive animals in Texas. These predators thrive in natural areas and urban green spaces, but misunderstandings by the community can put them at risk. Learn more about bobcats and coyotes, what to do when you encounter them, and why it’s important for us to coexist with wildlife. Bobcats are medium-sized wildcats weighing 15-30 pounds. In Texas, we have two subspecies: the desert bobcat in the west and

Larry Shelton, TCA’s National Forest Policy Coordinator, met with the Forest Service, Sabine River Authority (SRA), and a representative of the Sierra Club to review progress on two separate projects proposed under a marina and resort development permit. This permit would have allowed for development of 70 additional acres at the existing Haley’s Ferry Boat Ramp and up to 450-acres at a new El Camino Real (ECR) site in the Sabine National Forest. The first phase for ECR would