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

Armand Bayou in Pasadena, TX on September 28, 2024 TCA Annual Meeting Armand Bayou Nature Center Big Success Members, guests, and friends gathered at Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) September 27 & 28 for TCA’s 2024 Annual Meeting and Nature Activities Event. On Friday, Ben Jones, vice president of conservation and education at the Houston Zoo, and former executive director of TCA, led an immersive and fun tour of the zoo! Later, ABNC nature guides led a safari-style tour of

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

Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA) is pleased to share our 2023 IMPACT for protecting wildlife throughout the state of Texas.

Thank you to everyone who participated and attended TCA's Annual Meeting on September 29 & 30, 2023, in Arlington, Texas! Open TCA's Fall Newsletter to see pictures from the event, read about updates on projects and advocacy, and learn of ways you can take action in our fall fundraiser! Read more about TCA's 2023 Annual Meeting here . From everyone at Texas Conservation Alliance - Have a wonderful holiday season and please take a moment to check out all the great happenings

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, 2023, 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

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

Check out TCA's Winter/Spring newsletter with updates from TCA leaders, honoring and remembering Mack Turner, information on State Parks, and a list of upcoming events! Volunteers at a TCA Event

Endangered whooping cranes are among the many species threatened by crude oil loading facility and desal plant.

By Ben Jones, Executive Director Summer swept in with a bang, but the resilience of wildlife never ceases to amaze. Don't you wonder, "how do they survive out there?" Saw a big flock of northbound wood storks soaring over I-45. They wander from the coast this time of year knowing the ponds are shallow and the fishing is easy pickins. I'm hearing purple martins warbling in the air; they could be on their third brood by now. Green treefrogs chirp and coyotes chorus-yip at night

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, long supported by TCA, passed in the U.S. House of Representatives June 14! If it also passes in the U.S. Senate, the measure will provide $1.3 billion annually to states for wildlife projects that will prevent extinctions and change the future of our nation’s wildlife for generations to come. Kemp Ridley's Sea Turtle Texas’ share of the revenues would be approximately $50 million per year. The funds would be distributed to Texas Parks a

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