Search Results

Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA) has had a remarkable record of protecting our states forests, prairies, and rivers. TCA incorporates community engagement and advocacy, conservation education, and outdoor recreation elements to help inform and protect Texas wildlife habitats. Projects Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA) has had a remarkable record of protecting our states forests, prairies, and rivers. TCA incorporates community engagement and advocacy, conservation education, and outdoor recreation elements to help inform and protect Texas wildlife habitats. Texas Conservation Action Team Native Plant Propagation Program Advocacy for Threats to Ecoregions & Texas Communities Marketing Production & Community Outreach Statewide Engagement Engaging communities statewide through native plant initiatives, river cleanups, and conservation-related education and outreach. Advancing Smarter Water Policy Prioritizing infrastructure repair, reuse, conservation, aquifer storage and recovery, and innovative solutions that meet water needs without sacrificing rivers and bottomland forests. Native Prairie Restoration Restoring Tall Native Prarie Grass. Oyster Recovery Oyster recovery text . Renewable Energy Supporting responsible siting of renewable energy development to safeguard wildlife and produce energy sustainably Successes and Accolades TCA's successes and accodlades over its 55 year history. Big Bend Border Wall Read TCA's statement. Mountain Lions Mountain Lions. Coastal Conservation Strengthening coastal conservation, including protection of freshwater inflows that sustain our bays. Municipal Water Recycling Cost efficient and wildlife friendly alternatives to unnecessary reservoirs. Recovering America's Wildlife Act RAWA information and video. Wildlife Protection of Texas wildlife.

Texas Conservation Alliance advocates for the protection of wildlife and wild habitat in the state of Texas. The State Affiliate of National Wildlife Federation. Texas Conservation Alliance Protecting Wildlife and Wild Habitat for More Than 55 Years! Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA), founded in 1971, protects Texas rivers, forests, wildlife, and our natural heritage. TCA combines grassroots outreach, policy advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation to safeguard Texas’ future for both people and wildlife. TCA is the State Affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. Read more about our amazing group, our programs, and our accolades! Advocacy & Policy TCA is involved in crucial issues across the state advocating for wildlife and protection of wild habitat such as National Forest Management, Reservoirs, Wildlife, and more. Go to Page ... TXCAT The Texas Conservation Action Team includes community-driven Conservation Events, the Native Plant Propagation Center and plant sales, and the Lights Out for Wildlife Programs, and more. Go to Page ... Resources See our Resources page for a Conservation Advocacy Guide, Hiking and Paddling trails in East Texas, Pay an Invoice, Contact Us, Subscribe, and links to other resources on our website. Go to Page ... LOCAL CONSERVATION. TEXAS-SIZED IMPACT. Join/Donate Volunteer Fight Against Lake Ringgold Continues 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 Marvin Nichols Reservoir Generates Statewide Opposition 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 Take Action Your support helps protect wildlife and wild habitat for future generations to enjoy. Give Now

Advocacy & Policy TCA is involved in crucial issues across the state advocating for wildlife and protection of wild habitat. Reservoirs Marvin Nichols (PDF ) (Blog Posts ) The proposed Nichols Reservoir would permanently flood more than 66,000 acres of high-quality wetlands, bottomland hardwood forests, upland forest, and agricultural lands in Red River, Titus, and Franklin Counties, with at least 80% of the water piped over 100 miles to the DFW area. Compensation for lost wetlands and wildlife habitat would require setting aside mitigation land that has been estimated at twice the acreage of the reservoir footprint. The reservoir and its mitigation together are expected to take more than 200,000 acres out of production in a region whose economy is fueled primarily by land-based industries - timber and agriculture. Capital costs to construct the Marvin Nichols Reservoir and deliver water to DFW are currently estimated at $7.4 billion and could be much higher. If Marvin Nichols is built, the impact on the region – socially, economically, culturally, and environmentally – will be enormous. Thousands of Texas families will be forced to sell land that in some cases has been in the family for generations, land that provides their livelihoods. Many families will lose their homes, some will see family cemeteries inundated. The number of jobs lost, especially in the timber industry, will be devastating to local communities and school districts. More than 30 miles of the main stem of the Sulphur River and hundreds of miles of feeder streams will be inundated. The impact on wildlife is incalculable. Marvin Nichols Reservoir first appeared in the Texas Water Plan in 1968 and has been actively pursued since 2001. Fierce opposition from the residents of Northeast Texas, guided by TCA and aided by other organizations, has delayed initiation for 25 years. TCA’s program, Preserve Northeast Texas, continues to build opposition to Marvin Nichols Reservoir. Learn more at https://preservenortheasttexas.org/ Lake Ringgold (PDF) (Blog Posts ) A classic example of the deep flaws in how water development decisions in Texas are made is Lake Ringgold, a 16,000-acre reservoir proposed on the Little Wichita River by the City of Wichita Falls. Wichita Falls has sufficient water to meet its future demands and those of its customer cities. However, vested interests who would benefit financially from building the reservoir have been pushing for the new reservoir for decades. The same consulting firm that is expected to be granted a contract in the neighborhood of $100 million to design and oversee construction of Lake Ringgold also serves as the consultant to the official regional water planning group, putting the firm in the position of recommending a project from which it will receive substantial benefit. The two state agencies tasked with projections of future population and water use, the Texas Demographic Center (state demographer) and the Texas Water Development Board, both project a steady decline in population for Wichita Falls and its entire service area over the next fifty years. Wichita Falls, however, relied on the regional water plan, which uses data prepared by the consultant, to project a significant increase. If Lake Ringgold is built, it will permanently drown more than 2,000 acres of native tallgrass prairie, one of the rarest ecosystems in the country. Most of the remaining riparian forest in Clay County will be lost under water. Families with land and homes in the lake site will be forced to sell. The people of Wichita Falls and surrounding communities will see water rate hikes to pay the $550 million construction costs. Texas Conservation Alliance is actively opposing the state and federal permits for Lake Ringgold and pushing for water decisions based on scientifically-accurate projections of need and accurate assessment of impacts. Lavaca River Dam (PDF ) The Lavaca–Navidad River Authority (LNRA) has applied for a state water rights permit to construct a reservoir on the Lavaca River and divert up to 96,000 acre-feet of water annually into an off-channel reservoir. The proposed reservoir would be located on property owned by Formosa Plastics, raising serious concerns that the project would primarily serve industrial expansion—either for Formosa’s existing operations or to supply water to a proposed new Exxon facility or other industrial users. Formosa Plastics has a documented history of environmental non-compliance. In October 2019, the company agreed to a $50 million settlement, the largest Clean Water Act settlement ever secured through a lawsuit brought by private citizens. The Lavaca River is one of the few remaining free-flowing rivers in Texas. It flows roughly 115 miles from northeastern Gonzales County to Lavaca Bay, part of the larger Matagorda Bay system. Constructing this reservoir would significantly reduce freshwater inflows to the bay—an outcome with serious ecological and economic consequences. Freshwater inflows are essential to sustaining reproductive habitat for fish, oyster reefs, shrimp, and other invertebrates. These inflows also underpin commercial and recreational fishing and provide critical food resources for shorebirds and migrating waterfowl, including the endangered Whooping Crane. Diverting nearly one-sixth of the Lavaca River’s freshwater contribution would further stress an estuarine system already under pressure. Although the permit application lists municipal, manufacturing, and mining uses, there is no clear evidence of municipal or mining demand associated with this project. Instead, the proposal appears to involve infrastructure being built primarily to benefit a for-profit industrial user. The Matagorda Bay system has already suffered significant freshwater losses from projects such as Lake Texana and other upstream diversions. At a time when Texas bays are experiencing widespread ecological decline, protecting remaining freshwater inflows is critical. Further reductions threaten to compound existing damage and undermine decades of investment in coastal fisheries, wildlife, and local economies. National Forest Management (Blog Posts ) TCA has been a leader protecting national forests since the 1970’s, when our founder Ned Fritz filed a lawsuit to protect the national forests in Texas from wholesale clearcutting. TCA’s litigations and decades-long policy work have significantly changed management of national forests across the Southeast and led to reduced clearcutting and a greater focus on ecosystem management in national forests nationally. TCA’s leadership in passing the Texas Wilderness Act of 1984 led to creation of five wilderness areas in East Texas, totaling 34,000 acres. Over the past twenty years, Larry Shelton, TCA’s National Forest Policy Coordinator, has collaborated with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) personnel to protect fragile habitats within large areas scheduled for logging and other maintenance activities. Thanks to Larry’s deep knowledge of the national forests in Texas and the rules regarding logging them, thousands of acres of mature hardwood forests, riparian areas, and other vital habitats have been conserved, protecting their biological diversity and preventing erosion and fragmentation. While the past year has seen a shift in USFS priorities toward more intensive logging and less collaboration with public interests, so far the primary focus in Texas continues to be thinning of pine plantations, which avoids major impacts to diversity. Mountain Lions #Mountain Lion blog posts TPW Adopts Mountain Lion Regulations Oyster Recovery The Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA) recognizes oyster reefs as foundational to the ecological and economic health of the Texas coast. Oyster reefs provide essential habitat for a wide range of marine life, enhance water quality through natural filtration, buffer shorelines from erosion, and sustain the long-standing heritage of Texas’ commercial and recreational fisheries. TCA supports management decisions grounded in sound science, adaptive management, and long-term sustainability — including responsible harvest limits, habitat restoration, freshwater inflow protections, mariculture, voluntary license buyback programs that reduce pressure on public reefs, and thoughtful evolution of the Certificate of Location (COL) program as a mechanism to restore and actively manage degraded reefs. Successful oyster conservation depends on strong collaboration and durable partnerships with the Texas Legislature, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, General Land Office, conservation organizations, research institutions, commercial harvesters, recreational anglers, coastal communities, and philanthropic partners to ensure Texas’ oyster reefs remain productive and resilient for generations to come. Recovering America's Wildlife Act #RAWA blog posts, RAWA Video Statement on Big Bend Border Wall (PDF) Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA) believes border security is an essential responsibility of the federal government. Texans value safety, the rule of law, and effective management of our international borders. For those who live and work in the Trans-Pecos, security is not abstract, and landowners and local communities deserve solutions that address border-related security needs. At the same time, how border security is achieved matters. The Big Bend region is one of our most beloved and iconic landscapes. Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, and surrounding private ranchlands form an interconnected system of desert, river, and mountain habitat that supports wideranging wildlife, including migratory species that depend on cross-border movement and genetic exchange. The Rio Grande is not only a geopolitical boundary — it is a living river system that sustains recreation, local communities, and wildlife on both sides of the border. While illegal border crossing activity does occur in this region, enforcement patterns have historically been far more concentrated in other sectors of the Texas–Mexico border. The remoteness and rugged terrain of Big Bend naturally limit cross-border movement, raising practical questions about the necessity and feasibility of largescale wall construction. Construction would also require significant condemnation of private property under eminent domain, trampling on long-standing property rights. Wall infrastructure would affect public access to the Rio Grande and to portions of Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park — access that supports recreation, local outfitters, and a tourism economy central to many West Texas communities. TCA believes that a continuous physical border wall in the Big Bend region does not represent the most effective approach to security. Permanent barriers fragment habitat, restrict river access, interfere with working lands, and disrupt wildlife migration corridors. Once constructed, these landscape impacts cannot be undone. Alternative strategies — including advanced surveillance technology, targeted infrastructure, and appropriately deployed personnel — can enhance border security in ways that are cost-effective, more adaptable, and less disruptive. In a region defined by sensitive ecosystems and challenging terrain, flexible approaches are likely to prove more practical over time. What is at stake in the region is nothing less than the integrity of one of the most remote, ecologically intact, and culturally significant landscapes in Texas. Federal planning maps indicate that more than 100 miles of border wall infrastructure could extend along the Rio Grande corridor within Big Bend National Park — nearly the entirety of the park’s river boundary. Additional segments are identified through Big Bend Ranch State Park and continuing through the Lower Canyons toward Amistad National Recreation Area. Taken together, publicly available documents show plans for hundreds of miles of new or expanded barrier infrastructure across the TransPecos, including stretches of the Rio Grande formally designated as Wild and Scenic River and landscapes recognized for their extraordinary ecological, cultural, and historical significance. What is clear is this: cnstruction at that magnitude would fundamentally alter one of the most intact desert river systems in North America — fragmenting habitat, restricting river access, affecting working ranchlands, and reshaping landscapes that have remained largely uninterrupted for generations. This is not a partisan position. It is a conservation position grounded in stewardship of public lands and respect for private property rights. TCA urges policymakers to pursue border security solutions in the Trans-Pecos that safeguard both the safety of Texans and the integrity of one of our state’s most extraordinary landscapes. Statewide Engagement Engaging communities statewide through native plant initiatives, river cleanups, and conservation-related education and outreach. Advancing Smarter Water Policy Prioritizing infrastructure repair, reuse, conservation, aquifer storage and recovery, and innovative solutions that meet water needs without sacrificing rivers and bottomland forests. Native Prairie Restoration Restoring Tall Native Prarie Grass. Oyster Recovery Oyster recovery text . Partnership for Conservation Over 55 state alliance member groups, numerous community partners, and the Texas affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation River & Watershed Protection 5 Texas rivers and forest bottomlands protected from reservoir impoundment Renewable Energy Supporting responsible siting of renewable energy development to safeguard wildlife and produce energy sustainably Successes and Accolades TCA's successes and accodlades over its 55 year history. Big Bend Border Wall Read TCA's statement. Mountain Lions Mountain Lions. Texas Habitat Champion Policy work has inlfuenced smart water planning, public lands management, and funding for state parks Refuge for Wildlife 250,000 acres of forest and prairie saved for wildlife habitat and watershed protection Coastal Conservation Strengthening coastal conservation, including protection of freshwater inflows that sustain our bays. Municipal Water Recycling Cost efficient and wildlife friendly alternatives to unnecessary reservoirs. Recovering America's Wildlife Act RAWA information and video. Wildlife Protection of Texas wildlife. National Forest Management Thousands of forest acres saved through promoting select logging and special management TAKE ACTION Your donation helps protect wildlife and wild habitat for future generations to enjoy. Give Now

Spring 2026 Texas Native Plant Sale Plant Packages - $38 Scroll Down to Pre-Order: April 06 - April 20 Pre-Order Form (Available Soon)

Spring 2026 Texas Native Plant Sale Plant Packages - $38 Scroll Down to Pre-Order: April 20 - May 04 Pre-Order Form (Available Soon)

Spring 2026 Texas Native Plant Sale Plant Packages - $38 Scroll Down to Pre-Order: April 27 - May 11 Pre-Order Form (Available Soon)

Spring 2026 Texas Native Plant Sale Plant Packages - $38 Scroll Down to Pre-Order: March 30 - April 13 Pre-Order Form (Available Soon)

Spring 2026 Texas Native Plant Sale Plant Packages - $38 Scroll Down to Pre-Order: March 23 - April 06 Pre-Order Form (Available March 23)

Resources Find useful links to contact us, subscribe to our newsletter, find paddling and hiking trails in East Texas, pay an invoice, and more. Conservation Advocacy Guide > Contact Us > East Texas Outdoors Hiking and Paddling Trails > Native Plant Sales > News Blog > Pay an Invoice > Photo Release and Liabilty Waiver > Subscribe to e-Newsletter > Unsubscribe > Website Questions, Errors, Issues > Conservation Advocacy Guide https://b85fa64f-5984-494f-95b7-93cad910acf9.filesusr.com/ugd/60f40b_d967a7d80cea4a41be18f59610f3b686.pdf Texas Native Plant Sales https://www.tcatexas.org/local-native-plants Photo Release and Liability Waiver https://www.tcatexas.org/liability-waiver Website Issues mailto:michael@tcatexas.org Contact Us https://www.tcatexas.org/contact News Blog https://www.tcatexas.org/blog Subscribe to Our Newsletter https://www.tcatexas.org/mailing-list East Texas Outdoors https://easttexasoutdoors.org/ Pay an Invoice https://www.tcatexas.org/invoice-payment-form Unsubscribe https://www.tcatexas.org/unsubscribe

TXCAT The Texas Conservation Action Team (TXCAT) is a core conservation program which includes Lights Out for Wildlife, Native Plant Propagation and Sales, and Community-Driven Volunteer Engagement. Scroll down to learn more. Wildlife Certify Your Wildlife Garden with NWF Learn how to create and certify a wildlife santcuary in your backyard, on your balcony, at your school or office space, and more. Read More Volunteer Community Conservation Events Check out TCA's upcoming events and help us restore wildlife habitats, remove litter pollution, promote pollinator expansion, and more. Read More Texas Native Plants Native Plant Propagation Read More Upcoming Plant Sales in DFW Plant Sales Statewide Shipping of Native Plants Shop Plants Lights Out, DFW! Lights Out, DFW! is a flagship program of the statewide Lights Out, Texas! campaign, targeting non-essential lighting in the DFW metroplex. Darken the night skies to help migratory birds fly safely at night during peak migration seasons in spring and fall. DFW Go Lights Out for Wildlife! You can help! Go Lights Out for Wildlife by dimming all non-essential lighting during peak spring and fall migration from 11 PM to 6 AM (Sep, Oct, & Nov / Mar, Apr, & May) to save millions of Texas birds. Texas is a super highway for migratory birds ... Statewide Lights Out Education Program The Lights Out Education Program is designed to engage students through three tailored, TEKS-aligned modules for grades 3–5 and grades 6–8. The goal is to empower students to explore bird migration, light pollution, and urban ecology through inquiry-based lessons and real-world data. DFW

Spring 2026 Texas Native Plant Sale Plant Packages - $38 Scroll Down to Pre-Order: March 16 - March 30 Pre-Order Form (March 16 - March 30)

Join TCA or support us by donating today. Contributions are tax-deductible and used to protect wildlife and wild habitats in the state of Texas. TCA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Make a Donation to Texas Conservation Alliance Donate