Clark — texaswaterproject

Finding Water; Exploring the Natural Wonders of the Texas Hill Country

Clark Stevens

The Texas Hill country is something I have always found joy in,

growing up in San Antonio Texas the rivers and streams were always

an outlet for me and my family to go enjoy, and escape from

the noise of the larger metropolitan areas. This is a custom for many people across

the State of Texas, There is a sense of curiosity that sparks in many people from these areas.

The Hill Country is a beautiful place full of rivers streams and

places where you can connect with nature unlike anywhere in the world.

Lush grasses, shady cypress trees, and small towns that do everything in their power to keep their natural beauty.

There are many nameable rivers that flow through the asstounding Texas Hill Country, major names being

The Guadelupe, The San Marcos River, Blanco River, Colorado River, The Comal River, The

San Antonio River, the list goes on.

The goal behind these photos is to spark a newfound appreciation for these places, as the Texas Hill Country is experiencing a large volume of population growth in important natural areas specifically. Georgetown, a city just north of Austin is considered one of the fastest growing cities in Texas, not only that, but throughout the entire country. This population boom should be appreciated, and spark more of an effort to protect these areas and keep them beautiful. They are an amazing place, and hold close to many people across the state of Texas. These photos are here as a reminder, these places should keep and hold their natural beauty, while bringing forward a reminder showcasing the importance of preservation to surrounding wildlife.

Agave havardiana, or century plant , Big Bend National Park

Guadelupe River, River Acres Park New Braunfels

Egyptian Goose, Guadelupe River New Braunfels

Guadelupe River, New Braunfels

Great Blue Heron, Cordova Hollow Comal County

As a photographer I have always had an appreciation for the outdoors, I look to it as a place where I can find solitude, and capture the beauty nature has to offer. For me it is seen as a duty to go to these places and show what resides within the natural wonders of Texas, that I am lucky enough to have around me. There is a deep appreciation for these places and I worry that with a larger volume of newcoming population, these areas could see a negative impact. There is great value in getting involved in a community and doing your own research to create a curiosity for yourself to find a way to protect these natural areas.

Organizations Dedicated to protecting the Texas Hill Country:
- The Hill Country Alliance
- Texas Hill Country Conservation Network
- Comal County Conservation Allience

WBAP-TV (Television station : Fort Worth, Tex.). [Texas Hill Country], photograph, 197X; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1611818/: accessed February 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.

Adobe Stock Images

The History in the hill Country runs deep, one of my favorite things about this area

is that people hold true to the value of protecting it. There are many historical photos that show the

Hill Country before it was a place that saw this new level of population boom that it’s experiencing now.

There is a huge impact that these photos have on me and they strike within a deep love for the places I was able to admire as a young kid. There are many magical experiences I had as a kid that are no longer what they used

to be, water levels throughout Texas experience large fluxuations.

This means that some of my favorite spots no longer have the lush greenery that they once had. Days at the river spent eating sandwhiches, firing up the BBQ, and having crisp cold beverages, and enjoying time with family

around these areas have come to an abrupt hault. One thing that is impossible not to notice is the amount of new homes being built through the I-35 corridor, neighboring farming and rural communities in turn turning the

distance between Austin and San Antonio into a future giant metropolitan area. The open spaces that the hill country had are becoming less and less. “Cookie Cutter Homes” litter what used to be green lush hills and made

for beautiful scenery and a lush growing environment. On top of this these homes are cheaply made and run for a high dollar. This is something I think needs more attention, and is really devestating to watch happen.