Colorado River Conservation Plan Announced (TX)

Webberville, TX 6/27/2007: Elected officials, environmental experts, and conservation advocates gathered in Webberville this morning to showcase the Colorado River and present a report illustrating a community vision and recommendations for the Colorado River Austin to Bastrop corridor. “Discovering the Colorado – A Vision for the Austin-Bastrop River Corridor”, a newly published report, presents a common vision and recommendations for action that are the result of a four-year collaborative process. The report is a “vision plan” that represents the desired future for the Austin-Bastrop river corridor, where the community fosters sustainable development and maintains a healthy riparian ecosystem along the Colorado River.

The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national nonprofit land conservation organization, is taking the lead on implementing this vision plan for the 87-mile river corridor from Austin through Bastrop County. TPL plans to continue to raise public awareness and focus its land conservation resources on the Colorado River corridor and its tributary creeks.

“The Trust for Public Land is developing a major new local program aimed at protecting substantial portions of this river corridor over the next ten years,” says TPL Texas State Director Nan McRaven. “Many of the communities along the corridor are traditionally underserved in terms of parks access and recreational opportunities. By working through this integrated vision, TPL hopes to assist these communities to address land conservation and ecological protection issues.”

In 2006, TPL conducted a “greenprinting” analysis for Travis County to help local governments make informed strategic decisions for parks and open space acquisition. As confirmed in the Travis County greenprint, the greenway along the river corridor provides unmatched potential to satisfy fast-growing needs for accessibility, equity, recreation, and water protection.

“Discovering the Colorado – A Vision for the Austin-Bastrop River Corridor” includes complete issue and vision statements, the specific action recommendations, and essays on various aspects of river corridor including the ecology, history, current land use, economic, education, and conservation activities.

About the Austin-Bastrop River Corridor Partnership

The Austin-Bastrop River Corridor Partnership is a coalition of agencies, organizations, and individuals formed in 2003, which seeks to increase public awareness of the values, issues and concerns along this stretch of the Colorado River. Change and growth in this area are already occurring rapidly, and the completion of SH 130 has only accelerated the process. The Partnership is identifying collaborative, community-supported opportunities to effect positive outcomes for the river as change inevitably occurs in the corridor.

About The Trust for Public Land

Since its founding in 1972, The Trust for Public Land has helped protect more than 2.2 million acres of land in 46 states. In Texas, TPL has protected more than 31,000 acres for communities, including areas in and around Arlington, Austin, Dallas, Denton, Houston, and San Antonio. TPL has partnered with the Austin community to acquire land the Guerrero Colorado River Park, the Barton Creek Wilderness Park, and the Balcones Canyonland Preserve. The Trust for Public Land depends on the support and generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses to achieve its land for people mission.