Opinion: Balancing nature with development challenges

The Hill Country Alliance meets for its annual Leadership Summit on September 27 at Camp Lucy in Dripping Springs this year.

Since organized in 2004, its mission has been to bring together groups with a generational objective of preserving open spaces, water supply and quality, and unique character of the Texas Hill Country. This includes supporting economic development compatible with nature, and sources of income for landowners motivated to keep ranches and small towns in tact.

The Summit is a day for thought leaders around the region to share, learn, network, strategize, and be inspired by conservation possibilities in this area.

The theme is “Legacy & Collaboration: Our Collective Stewardship of Our Texas Hill Country.” Topics include private land ownership through generations, and the future of water in Texas. Experts will share knowledge in the healthful benefits of conservation, as we face a “crisis in the balance between development and our natural native environment.” These are the qualities that make the hill country such a desirable place to live. They are the characteristics that keep Dripping Springs a desirable country township to be part of, rather than a bedroom community of Austin.

Dripping Springs incorporated in 1981 in response to fears that it would become an ETJ of Austin. Now the DS ETJ, which encompasses most of the NW half of Hays County, faces rapid growth, which is making its natural treasures vulnerable.

The Dripping Springs Planning & Zoning Commission feels strongly about this balance of growth with natural land protection ethics in their efforts to recommend projects for approval by the City Council. They encourage and support long-time residents to keep their land.

One example of the Commission’s empathetic understanding was demonstrated when they spent a whole hour, out of a 4-hour City hall meeting on Aug 28, to establish approval recommendation for a special “Exception & Variance allowing a manufactured home for residential use on Ramirez Lane.” Families have owned acreage in this woodsy natural area for generations, but with the onslaught of expensive housing developments popping up around the City and ETJs, the residents of Ramirez Lane cannot afford higher living expenses--not to mention higher taxes. They want to keep their families living in Dripping Springs. The new doublewide will be actually be welcomed by the neighbors as a valuable asset on property the Espinosa family has owned for 54 years. A significant number of neighbors spoke at the City Hall meeting in favor of approval, along with the pastor and congregation members of the family’s church.

However, the commission’s power of decision is sharply restricted by legal limitations already designated by county and state politics, and certainly landowners’ rights. Hill Country Alliance strives to be an important resource for those who wish to follow legislation related to the hill country’s natural resources and scenic beauty. They are an informative learning source for alternative choices, other than selling one’s property to the developer who is pounding on the door of your homestead.

There is research emerging around the world, which addresses “Nature Deficit Syndrome.” Many move out of the city, not just because of affordability, but because they want to get closer to nature. Now scientific studies show that nature is not just refreshing and beautiful, but plays a distinct role in our immune systems, promoting a healthful equilibrium that keeps diseases, such as cancer, at bay, improves metabolic, cardiovascular health and sleep, increases energy, creativity, memory, and reduces anxiety, depression and anger.

Most of us know that the life-sustaining gas we breathe into our bodies is oxygen. We exhale carbon dioxide, which vegetation absorbs, and in turn, dispenses the very oxygen we need to live on. Results of new studies show that trees circulate important hydrocarbon gases from oils called “terpenes” which boost our wellbeing. Another discovery is that the fractal geometry that our vision encounters in the math of nature even promotes good health.

According to the world’s foremost expert in forest medicine, Dr. Qing Li, Japanese and Korean scientists have done enough convincing research on inhaling the atmosphere of trees and vegetation, that there is a state-sponsored health initiative in Japan to spend 1-2 days/month “Forest Bathing” to gain over a month’s worth of health benefits. Recommendations include planting at least 10 trees for every house in a developed area. Nature is FOR us!

This research justifies our need to preserve hill country Live Oak and Ashe Juniper forests as our most healthful benefit in developing communities. Live Oaks are loved by locals, but a problematic water myth has circulated throughout Texas Hill Country that Ashe Juniper, colloquially know as “cedar trees,” dominate our water. Texas A & M preeminent ecosystem scientists Professors Bradford Wilcox, Keith Owens, Kevin Mc-Innes, and Jim Heilman have documented accurate evidence that the takeover of rangelands by these trees and shrubs have, in reality, increased flows of streams and the recharging of groundwater--twice as high as prior to 1950.

Texas Agrilife Extension Service reported that Heilman, professor of environmental physics at A&M said, “Bulldozing trees to save water is a case where policy gets ahead of science.” This research challenges developers who mow down “cedar trees” for roads and parking lots with the justification that they are saving the environment--rather than harming it. Programs to pay ranchers to remove cedar trees promotes grassland and diversifies vegetation, but actually does not save water. Fieldwork by these A & M scientists at the Freeman Ranch west of San Marcos revealed that Live Oaks use more water than “cedar trees.” Juniper roots are shallower than oaks, and internal plumbing greatly restricts the amount of water taken up. They recorded reliable documentation that juniper-forested sites use about the same amount of water as grasslands. Scientists have also discovered that Ashe Junipers capture massive amounts of carbon, and that they play a vital role in storm water management control and erosion. They provide organic matter to form soil on the hillsides and cool the air, aid every species of wildlife habitat at all levels, and provide year round shelter for livestock. Texas Forest Service spokesman from Austin, Clay Bales, said, “The year round moist green crown of healthy junipers can actually hinder a wildfire’s fuel ladder, so keep them around.”

With their rich offering of circulating “terpenes,” it could be that keeping cedar trees around has a life-saving benefit, in return for allergies many suffer during the winter pollinating season. A refreshing new point of view, that can also kindly offer healing.