Betsy Cross - Loren Steffy - Samantha Youngblood
See highlights from the HCMN Spring Reunion and Fall 2025 Graduating Class—an afternoon of fellowship, learning, gratitude, and accomplishment, including Chapter Awards and Special Recognitions.
Part 2 - What Makes Bird Habitat Good?
Every property owner can do (and not do) things that make life better for birds. Learn how to enhance the health and diversity of bird life on your land.
Want to know more about improving the habitat for cavity nesting birds? See how nest box management and preservation of natural cavities can improve the numbers of native birds who find a home on your property.
The HCMN Project Fair returned in April during the Spring Reunion and Fall Graduation, bringing members and guests together to explore exciting volunteer opportunities.
On March 24, the Spring 2026 HCMN Class visited the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment in San Marcos, Texas. See how one Master Naturalist Trainee was inspired by this visit.
It was mid-April, and as I tried to get a better look, the bird lifted off and settled into a nearby tree. Read more about this Central Texas native.
The rapid growth of the Hays County area is increasing the burden upon this valuable resource. Understanding our water supply and how it effects the land helps us to make better water management decisions.
The continuous water cycle starts with rain. Of the rain that falls on the land, 89% of it either evaporates directly to the atmosphere or processed through transpiration in plants into the atmosphere. The remaining 11% seeps into the ground or runs off as surface water to rivers and streams. Of the water on the earth’s surface, 97% of it is saltwater and 1-2% is frozen glaciers, ice, and snow around the world. That leaves about 1% of water available for consumption.
Watersheds are basin-like landforms defined by highpoints and ridgelines that descend into lower elevations and stream valleys. A watershed, sometimes called a drainage basin or catchment, carries water “shed” from the land after rain falls and snow melts.
Soil erosion via water flow is a significant issue in Hays County and in all of the Texas Hill Country. Our geology with the limestone base and relatively thin soil makes it difficult for rain to soak in quickly.
Water attracts wildlife and is great for plants. While not everyone can live near a river or lake, everyone has the option of building a water feature. In this article we will cover how to make a small wildlife pond or water feature that can be maintained year-round with only rainwater.
If you live in the Wimberley Valley, your property is part of the Blanco River Watershed. But “watershed” is a misleading way to describe it. The word implies getting water off the land as quickly as possible. Instead we should re-conceptualize our valley as a “water catchment area.” This term, used by most of the rest of the world, suggests capturing water before it flows downstream.
Humans have a major impact on the land and natural resources. Positive actions regarding conservation will result in a healthier natural environment.
Land restoration is the process of returning a site to a natural landscape and habitat, safe for humans, wildlife, and plant communities. Developing and following a land restoration plan are the means of accomplishing this goal.
Within their native habitats, animals should be able to find the basics necessities for maintaining their health and lives; water, food, and shelter…
Flash floods have been part of the Hill Country for over ten million years, ever since the rivers and creeks began carving out their deep valleys and leaving behind 200-250 ft. high hills. While we can’t stop flash floods, we can reduce their intensity and the amount of damage they cause.
Wildfires play an important role in nature. Some ecosystems, such as grasslands, rely on natural fires to regulate growth and recycle nutrients. There is an entire scientific discipline, Fire Ecology, focused on understanding the natural processes involving fire and how ecosystems respond.
On one property, the problem was that runoff quickly filled the small drainage ditch along the driveway and rushed down to the creek. The owners created diverters along the driveway to catch the runoff and divert it on the native grasses bordering the driveway.
Hays County residents are fortunate enough to have the Milky Way visible throughout much of the area. The night sky is part of our heritage and reminds us of our connection to the universe.
