The residents of Bexar County are fed up with burgeoning development in their region – rampant growth that they fear will destroy the beauty and health of their land and water. Finding little help in the usual channels of their government representatives, the people began to turn to each other, forming alliances and making plans.

Comprised of ranchers, farmers, town leaders, conversation organizations and some political allies, residents are banding together to fight eminent domain type land seizures and uncontrolled development. They’re becoming increasingly aware of the delicate nature of their local resources and ecosystems and are working to protect the county’s treasures.

The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA) was formed to protect the Edwards Aquifer, a watershed that provides hydration to San Antonio and the surrounding region. Worries that construction would begin to cause contamination in the vital health of this water resource, the residents formed the alliance to address these concerns. At first, plans by the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to expand their jurisdiction and install water supply outward from the city seemed a good idea – SAWS argued this would prevent a proliferation of septic tank communities. The GEAA members quickly decided expansion of SAWS’ authority would only serve to speed urban sprawl.

Another group, the Hill Country Planning Association, came together to urge government representatives to consider a moratorium on all development until investigations can be done into environmental impact and compliance with local, state, and federal laws. The group is still finding their concerns falling on deaf ears as legislators push for the growth that they see as a benefit to the region. The residents fight on, though, wanting only to ensure a sane and controllable plan to preserve the environmental integrity of rural life.