The artist Vincent van Gogh once said, “For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” If Van Gogh were alive now, would he feel the same way? Today, manmade lighting results in urban night skies that are hundreds of times brighter than they were in 1889 when the twinkling Milky Way inspired Van Gogh to paint The Starry Night. Today, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the overabundance of artificial light prevents eighty percent of Americans and one third of humanity from even being able to see the Milky Way.

Spring was an extremely busy time for the Hill Country Conservancy’s land team. We conducted annual monitoring visits on five of our conservation easements, we significantly advanced four prospective conservation projects, and we worked tirelessly to strengthen collaborative efforts with conservation partners throughout Texas.

Within the last five years, 88% of Texas experienced an exceptional drought. The drought of 2010-2015 was the second worst in the history of our state, and although we received relief in the spring, we are learning that we can’t rely on regular rainfall. Worse yet, scientists have warned us that frequent droughts may become a permanent part of our lives. Nothing is more important for our lives – and livelihoods – than having clean water to drink.