Insider Update on Aquifer Protection Initiative: Approximately 50% of Funds Remaining
Allison Elder
Braun & Gresham Attorneys at Law
June 29, 2012
Yesterday I attended the Conservation Advisory Board (CAB) meeting, an advisory committee appointed to provide input and advice to the San Antonio City Council on the development of the Aquifer Protection Initiative (API).
In November 2010, San Antonio voters approved a $90 Million sales tax funded program called the San Antonio Aquifer Protection Initiative to help protect the Edwards Aquifer. This program, also known as the “Edwards Aquifer Protection Initiative” pays landowners to keep their property in its undeveloped condition.
For those of you interested in pursuing funding through the API program, here is my summary of the main points from yesterday’s meeting:
The CAB Board has been actively meeting now for 10 months.
20 properties are currently progressing:
- 16 in Uvalde
- 3 in Medina
- 1 in Bexar
These properties represent approximately 50% of the total funding that will be available under the 2010 referendum of $90 million.
These properties represent 29,628 acres of land.
No conservation easement sales have closed yet, but properties are in various stages of review.
Another important discussion point from yesterday’s meeting is that prices for conservation easements may be on the rise, as detailed in a presentation given by Jim Jeffries, a noted conservation easement appraiser. It appears that landowners establishing conservation easements on their property today may be receiving more money for their land now than conservation easement sellers of the past. This means that current market conditions are very good for landowners interested in pursuing conservation easement programs like the San Antonio Aquifer Protection Initiative.
The Edwards Aquifer Protection Initiative program is highly competitive and to be successful, landowners need to make sure that their property is properly evaluated. At Braun & Gresham, we’ll advocate for your inclusion in this program, documenting your property and its resources, overseeing the appraisal and title work, clearing up title irregularities, and coordinating the closing.
To learn more about the San Antonio Aquifer Protection Initiative and how we can help, please contact me today for a free, 30-minute consultation.
To receive more insider updates like these on the API program, join our mailing list by filling out our Contact Us form and check ‘Conservation Easements.’
